March 4, 2006
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) - Danielle Orsillo scored nine of her 15 points in the final eight minutes and No. 11 Arizona State overcame a 16-point deficit to beat Oregon State 74-66 in the quarterfinals of the Pac-10 Tournament on Saturday.
Kristen Kovesdy added 14 points as the Sun Devils (24-5) won their school record 10th straight game. Emily Westerberg had 11 points and a team-high eight rebounds and Aubree Johnson had 10 points.
Mandy Close and Kim Butler each scored 19 points for the Beavers (15-14), who lost their seventh straight to Arizona State. Casey Nash added 12.
The Sun Devils will meet UCLA in Sunday's semifinals. The Bruins beat California in an earlier game, 80-63.
Oregon State dresses nine players, and rarely subs while Arizona State has a deep bench and often replaces its entire lineup at one time. Close, who played almost every minute for the 15th time, leads the Pac-10 in minutes played, averaging 37.1. Anita Rivera and Butler are also in the top 10. Westerberg, at 26.3 minutes a game, leads the Sun Devils.
Keeping constant pressure everywhere on the court, the Sun Devils whittled away at their deficit and finally closed the gap when Kovesdy scored off an offensive rebound with 12:05 remaining to play, tying the game at 48.
Arizona State took its first lead since the opening minute when Kirsten Thompson hit a basket underneath following an Oregon State turnover.
Arizona State eventually led by as many as 12.
Butler, Nash and Close accounted for all but four of Oregon State's first-half points, combining to shoot over 52 percent (11-of-21) while the rest of the team was 2-of-7.
The Sun Devils faced their biggest deficit of the season when Close hit a 3-pointer with 4:40 left in the first half, giving Oregon State a 32-16 edge.
Arizona State outscored the Beavers 12-4 over the final 4:11 to draw within 38-30 by halftime.