Pac-12 Women’s Basketball Tournament: Day 2 results (quarterfinals)
The Pac-12 Women’s Basketball Tournament has been endlessly interesting. Several games have gone down to the wire. Several other games involved a modest working margin and were not exceptionally close. However, no games have been complete wipeouts. Some games involved convincing victories for one team, but even then, the outcome was in some degree of doubt with 10 minutes left in regulation.
Weirdly, the most decisive game of the first eight was fifth-seeded UCLA beating fourth-seeded Arizona by 14 points. The matchup promised drama but didn’t deliver it. The other matchups with larger differentials in seeding produced closer outcomes.
Stanford led Oregon by six points late in the third quarter. The Cardinal did not have an easy time against the Ducks on Thursday. On Wednesday, last-place Arizona State nearly beat No. 5 UCLA before losing in overtime.
Then came a big upset in a 7-versus-2 game.
This has not been a stroll for higher seeds. This has not been a parade of blowouts. This tournament has had something for everyone.
Here are the Day 2 quarterfinal results, setting up Friday’s semifinals:
QUARTERFINAL NO. 1: (5) UCLA 73, (4) ARIZONA 59
Jan 8, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; UCLA Bruins head coach Cori Close reacts to a foul call in the first half against the USC Trojans at Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Arizona has lost three straight games heading into the NCAA Tournament.
QUARTERFINAL NO. 2: (1) STANFORD 76, (9) OREGON 65
Oregon coach Kelly Graves brings his team together before the game against Utah in Eugene Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023.
Oregon lost but might have done enough to make the NCAA Tournament. We’ll find out soon enough. The Ducks will probably be one of the last four in or the first four out. Follow Ducks Wire for more coverage.
QUARTERFINAL NO. 3: (7) WASHINGTON STATE 66, (2) UTAH 58
Oct 25, 2022; San Francisco, CA, USA; Washington State Cougars coach Kamie Ethridge reacts during Pac-12 Women’s Basketball Media Day at the Pac-12 Network Studios. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Washington State produced a USC-like defensive clinic against a high-powered Utah offense. WSU will be in the NCAA Tournament. Utah will not be a No. 1 seed in the Big Dance.
QUARTERFINAL NO. 4: (3) COLORADO 62, (11) OREGON STATE 54
Oct 25, 2022; San Francisco, CA, USA; Colorado Buffaloes guard Jaylyn Sherrod (00) and coach JR Payne pose during Pac-12 Women’s Basketball Media Day at the Pac-12 Network Studios. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Colorado did not have to play USC in the quarters. It will not have to play Utah in the semifinals. Follow Buffaloes Wire for more.
FRIDAY SEMIFINAL SCHEDULE
Oct 25, 2022; San Francisco, CA, USA; Stanford Cardinal coach Tara VanDerveer reacts during Pac-12 Women’s Basketball Media Day at the Pac-12 Network Studios. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Semifinal No. 1, 6 p.m. Pacific:
(5) UCLA vs. (1) Stanford
Semifinal No. 2, 30 minutes after the end of Game 1:
(7) Washington State vs. (3) Colorado
Both games will be on Pac-12 Network
