Emily Bessoir had 18 points and 13 rebounds for her first career double-double, Charisma Osborne also scored 18 points and No. 19 UCLA beat No. 21 Arizona 73-59 on Thursday in the Pac-12 women’s basketball tournament.
UCLA, a No. 5 seed, advances to the semifinals on Friday after handing fourth-seeded Arizona its first three-game skid of the season.
Londynn Jones made her only three-pointer with 5:18 left in the third quarter to put UCLA ahead 47-35 and the Bruins led by double figures the rest of the way. Arizona only made two field goals in the third quarter — both in the opening three minutes.
Bessoir made two three-pointers to start the fourth quarter and Gina Conti added another three to give UCLA a 17-point lead with 7:30 left. The Bruins didn’t make another field goal but connected on 11 of 12 free throws to secure it.
Senior Camryn Brown added a career-high nine points with six rebounds and four assists for UCLA (24-8). Kiki Rice also scored nine points and dished out seven assists. The Bruins outrebounded Arizona 46-27 for a 17-4 advantage in second-chance points.
Bessoir was coming off a 17-point, five three-pointer performance in an overtime victory over Arizona State in UCLA’s tournament opener.
Shaina Pellington, Lauren Fields and Jade Loville each scored 10 points for Arizona (21-9). Cate Reese struggled from the floor, going 0 for 6 from the field, but she went 9 of 10 at the free-throw line and grabbed nine rebounds.
— The Associated Press
