Utah women upset No. 3 seed WSU 70-59 in Pac-12 tournament

Mar 3, 2022, 9:09 AM | Updated: 11:53 pm

Utah forward Jenna Johnson (22) drives to the basket against Washington State during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinals of the Pac-12 women's tournament Thursday, March 3, 2022, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)

(AP Photo/David Becker)

Utah forward Kelsey Rees (53) shoots against Washington State during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinals of the Pac-12 women's tournament Thursday, March 3, 2022, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)

Washington State coach Mary Camille Ethridge watches during the second half of the team's NCAA college basketball game against Utah in the quarterfinals of the Pac-12 women's tournament Thursday, March 3, 2022, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)

Utah players celebrate a victory over Washington State in an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinals of the Pac-12 women's tournament Thursday, March 3, 2022, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)

Utah head coach Lynne Roberts high-fives players on the bench after the team's victory over Washington State in an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinals of the Pac-12 women's tournament Thursday, March 3, 2022, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)

Utah forward Kelsey Rees (53) is guarded by Washington State guard Krystal Leger-Walker (4) and center Bella Murekatete (55) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinals of the Pac-12 women's tournament Thursday, March 3, 2022, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)

Washington State players look to the referee for a 3-second penalty as Utah guard Ines Vieira (2) handles the ball during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinals of the Pac-12 women's tournament Thursday, March 3, 2022, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)

Washington State coach Mary Camille Ethridge calls to the team during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Utah in the quarterfinals of the Pac-12 women's tournament Thursday, March 3, 2022, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)

Utah forward Dasia Young (34) reaches for the ball in front of Washington State center Jessica Clarke during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinals of the Pac-12 women's tournament Thursday, March 3, 2022, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)

Washington State guard Krystal Leger-Walker (4) and Utah forward Kelsey Rees (53) reach for the ball during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinals of the Pac-12 women's tournament Thursday, March 3, 2022, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Jenna Johnson scored 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting and Utah upset No. 3 seed Washington State 70-59 on Thursday night in the Pac-12 tournament.

Sixth-seeded Utah (19-10) plays No. 2 seed Oregon in Friday’s semifinals. The unranked Ducks, who have been in and out of the Top 25 after having been ranked No. 10 in the preseason poll, beat Utah 73-65 in the regular-season finale last Saturday to sweep the series.

Johnson scored 10 points in the first quarter and her 3-pointer with 6:03 left in the first quarter gave Utah the lead for good at 15-12. The Cougars (19-10) went 0 for 5 from the field and committed three turnover as the Utes used a 15-0 run to take a 29-13 lead into the second quarter.

Johnson hit another 3 — Utah’s eighth of the first half with 2:22 left — to spark a 7-0 spurt that made it 45-25 at the break.

Brynna Maxwell scored 11 points and Isabel Palmer added 10 for Utah.

Washington State (19-10), which won a program record 11 conference games this season and earned its highest seed in conference-tournament history, awaits an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Cougars are 0-2 all-time in the NCAA tourney, losing first-round games in 1979 and 2021 — a 57-53 loss to South Florida. Bella Murekatete made 7 of 13 from the field and finished with 18 points and Tara Wallack scored 16 on 6-of-10 shooting for Washington State.

Charlisse Leger-Walker, the Cougars’ leading scorer at 16.3 points per game, had six points and sister Krystal Leger-Walker scored four. The duo each went 2 of 12 from the field and 0 for 5 from 3-point range.

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More AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25

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