USC Puts Oregon in a Plum Position

The Pacific 10 Conference tournament picture got clearer for Oregon on Thursday. It remains murky for USC.

By defeating the Trojans, 75-70, before 547 at the Sports Arena, and sweeping the season series, the Ducks (12-14, 8-9) guaranteed they would finish no worse than sixth in the conference and avoided having to play a first-round game.

USC (12-16, 7-10) lost its fourth in a row. In all likelihood the Trojans can plan on a first-round game against California or Washington State.

Ebony Hoffman scored 27 points and Rometra Craig had 17 for USC.

But the Trojans -- who never led -- dug themselves a 38-20 hole in the first half. They trailed, 44-34, at halftime, and 64-48, before beginning their desperate rally.

The Ducks caused Coach Bev Smith some anxiety by missing free throws and letting USC hang around.

Otherwise, Smith said, “it was as solid a game as we’ve played on the road this season.”

Mike Terry

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UCLA 82, Oregon State 71 -- Freshman guard Nikki Blue, with 17 points, led six Bruins in double figures at Pauley Pavilion. UCLA is 16-10, 11-6.

OTHER GAMES

No. 2 Duke (27-1, 15-0) won its 39th consecutive Atlantic Coast Conference game, 70-49, against Florida State (15-11, 7-8) at Tallahassee, Fla. ... No. 3 Tennessee (25-3) beat No. 17 Vanderbilt (18-8, 8-5), 91-71, to clinch the Southeastern Conference regular-season title at Knoxville, Tenn. ... Seimone Augustus scored her second double-double of the season as No. 4 Louisiana State (24-2, 11-2) downed No. 21 Arkansas (19-9, 6-7), 70-57, at Baton Rouge, La. ... No. 6 Louisiana Tech (24-2, 16-0 Western Athletic Conference) cruised in a 108-54 rout of Texas El Paso (10-15, 5-10) at Ruston, La. ... No. 8 North Carolina (25-3, 13-2 ACC) set a season high with 10 three-point baskets in a 94-77 victory over Maryland (10-17, 4-12) at Chapel Hill, N.C. ... No. 24 Arizona (19-7, 12-5 Pacific 10 Conference) scored a 79-63 victory over No. 9 Stanford (22-4, 14-3) at Tucson. ... Erika Valek scored 15 points, Shereka Wright had 14 as No. 12 Purdue (22-5, 10-5 Big Ten) beat Indiana (11-14, 4-11), 74-48, at West Lafayette, Ind.

No. 11 Mississippi State (21-6, 9-4 Southeastern Conference) defeated No. 14 Georgia (18-8, 9-4), 76-71, at Starkville, Miss. ... No. 13 Minnesota (22-4, 11-4 Big Ten) defeated Wisconsin (7-19, 5-10), 76-53, at Minneapolis. ... No. 16 South Carolina (20-6, 8-5 SEC) defeated Kentucky, 97-51, at Columbia, S.C. ... No. 22 Wisconsin Green Bay (23-3, 14-1 Horizon League) defeated Butler (5-21, 3-12), 80-48, at Green Bay, Wis.