Women’s basketball: Arizona defeats USC, 72-61, in Pac-10 tournament

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USC’s quest to reach 20 victories ended Thursday.

So, perhaps, did the Trojans’ chances of gaining a berth in the NCAA women’s basketball tournament.

Arizona’s 72-61 victory over USC in a Pacific Life Pac-10 Conference tournament quarterfinal at the Galen Center leaves the Trojans with a 19-12 record.

Last year, the Trojans also went into Selection Monday with 19 wins and were not invited to the NCAA tournament.

Arizona put USC in another tough spot with a second half that featured a three-point shooting display that turned a one-point halftime lead into a 17-point margin with less than eight minutes left. The Trojans cut the deficit to eight points but could not come back.

The Wildcats (21-10) finished seven of 13 from three-point range. Guard Davellyn Whyte made five of eight three-pointers and finished with a game-high 24 points.

Arizona advanced to play top-seeded Stanford on Friday at Staples Center. UCLA plays California in the other semifinal.

More later at latimes.com/sports

--Gary Klein