Presley scores 37 in WSU victory

Junior Tia Presley (Gonzaga Prep) erupted for a career-high 37 points and the Washington State women’s basketball team overcame a 12-point first-half deficit to defeat Fresno State 92-79 in a nonconference game on Friday night in Pullman.

Presley made 15 of 24 shots, including 5 of 7 3-pointers, and finished four points shy of Jenni Ruff’s school record for points in a game.

The Cougars (3-3) used an 18-2 run early in the second half to gain control. They scored 57 points in the second half.

Lia Galdeira added 20 points for WSU. Taylor Thompson led the Bulldogs (2-2) with 25 points.

Whitworth 68, UC Santa Cruz 61: Kayla Johnson led three players in double figures with 16 points and the Pirates rallied in the second half to beat the Banana Slugs at the Hampton Inn Classic in Santa Cruz, Calif.

Whitworth trailed 34-30 at the half, but opened the second half on a 27-11 run.

Jessica Kramer scored 12 points and Jamie Lyons added 10 for the Pirates (2-1), who held a 40-28 rebounding advantage over UC Santa Cruz (3-1).

Whitworth will play Redlands today.

CC Spokane 54, Peninsula 34: Riley Holsinger (North Central) had 11 points, 15 rebounds and six assists as the Sasquatch (2-0) dumped the Pirates (1-1) at the Everett Classic in Everett, Wash.

CCS will play Northwest Indian College today.

North Idaho 76, Dawson 62: Panisessi Taimani and Kara Staggs scored 15 points apiece as the Cardinals (5-1) built a comfortable first-half lead and eased past Dawson in a nonconference game in Coeur d’Alene.