Northwest connection spurs ASU rally

Post Falls High School graduate Aubree Johnson scored six of her 14 points and made a key steal in the final 46 seconds Sunday as Arizona State defeated Oregon 54-47 in San Jose, Calif., to advance to the Pac-10 championship.

Emily Westerberg, a standout out at Central Valley High, scored 12 points, five in the final 2:15, as the third-seeded Sun Devils (22-8) advanced to their first championship game since winning the tournament in 2002. They will play top-seeded and second-ranked Stanford.

Catherine Kraayeveld scored 14 points for No. 2 Oregon (20-9).

The score was tied heading into the final minute until Johnson hit a baseline jumper with 46 seconds left to give Arizona State its first lead of the second half, 49-47.

Oregon threw the ball away with 24 seconds left. Johnson then made a pair of free throws and stole the inbound pass to seal the victory.

(2) Stanford 73, Southern California 69: In the other Pac-10 semifinal game, Kelley Suminski scored 17 points, making three key 3-pointers that put her team ahead for good, and the Cardinal (28-2) held off the Trojans (19-10) for their 19th straight victory.

Stanford will try to win its third straight Pac-10 tourney title tonight.

Elsewhere

(4) North Carolina 78, Virginia 72: At Greensboro, N.C., Ivory Latta scored a career-high 32 points, including a spinning jumper with 34 seconds to play that gave the Tar Heels (26-3) a victory over the Cavaliers (20-10) in the semifinals of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament. North Carolina rallied from a 17-point, second-half deficit to pull out the win and advance to the finals against Duke. … (6) Duke 74, Maryland 44: At Greensboro, N.C., the Blue Devils (28-3) continued to roll toward a record sixth straight ACC title, getting 14 points apiece from Mistie Williams and Chante Black in a victory over the Terrapins (21-9). Duke has won 17 consecutive ACC tournament games. Duke will face North Carolina for the fourth-straight year in tonight’s final. … (8) Michigan State 83, (23) Penn State 76: At Indianapolis, Kelli Roehrig had 19 points and seven rebounds to lead the Spartans (27-3) past the Nittany Lions (19-10) in the Big Ten semifinals. Michigan State will play Minnesota in tonight’s title game. … (9) Rutgers 69, St. John’s 45: At Hartford, Conn., Chelsea Newton scored 21 points and the Scarlet Knights (24-5) cruised into the semifinals of the Big East tournament with a win over the Red Storm (19-10). Rutgers will play Villanova tonight in a semifinal game. … (10) Notre Dame 70, West Virginia 59: At Hartford, Conn., Jacqueline Batteast scored 16 points, including seven straight during a late second-half run, to lead the Fighting Irish (26-4) over the Mountaineers (17-12) in a Big East quarterfinal tilt. Notre Dame takes on Connecticut tonight in the semifinal round. … (14) Connecticut 82, Syracuse 56: At Hartford, Conn., Jessica Moore had 14 points and 10 rebounds in only 20 minutes of play, and the Huskies (21-7) cruised to a Big East quarterfinal victory over the Orange (13-16). … (15) Minnesota 66, (3) Ohio State 63 (OT): At Indianapolis, Janel McCarville scored Minnesota’s last four points in regulation then teamed with Jamie Broback to score the team’s first eight in overtime, leading the Gophers (24-6) to an upset victory over the Buckeyes (28-4) in the Big Ten semifinals. … (16) Temple 64, Xavier 61: At Washington, Candice Dupree scored 24 points and Ari Moore made two late free throws to lead the Owls (26-3) into the final of the Atlantic 10 tournament with a win over the Musketeers (20-9). Temple will play George Washington in tonight’s title game. … Villanova 41, (22) Boston College 37: At Hartford, Conn., Kate Dessart Mager scored 15 points and Liad Suez added 11 to lead the Wildcats (19-10) to a upset win over the Eagles (19-9) in the Big East quarterfinals.