SEATTLE -- LaBrittney Jones made 10 of 14 shots and scored 26 points -- 16 in the second half -- as 11th-seeded Arizona upset sixth-seeded Oregon 74-68 in the first round of the Pac-12 basketball tournament on Thursday.
It was the second straight win for the Wildcats (13-18) after an 11-game losing streak, and their first since it was announced coach Niya Butts would not be returning next season. They play third-seeded and 12th-ranked UCLA in the quarterfinals on Friday.
Breanna Workman and Malena Washington added 14 apiece for Arizona.
Two jumpers by Workman followed by a 3-pointer for Washington which started a 9-0 run, and Jones hit a 3 just before halftime to give Arizona a 36-24 lead at the break. The Wildcats hit 6 of 7 behind the arc and shot 54 percent before intermission.
The Ducks whittled it to 67-64 after two free throws by Jacinta Vandenberg with 2:16 to play, but free throws allowed the Wildcats to wrap it up.
Oregon (20-10) lost its third straight since losing leading scorer and rebounder Jillian Alleyne to a knee injury. Lexi Peterson had 23 points, Maite Cazorla added 19 and Vandenberg finished with 14 for the Ducks.
"That was as good as I’ve seen LaBrittney play in three years," Butts said. "She got some big buckets for us at big times.
Arizona shot 48 percent from the field and 70 percent (7 of 10) from 3-point range The Wildcats outrebounded the Ducks 34-24.
"This one means a lot, but every game means a lot to me," Butts said. "Obviously anytime you get a win, you better be excited about that, especially when it comes in the postseason."
