SEATTLE (AP) LaBrittney Jones made 10 of 14 shots and scored 26 points - 16 in the second half - and 11th-seeded Arizona defeated 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 Oregon.
