No. 25 Cal Defeats Oregon, 63-51

Oregon still has a strong chance to be invited to the Women's NIT.

Salem-News.com SPORTS

SAN JOSE - By: The Associated Press

Courtesy: goducks.com

Devanei Hampton had 21 points and nine rebounds and No. 25 California moved into the Pac-10 tournament semifinals with a 63-51 victory against Oregon on Saturday.

With the win, the Golden Bears (23-7) matched their second-most victories in a season -- trailing only the 24 by the 1983-84 team.

Hampton, named conference player of the year on Thursday, shot 9-for-16, Natasha Vital scored 16 points and Ashley Walker added 12 points, 10 rebounds and three assists for Cal.

The third-seeded Bears will play either second-seeded Arizona State or UCLA in Sunday's first semifinal.

Carolyn Ganes scored 19 points, Tamika Nurse 12 and Cicely Oaks 11 for the cold-shooting Ducks (16-13), who had won six of the previous nine meetings against Cal.

The teams split their two regular-season matchups with each winning at home.

Keanna Levy hit a key 3-pointer from the left wing with 9:26 to play to give Cal a 44-38 lead, and the Bears pulled away from there to win their fourth straight and fifth in six games.

They won their final three conference games with second-half comebacks, one in double overtime at Oregon State and an overtime victory at home against Southern California.

Oregon's 6-foot-6 senior Jessie Shetters, the Ducks' top rebounder who has played in three of her team's last four games, has been bothered by a sore back and could not provide the imposing inside presence she usually does.

Shetters had two points, a rebound and two fouls in 11 minutes.

The sixth-seeded Ducks, who along with Cal earned a bye into Saturday's quarterfinal round, missed their first five shots and began the game 2-of-14 but Cal committed four turnovers in the initial 4 minutes.

Oregon shot 34.5 percent for the game and 8-for-19 from 3-point range.

Hampton gave Cal a scare when she fell hard to the court with 13 minutes left in the opening half and grabbed at her back, but stayed in the game.

After jumping out to a quick lead, Cal held a 27-26 edge at the break.

Oregon still has a strong chance to be invited to the Women's NIT.

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