No. 9 California 61, Washington St. 47

2/29/2008 11:54 PM

By NICHOLAS K. GERANIOS
Associated Press Writer

PULLMAN, Wash. (AP) -California coach Joanne Boyle was in no mood to celebrate her team tying the school record for victories.

``We had 23 turnovers,'' Boyle said after the Bears beat last place Washington State 61-47 on Friday night to keep pace with No. 7 Stanford in a race for their first Pacific-10 title.

``I didn't see the fire from my team that I need to see,'' Boyle said. ``If we are going for the Pac-10 championship, we've got to take it. No one is going to give it to you.''

California (24-4, 15-2) closes the regular season Sunday at Washington, which was defeated by Stanford on Friday. Stanford (26-3, 15-2) plays at Washington State on Sunday.

Devanei Hampton scored 16 points and Ashley Walker added 15 for California, which tied the 1983-84 team that went 24-8 for most wins in Cal history.

The Bears were coming off a loss to Stanford that dropped them into a tie for the Pac-10 lead. Boyle criticized her team for playing well below the level they showed in the 60-58 loss to Stanford.

``We are trying to keep them focused on the task at hand,'' Boyle said. ``If we play to our potential ... we have got the potential to go anywhere.''

Heather Molzen scored 14 points to lead Washington State (5-23, 2-15).

After losing by 55 points in the first meeting at California, the Cougars were much more competitive this time. They hung around for much of the game, trailing just 48-41 with 8 minutes left, despite big disadvantages in shooting and rebounding.

The Bears won the rebound battle 31-23 and shot 52 percent to Washington State's 40 percent.

``I'm proud of our kids for the improvement they have shown against the No. 9 team in the country,'' WSU coach June Daugherty said.

After committing 14 turnovers and shooting just 33 percent in the first half to fall behind 27-19, the Cougars had just six turnovers and shot 46 percent in the second half. But Cal was making 60 percent of its second half shots to stay ahead.

``It shows how far we have come throughout the season,'' said Katie Appleton, who scored 12 points for WSU.

The Cougars are 2-3 in their past five games, after opening the Pac-10 season with 12 straight losses, including that 99-44 loss at Cal.

Washington State had cut Cal's lead to 29-23 early in the second half when the Bears went on a 13-2 run to open a 42-25 advantage. Lauren Greif capped the run with a pair of 3-pointers for the Bears.

Washington State replied with a 16-6 run, eight points by Appleton, to cut the deficit to seven at 48-41 with 8 minutes left.

But Alexis Gray-Lawson hit a 3-pointer for Cal to open a 13-6 run that iced the game. She finished with 12 points.

``They were fired up,'' Boyle said of the Cougars. ``Washington State played hard and forced us into things.''

In the first, Cal jumped to a 17-9 lead, but consecutive baskets by WSU's Kezia Kelly cut the lead to 17-13. Cal rebuilt a 23-13 lead on three straight baskets. But the Cougars scored six straight points to cut it to 23-19 late in the first.

Baskets by Krista Foster and Rama N'diaye gave Cal a 27-19 halftime lead. The Bears shot 46 percent in the first, while WSU shot only 33 percent.