Wildcats’ First-Half Run Spells Defeat for Trojans

USC never recovered from an 18-0 first-half Arizona run and lost, 82-64, to the streaking Wildcats before 979 at the Lyon Center on Sunday, tightening the race for Pacific 10 Conference also-rans.

Playing a team they had beaten by 15 points a month ago, the Trojans (16-6 overall, 10-3 in the Pac-10) seemed to be sailing along to a similar victory, leading, 30-19, with 6:06 left before halftime.

Lisa Griffith launched the Wildcats’ streak with two three-point baskets 35 seconds apart, sending Arizona to a 37-30 lead before USC scored.

She added four more three-point baskets in the second half, finished with seven (in 11 shots) and had 25 points, second only to Trojan Tina Thompson’s game-high 26.

The victory was Arizona’s (19-4, 9-3) sixth in a row. USC, which had won seven of eight, remains in second place behind Stanford (13-0) going into Saturday’s game against UCLA.

Only Arizona Coach Joan Bonvicini and Griffith said they could have predicted a victory with their marquee player, foul-plagued Adia Barnes, finishing with nine points and one rebound.

“Sometimes they were triple-teaming Adia down low, but she did a great job kicking the ball back out to me,” Griffith said.

Bonvicini said Griffith and a switch to a pressing zone defense turned the game around.

“We have a good basketball team, and I don’t think we’ve ever relied on one player,” she said.