UA women hold off Washington State

Lisa Griffith scored a game-high 18 points as the Wildcats beat back a late challenge to defeat the Cougars 71-66 on Saturday.

Washington State also played Arizona tough in a 64-61 loss at Tucson on Jan. 8.

The Wildcats, coming off a 77-73 loss on Thursday at No. 21 Washington, led nearly the entire game against Washington State and held a 14-point advantage early in the second half.

But Washington State (9-11 overall, 3-8 Pac-10) responded with a 13-4 scoring run and took a 64-62 lead with 3:13 to go on Yvonne Volkman's 3-point shot.

Arizona (15-5, 8-3) scored the next four points before Washington State's Doreen Evans evened the game at 66-66 by hitting a lay-up with 1:33 remaining.

The Wildcats took the lead for good on the next possession when Marte Alexander scored from inside on a pass from Adia Barnes.

In the final minute, the Wildcats hit three of four free-throw attempts while Washington State was held to one missed field-goal attempt.

"That's what it boils down to, execution in the end," Washington State coach Harold Rhodes said.

Griffith finished 6-of-12 from the field and hit four of eight 3-point attempts. Barnes finished with 15 points and six rebounds. Felicity Willis had 12 points and DeAngela Minter added 10 for Arizona.

Yvonne Kunze led Washington State with 16 points. Volkman came off the bench to finish with 13 points and Tricia Lamb added 11. Evans had 10 points and seven rebounds.

Washington State committed 29 turnovers to Arizona's 27 but outscored the Wildcats at the free-throw line, 21-11.