LOCAL WOMEN: UPSET GIVES USC SHARE OF TOP SPOT.

Byline: Daily News Staff and Wire Services

Eshaya Murphy (Montclair Prep of Panorama City) and Meghan Gnekow scored 15 points each as USC earned itself a share of the Pacific-10 Conference lead with a 66-45 upset over No. 25 Arizona State in front of 1,013 at the Lyon Center.

Gnekow also had nine rebounds.

The Trojans (12-4, 6-1 Pac-10) forced 21 turnovers and collected 11 steals in winning their sixth consecutive game, a feat they have not accomplished since 1994.

It was also the first time USC has beaten a top 25 opponent since Jan. 25, 2004, when it defeated Stanford, ranked sixth at the time.

Gnekow's 3-pointer eight minutes into the first half gave USC an 8-6 lead it never relinquished.

Trailing by as much as 10 points, Arizona State (11-5, 3-3) rallied to within 23-20 with 3:40 left in the first half.

USC answered with a 9-1 run of its own, including a last-second jumper by forward Jamie Funn to enter halftime ahead, 32-21.

Funn finished with 12 points and guard Brynn Cameron had 11.

Amy Denson led Arizona State's scoring with 8 points.

--Arizona 84, No. 19 UCLA 73: Dee-Dee Wheeler had 19 points and a career-high 11 assists to lead the Wildcats to victory in front of 2,893 at Pauley Pavilion.

Ashley Whisonant added a career-high 17 points for the Wildcats (12-4, 4-2 Pac-10), and Shawntinice Polk had 12 points and 11 rebounds.

Lisa Willis led UCLA (11-5, 5-2) with 24 points. Nikki Blue added 19 points, and Noelle Quinn had 10 points.

Arizona used a 20-4 run early in the second half to take a 54-33 lead and hit nine of 12 free throws in the final two minutes to easily hold off the Bruins.

The Bruins had a scare in the first half when Quinn, the team's leading scorer, went down with a left knee injury at the 5:11 mark while scoring on a layup. She returned to the game with 16:51 left.

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Photo:

UCLA's Nikki Blue, center, attempts a shot while being pressured by Arizona's Shawntinice Polk, left, and Dee-Dee Wheeler.

Edna T. Simpson/Daily News