Pac-12 day two results, and who's the best

Lots of action at yesterday's Pac-12 Tournament quarterfinals.

Notes and impressions:

- Colorado is a tough, passionate team. Their coach, Linda Lappe, credited them afterwards with never giving up - particularly Brittany Wilson and Chucky Jeffery. I agree. They have much fight, and are not shy about attacking the basket; nor were they afraid to D-up all of Cal's bigs. There was a moment in the second half when Wilson took a charge and got the foul, and still sitting on the ground, she yelled. I like that.

- You know when a player passionately insists on getting the ball that she's about to do something big. Such was the case in the second half with Cal freshman forward Reshanda Gray. The team's second-leading scorer was fronting her defender to the right of the basket about four minutes in, and her teammate Brittany Boyd was debating where to throw the ball.

"ME!" Gray said emphatically, holding up her hands while digging her rear further into the defender. "Give it to ME!"

So of course Boyd did, and Gray missed the first shot. She somehow got the ball, leaning out of bounds, facing the basket post and the crowd. And despite three people on her back, she took a step backward and muscled up through them to throw up a crazy shot that went in
.
The crowd screamed. My eyes bugged out.

Gray is ridiculous. I love that.

- USC never seemed in it. WSU came out of the locker room yelling, and seemed like they were in it from the moment they woke up that morning. Seeing Trojan senior forward Briana Gilbreath cry at the press conference was not fun.

- Lisa Leslie and Ann Meyers were there last night and will be back today. Nice to see two greats in the building.

- Nice crowd of almost 3,000 on hand for the evening games.

Currently Stanford and Arizona State are playing in semifinal one. I will be leaving shortly for Staples Center to cover the second semi, Cal vs. WSU. Full report coming soon, plus photos.

Other NCAA news:

A short time ago in the Big 12 Tournament, Baylor's Brittney Griner broke her own career record: 45 points, to go with 10 rebounds and seven blocks, in a route of Kansas State.

ESPN writers make their picks for player of the year, coach of the year, freshman of the year and All-Americans.

ESPNW has turned Skylar Diggins into sports science. They also go behind the scenes with the dynamic point guard.

WNBA:

Taj McWilliams-Franklin blogs from overseas.

Erin Phillips talks about recovery from injury.

Delisha Milton-Jones reflects on International Women's Day.

The Sparks just signed guard Ashley Shields to a training camp contract.