The Associated Press

SEATTLE — Breanne Watson directed a spirited second half rally in helping the Washington women’s basketball team keep its hopes of reaching the NCAA Tournament alive Thursday with a 70-59 Pacific-10 Conference victory over Oregon State on Thursday.

Watson scored 10 of her 13 points in the second half as the Huskies (17-11, 10-7) broke out with a 32-11 run to open the second half.

Watson scored a crucial 3-pointer with 12:20 left to give the Huskies a 50-38 lead. Her free throw with 8:22 finished off the Huskies’ biggest lead at 58-39.

Senior guard Cameo Hicks also had 13 points — her 26th double-figure scoring game — as 10 players scored for the Huskies. The Beavers (8-18, 3-14), who have lost eight straight and 10 of their last 11, were led by Mercedes Fox-Grififn with 17 points, while freshman forward Judie Lomax and senior guard Casey Nash each had 13 points.

However, Nash, the Pac-10’s leading scorer at 20.0 points per game, left with 2:23 left in the first half after getting hit in the nose during in a loose-ball scramble. She returned at 15:52 in the second half, but missed all eight of her second-half field-goal attempts.

Washington, which had lost seven of its previous 11 games, entered the week in fifth place in the Pac-10. The Huskies’ strength of schedule is ranked 21st and they are 30th in the RPI rankings, according to Sagarin.

The Huskies, who lead 22-14 with seven minutes left in the first half, trailed at halftime 28-26. Oregon State shot 47.8 percent (11 of 23) in the half while the Huskies shot 34.4 percent (11 of 32).

Washington now has won seven straight over the Beavers and lead the all-time series 46-24.

The Huskies hope for a season sweep over the Oregon schools with Saturday’s game against Oregon in the final regular season game. The Pac-10 tournament begins March 2 in San Jose, Calif.