LAS VEGAS - In what is arguably the biggest win in Washington State women’s basketball history, the Cougars knocked out No. 2 seed Utah on Thursday, 66-58. The way the Washington State players celebrated so joyously after the game, it looks like they agree.

Washington State has never beaten a higher-ranked team than the No. 3-ranked Utes, a dagger 3-pointer by junior star Charlisse Leger-Walker with 39.8 seconds to go sealing the historic win.

The Cougars will make their third trip to the Pac-12 Tournament semifinals, taking on Colorado in the late game Friday night for a chance to play in the title game.

Washington State, down at halftime in both tournament games so far, went on a 14-0 run in the third quarter, led by Ula Motuga, who scored all 13 of her points in the second half to propel the Cougars into the lead. They would outscore the Utes, one of the top offensive teams in the country, 40-28 in the second half.

“This team has been through so much, so many ups and downs,” Murekatete said. “It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.”

Leger-Walker created her team’s effort in the second half.

“We just played so hard coming out, everybody played such a big role,” Leger-Walker said. “We’re not done yet. We want to keep going.”

Head coach Kamie Ethridge said she thought her team played a “perfect defensive game” against the Utes.

“We guarded them, we gave ourselves a chance to win, and then we just had some really special players step up and give us a cushion with some big, big big-time 3-point shots,” Ethridge said. “So really, a phenomenal night for our program.”

Utah heads home much earlier than it hoped, and will await what is surely the highest NCAA Tournament seed in program history.

Utah had two players in double figures, Gianna Kneepkens with 18 points and Pac-12 Player of the Year Alissa Pili, who finished with 11 points and just three field goals.

“We didn't shoot to our normal ability, and you have to give their defense some credit on that,” said Utah coach Lynne Roberts. “I thought they played very, very well. I don't think we played particularly well. But again you have to credit them for disrupting us like that.”

Roberts said the Utes still have plenty of opportunity in front of them.

“I think our goals coming into the season was to win a conference championship, which we did. And to host the first couple rounds of the NCAA tournament, which we're going to be able to do,” Roberts said. “Our goals are still in front of us…I think competitive people let losses and let -- when you get knocked down, it's more fuel to the fire. So it's almost I think better. We'll have more time to practice. We got things we can get better at and I have no doubt that we'll be spitting nails by the time that first round, the ball gets thrown up for that first-round game.”

No. 3 Colorado 62, No. 11 Oregon State 54

The Buffaloes (23-7) did what they do best, turning defense into offense and it led them to a spot in the Pac-12 Tournament semifinals, after defeating 11th-seeded Oregon State, 62-54.

Colorado, which earned a spot in the semifinals for the second straight season, rebounded from a slow start - and some hot perimeter shooting by Oregon State - to go on a 6-0 run at the end of the first half to tie the game and then largely dominated the second half, particularly on the defensive end. By game’s end, the Buffaloes forced 18 turnovers, which led to 18 points.

“That was not the prettiest game we've ever been a part of, but I think what we all witnessed was two teams that really are just going to fight and scrap and do everything they can to win the game,” said Colorado coach JR Payne. “I am really proud of how we never lost our cool. We kept our composure through Oregon State's hot shooting, through some cold spells for us offensively, and we just never really got too flustered, which I love about this team.”

Frida Formann led Colorado with 16 points, with Aaronette Vonleh contributing 15. It was a tough night for Quay Miller, who finished with two points, but pulled down seven rebounds despite foul trouble.

The Buffaloes’ 62 points were the lowest total they scored in a win this season.

“Every time we're feeling like we're struggling, it's always just defense,” Formann said. “We got to get stops, we got to get easy buckets, we got to get stops.”

It was a difficult night offensively for the Beavers, playing without leading scorer Talia von Oelhoffen for the second straight game and on a night when their post players - freshman Raegan Beers and Jelena Mitrovic struggled, shooting a combined 4-of-17 for 11 points.

Oregon State (13-18) finishes with a losing season for the first time since 2012-2013.

Semifinal No. 2: No. 3 Colorado vs. No. 7 Washington State

Season Series: Colorado leads the season series 2-0; winning 65-54 on January 10 and 71-68 on February 10. 

Tournament History: The Buffaloes will appear in their fourth semifinal game (2013, 2015 and 2022). It will be the first time they are the higher seed. This will be Washington State’s third trip to the semifinals. They previously reached the semifinals 2012 and 2014 and are 0-2 in those games. They are the third No. 7 seed in tournament history to reach the semifinals.

The Hot Hands: For Washington State, it’s Bella Murekatete. The Cougar’s 6-foot-3 post has scored in double-figures 24 times this season, and two straight games in the tournament so far. She has eight double-doubles and is shooting better than 50 percent from the field in seven of her last eight games. Colorado’s Frida Formann, who finished with 16 points against OSU, is a barometer for the Buffaloes. If she shoots well, the Buffaloes have a great chance to reach their first title game.

The X-Factors: Colorado’s Jada Wynn, the daughter of former Washington coach Jody Wynn, has 23 3-pointers this season and is pulling down 3.6 rebounds in 12 minutes a game. That is strong spark off the bench. WSU’s Tara Wallack has provided offensive punch at various points this season, with 15 games in double figures. She has yet to score in double digits in the tournament, but her scoring and rebounding provides WSU a huge lift.

The Buffaloes reach the championship game if: They can limit Charlisse Leger-Walker’s scoring and counter by scoring off turnovers. Colorado collected 18 points off turnovers against Oregon State on Thursday.

The Cougars reach the championship game if: They can win the physical battle in the post between Murekatete and Quay Miller and play the same brand of defense inside they did against Utah’s Alissa Pili.