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Orsillo fills for January, Arizona St advances

Mar 24, 2007 - 9:30 PM GREENSBORO, North Carolina (Ticker) -- Arizona State did not have Briann January but is still just a win away from playing in April.

Danielle Orsillo scored 16 points as the third-seeded Sun Devils advanced to a regional final for the first time with a 67-59 victory over No. 7 Bowling Green.

Arizona State's second leading scorer, January was held out of the Greensboro Region matchup due to a concussion she suffered in the second round against Louisville. Orsillo started in her place and more than picked up the slack.

Orsillo hit her first six shots from the field and while she went only 1-of-6 after her hot start, the Sun Devils had already taken control.

Arizona State (31-4) built a 40-24 halftime lead and Bowling Green (31-4) was never able to mount a rally.

Emily Westerberg scored 15 points and Aubree Johnson had 10 for the Sun Devils, who will face fourth-seeded Rutgers on Monday for a berth in the Final Four.

ASU and Rutgers were scheduled to meet November 25 in the Virgin Islands, but the game was canceled when Johnson's brother died suddenly.

Ali Mann scored 15 points and Carin Horne had 12 for Bowling Green (31-4), which became the first team from the Mid-American Conference to reach the "Sweet 16" with a win over second-seeded Vanderbilt in the second round.

Sparked by Orsillo, Arizona State opened up its big first-half lead thanks to some hot shooting. The Sun Devils were 17-of-28 from the field in the opening 20 minutes. They also outrebounded the Falcons, 37-24, and scored 16 points off of 13 turnovers.