TAMPA, Fla. — Jesus Verdejo scored 21 points and Dominique Jones made a driving layup to put South Florida ahead with 15.9 seconds to go, and the Bulls held on last night for a 57-56 victory over No. 8 Marquette.

"We kept telling each other, 'Just be focused. Keep playing as a team, keep believing in each other, " Verdejo said after USF improved to 9-79 all-time against ranked teams.

USF's first win over an opponent ranked in the top 10 snapped Marquette's 12-game winning streak and left the Big East without an unbeaten team in conference play. The Bulls (8-14, 3-7) led by as many as 10, but needed nine points from Verdejo in a five-minute span of the second half to keep the Eagles (20-3, 9-1) from taking over the game.

Marquette's Wesley Matthews missed a 6-footer and Lazar Hayward's putback rolled off the rim as time expired, dropping the Eagles into second in the Big East behind No. 1 Connecticut.

Jerel McNeal led Marquette with 22 points before fouling out in the final minute. Dominic James and Matthews had 11 apiece.

WOMEN'S TOP 25

NO. 3 CALIFORNIA 70, WASHINGTON 40

SEATTLE — Conference scoring leader Ashley Walker scored seven of her 24 points in the first five minutes of the second half and the Bears (19-3, 10-0 Pac-10) beat the Huskies (5-15, 1-9).

NO. 7 STANFORD 76, WASHINGTON STATE 46

PULLMAN, Wash. — Jayne Appel scored 25 points and the Cardinal (18-4, 9-1 Pac-10) beat the Cougars (9-12, 2-8), remaining unbeaten in all 48 games against WSU since they started playing each other in 1983.