Dec. 18, 2000
DENVER, Colo. - Denver junior Melissa Garcia scored 34 points including seven three-pointers as the Pioneer women's basketball team downed the Sun Devils 73-52 Monday night at Magness Arena.
Arizona State never led in the game, falling behind 32-20 at halftime. Denver outshot ASU 56.5 percent (13-23) to 33.3 percent (8-24) in the first half, draining six of 10 three-point attempts. Prior to Monday night, the Sun Devils had given up just four three-pointers in a game and just 10 all season. Garcia had 17 of her 34 points in the first half and knocked down 5-of-6 from three-point land.
The beginning of the second half provided much of the same with the Pioneers going ahead by as many as 16 points when sophomore Missy Staton scored on a layup to put the team up 48-32 with 10:27 to play. A minute later, the Sun Devil comeback began. Arizona State went on a 14-0 run to pull within two points (50-48) with 4:58 to play when junior Cian Carvalho scored on a free throw. ASU fell short, however, in its comeback effort, finishing the game on a scoring drought with just two points in final 4:01.
For Arizona State, freshman Betsy Boardman led the team with 15 points, while junior Amanda Levens had 10 points. Junior Leah Combs and senior Natalie Tucker tied for the team-lead with five rebounds a piece, while junior Cian Carvalho added a career-best nine points.
For the Pioneers who finished the game shooting 53.8 percent overall (28-52) and 50 percent from three-point land (8-16), senior Michaela Pavlickova had 12 points and 14 rebounds.
Arizona State, now 6-3 on the season, returns to action Thursday, Dec. 22 with a 7 p.m. match-up with Cal State Northridge at Wells Fargo Arena. All of Arizona State's games this season can be heard live on XTRA 910 AM in the Valley or on the internet at www.thesundevils.com.