Dec. 3, 2010
TEMPE, Ariz. -- Kimberly Brandon accounted for career highs in points (16) and rebounds (15) as the Arizona State women's basketball team defeated Cal Poly 69-58 in the first semifinal of Friday's ASU Classic.
Dymond Simon added 13 points and Janae Fulcher and Tenaya Watson scored 10 points each for the Sun Devils, whose overall performance was marred by 25 turnovers.
Brandon, who had the first double-double of her career, and Watson, whose nine steals were one short of tying the school record, were the bright spots for the Sun Devils (4-2) who found themselves unable to shake loose from the Mustangs (2-3) throughout the game.
The Sun Devils jumped on top 15-2 a little more than four minutes into the game. Then after Cal Poly got within two, 19-17, ASU closed the half with a 16-2 run to take a 35-19 halftime lead.
Arizona State, which was playing without starting forward Becca Tobin (injured foot) led by as many as 18 in the second half yet still found itself having to fend off the Mustangs after a 3-pointer cut its lead to 64-58 with 2:19 remaining.
Watson answered with a 3-pointer of her own to extend ASU's lead to nine and the Sun Devil defense responded by not allowing Cal Poly to score for the remainder of the game.
Alex Earl hit a pair of free throws with 11 seconds left to clinch the game for ASU, which will play either New Mexico or Lamar 25 minutes after the conclusion of Saturday's consolation game which begins at 2 p.m.