TEMPE, Ariz. – Quinn Dornstauder scored a game-high 17 points and Arnecia Hawkins finished with 12 points and a career-high 10 rebounds, but the No. 17 Arizona State women’s basketball team fell to VCU 57-48 in the opening round of the ASU Classic on Saturday at Wells Fargo Arena.
For the third straight game the Sun Devils (3-3) were without starting forwards Sophie Brunner (team leader in rebounds and second in scoring) and Kelsey Moos (second on the team in rebounds).
Shooting woes plagued ASU as the Sun Devils shot 29 percent for the game, including 2-of-18 from behind the arc.
Keira Robinson led VCU (6-1) with 14 points and 8 rebounds, while Ashley Pegram added 11 points and three rebounds for the Rams.
After falling behind by eight, 37-29, with 2:58 remaining in the third quarter, the Sun Devils scored the next five points – layup by Charnea Johnson-Chapman and a 3-pointer by Sabrina Haines – to get within three points. After Haines’ triple, Robinson would answer with a 3-pointer at the opposite end to extend the Rams’ lead back to six.
Eliza Normen opened the fourth period with a layup to cut VCU’s lead to four, but once again the Rams would answer as they scored the next five points to take a nine-point lead. The Sun Devils would get within five points three more times, but were unable to get any closer.
Elisha Davis came nearly posted double digits in assists, finishing with nine to go along with four points and five rebounds.
As a team, ASU had only 11 turnovers and finished with 16 offensive rebounds against VCU, but couldn’t convert many of its extra opportunities.
Action at the ASU Classic concludes on Sunday. The first game will feature VCU taking on Toledo at noon and will be followed by the Sun Devils facing Columbia at 2:30 p.m. The game will be live streamed at this link: http://pac-12.com/live/arizona-state-university and can be heard on NBC Sports Radio AM 1060.