LOS ANGELES – The ninth-ranked Arizona State women’s basketball team had its seven-game winning streak snapped on Sunday as No. 14 UCLA upset the Sun Devils 74-61.
The Sun Devils (25-5, 16-2 Pac-12) finish the regular season tied with seventh-ranked Oregon State (25-4, 16-2) as co-champions of the Pac-12, ASU’s first league title since 2001.
UCLA (22-7, 14-4 Pac-12) shot 47 percent for the game, had a 14-0 advantage in fast break points and was able to convert ASU’s 14 turnovers into 17 points.
The Sun Devils had a plus-six advantage in rebounds and were able to score 13 second chance points off of 15 offensive rebounds. ASU struggled from long range, however, as it made only 2-of-19 3-pointers for the game (11 percent).
Quinn Dornstauder, who last week had a career-high 25 points in ASU’s win vs. Washington, led ASU on Sunday with 24 points to go with five rebounds and three blocks. Also scoring in double figures for the Sun Devils were Sophie Brunner, who had 10 points and 13 rebounds for her fourth double-double of the season, and Katie Hempen (12 points).
UCLA was led by Nirra Fields (24 points), Jordin Canada (22 points) and Monique Billings (14 points), who combined for 60 of the Bruins’ 74 points.
The Sun Devils had trouble finding their rhythm on both ends of the floor after starting guards Elisha Davis and Katie Hempen were forced to the bench by early foul trouble (both players picked up two fouls in the first quarter).
The Bruins ended the first quarter on a 10-3 run to take a 19-12 lead after the first 10 minutes.
An 8-2 run late in the second quarter extended UCLA’s lead to 13. The Sun Devils would bounce back with four points of their own, capped off by a buzzer-beater by Arnecia Hawkins to get within nine, 38-29, at the half.
ASU was unable to carry its momentum into the second half as the Bruins outscored the Sun Devils 15-7 over the first eight-plus minutes of the third quarter to take a 17-point lead. ASU would close out the quarter with a 7-2 run to get within 12 points entering the fourth quarter.
The Sun Devils would not go down without a fight as they slowly chipped away at the Bruins’ lead, getting within five points on two occasions. Both times, however, UCLA would come back with a basket on its ensuing possession to once again go up by seven.
The Bruins, who scored 12 of their 19 points in the fourth quarter at the free throw line, made 9-of-10 free throws in the final two-plus minutes to secure the win.
ASU will be the No. 2 seed in this week’s Pac-12 Tournament and will open play on Friday (11:30 a.m. PT/12:30 p.m. MT) against either Utah (No. 7 seed) or Cal (No. 10 seed).