FORT DEFIANCE, Ariz. – The locals came out in full force to witness 'Showdown on the Rez,' on Sunday night and did not go away disappointed as they were treated to an outstanding night of NCAA women's basketball.
The No. 23 Arizona State women's basketball team had fourth-ranked Baylor on the ropes, but in the end the Bears were able to outlast the Sun Devils, 65-59.
Working in conjunction with ASU's Office of American Indian Initiatives, 'Showdown on the Rez' served as a celebration of Native American Heritage Month and also provided a platform to recognize and honor Native Americans who served in the armed forces. The Sun Devil women's basketball program also honored former ASU players and Native Americans Ryneldi Becenti (1992-93), Kalene Carl (1997), Michelle Tom (1998-99) and Rainy Crisp (2000-03). All four former players served as special guest coaches for ASU on Sunday.
The Sun Devils (1-1) led by as many as 14 points in the second quarter, by 11 at the half and entered the final period with a four-point lead. It was then that Baylor would punctuate its second-half comeback as the Bears reeled off 12 straight points in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter to turn a four-point deficit into an eight-point lead.
Kianna Ibis and Courtney Ekmark tied for the team lead with 13 points each. Jamie Loera, who missed ASU's season opener due to illness, connected on all three of her 3-pointers in her Sun Devil debut. Loera (3-3), Ekmark (3-7) and Ibis (2-3) collectively hit 61.5 percent of their 3-pointers and were responsible for eight of ASU's 11 makes from long distance.
Reili Richardson added six points, five assists and three rebounds for the Sun Devils (1-1), who had only five turnovers for the game. ASU also forced Baylor into 16 turnovers, which they converted into 13 points.
Baylor (3-0) had big advantages in rebounding (49-30), points in the paint (46-8) and second-chance points (14-5). The Bears (3-0) were also more accurate with their shooting as they connected on 51 percent of their field goals while the Sun Devils hit 30 percent.
The Bears were led by the quartet of NaLyssa Smith (16 points, 11 rebounds), Lauren Cox (14 points, nine rebounds), Kalani Brown (14 points, seven rebounds) and Chloe Jackson (10 points, four rebounds), who combined for 54 points and 31 rebounds.
Early on it appeared the Sun Devils were on their way to knocking off one of the nation's top teams in front of an energized crowd in the stands and a national audience on ESPN2.
Loera connected on back-to-back 3-pointers as part of a 9-2 run in the final 2:16 of the first quarter to take a 19-8 lead after the first 10 minutes of play.
Ekmark's triple with 7:08 left in the first half gave ASU its largest lead of the game, 24-10.
The Bears bounced back with an 8-0 run later in the quarter to get within six, but ASU closed the half with a 9-4 run to take an 11-point lead at the intermission, 35-24.
Baylor started to get back into the game by incrementally cutting into ASU's lead. Lauren Cox's 3-point play got Baylor within a single point midway through the quarter before Jamie Ruden answered with a 3-pointer to put ASU back up by four.
After Baylor tied the game at 43-43 Ibis and Ryan hit consecutive jumpers to give ASU a four-point lead going into the last quarter.
It was then that the Bears would seize control of the game with the aforementioned 12-0 run. Although ASU never let the Bears take a double-digit lead, it also was unable to get the deficit any lower than six until Ibis' 3-pointer with 1:26 remaining.
The Sun Devils return to action next Sunday (7 p.m. CT/6 p.m. MT) when they play at Arkansas. The game can be seen on SEC Network and heard on NBC Sports Radio AM 1060.
The No. 23 Arizona State women's basketball team had fourth-ranked Baylor on the ropes, but in the end the Bears were able to outlast the Sun Devils, 65-59.
Working in conjunction with ASU's Office of American Indian Initiatives, 'Showdown on the Rez' served as a celebration of Native American Heritage Month and also provided a platform to recognize and honor Native Americans who served in the armed forces. The Sun Devil women's basketball program also honored former ASU players and Native Americans Ryneldi Becenti (1992-93), Kalene Carl (1997), Michelle Tom (1998-99) and Rainy Crisp (2000-03). All four former players served as special guest coaches for ASU on Sunday.
The Sun Devils (1-1) led by as many as 14 points in the second quarter, by 11 at the half and entered the final period with a four-point lead. It was then that Baylor would punctuate its second-half comeback as the Bears reeled off 12 straight points in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter to turn a four-point deficit into an eight-point lead.
Kianna Ibis and Courtney Ekmark tied for the team lead with 13 points each. Jamie Loera, who missed ASU's season opener due to illness, connected on all three of her 3-pointers in her Sun Devil debut. Loera (3-3), Ekmark (3-7) and Ibis (2-3) collectively hit 61.5 percent of their 3-pointers and were responsible for eight of ASU's 11 makes from long distance.
Reili Richardson added six points, five assists and three rebounds for the Sun Devils (1-1), who had only five turnovers for the game. ASU also forced Baylor into 16 turnovers, which they converted into 13 points.
Baylor (3-0) had big advantages in rebounding (49-30), points in the paint (46-8) and second-chance points (14-5). The Bears (3-0) were also more accurate with their shooting as they connected on 51 percent of their field goals while the Sun Devils hit 30 percent.
The Bears were led by the quartet of NaLyssa Smith (16 points, 11 rebounds), Lauren Cox (14 points, nine rebounds), Kalani Brown (14 points, seven rebounds) and Chloe Jackson (10 points, four rebounds), who combined for 54 points and 31 rebounds.
Early on it appeared the Sun Devils were on their way to knocking off one of the nation's top teams in front of an energized crowd in the stands and a national audience on ESPN2.
Loera connected on back-to-back 3-pointers as part of a 9-2 run in the final 2:16 of the first quarter to take a 19-8 lead after the first 10 minutes of play.
Ekmark's triple with 7:08 left in the first half gave ASU its largest lead of the game, 24-10.
The Bears bounced back with an 8-0 run later in the quarter to get within six, but ASU closed the half with a 9-4 run to take an 11-point lead at the intermission, 35-24.
Baylor started to get back into the game by incrementally cutting into ASU's lead. Lauren Cox's 3-point play got Baylor within a single point midway through the quarter before Jamie Ruden answered with a 3-pointer to put ASU back up by four.
After Baylor tied the game at 43-43 Ibis and Ryan hit consecutive jumpers to give ASU a four-point lead going into the last quarter.
It was then that the Bears would seize control of the game with the aforementioned 12-0 run. Although ASU never let the Bears take a double-digit lead, it also was unable to get the deficit any lower than six until Ibis' 3-pointer with 1:26 remaining.
The Sun Devils return to action next Sunday (7 p.m. CT/6 p.m. MT) when they play at Arkansas. The game can be seen on SEC Network and heard on NBC Sports Radio AM 1060.