ESTERO, Fla. – The Arizona State women's basketball team dropped its second game of the season on Saturday, falling to unbeaten Purdue 59-52 in the semifinal round of the Gulf Coast Showcase being held in Estero, Fla.
In what ended up being a see-saw contest, the Sun Devils (4-2) led by as many as 10 in the first half, trailed by as many as 10 in the fourth quarter and then rallied to get as close as three before Purdue pulled away.
Guards Taya Hanson and Kiara Russell scored 10 points each to lead the Sun Devils, who shot 28 percent for the game, including 19 percent (3-16) from long range. Despite their struggles offensively, the Sun Devils set up other scoring opportunities by getting to the foul line 26 times. Unfortunately for ASU, it missed 11 free throws and ended the game making only 58 percent of its attempts.
Jayde Van Hyfte came through with a double-digit rebounding effort (10) for the second time in three games and the fourth time this season. As a team, the Sun Devils were plus-4 on the glass and plus-8 on the offensive boards, which led to a 16-9 advantage for ASU in second-chance points. Also contributing to ASU's rebounding performance were Russell (career high-tying seven rebounds, three steals) and Ja'Tavia Tapley (nine points, seven rebounds).
In Friday's win over Maine, the Sun Devils dominated the middle 20 minutes, enabling them to enter the fourth quarter with a big lead. On Saturday, it was during the same middle 20 minutes when Purdue was most efficient on offense, shooting 58 percent from the floor and outscoring the Sun Devils 38-24.
The first half was a game of scoring runs. After the Boilermakers claimed an early 6-1 lead, the Sun Devils responded with a 17-2 run that carried into the early moments of the second quarter. Russell's steal and layup gave the Sun Devils an 18-8 lead 15 seconds into the second stanza.
A 17-7 scoring burst by Purdue (6-0) knotted the score at 25-25 with two minutes left in the half. From that point, the Boilermakers outscored ASU 6-2 to take a 31-27 halftime lead.
Although it tied the score at 31-31 early in the third quarter, ASU was not able to reclaim the lead on the scoreboard as Purdue would eventually push its lead to 10 in the fourth quarter.
Back-to-back jumpers by Van Hyfte and Hanson and a pair of made free throws by Tapley got ASU back within four, 50-46, with 4:32 remaining. ASU's offense stalled at that point as it scored only three points – a 3-pointer by Robbi Ryan that got ASU within three points with 1:41 remaining – in the ensuing three minutes.
The Boilermakers matched their largest lead of 10 in the final minute before Hanson hit a 3-pointer with nine seconds left.
The Sun Devils will face Middle Tennessee in the third-place game of the Gulf Coast Showcase on Sunday at 5 p.m. EST/3 p.m. MST.
In what ended up being a see-saw contest, the Sun Devils (4-2) led by as many as 10 in the first half, trailed by as many as 10 in the fourth quarter and then rallied to get as close as three before Purdue pulled away.
Guards Taya Hanson and Kiara Russell scored 10 points each to lead the Sun Devils, who shot 28 percent for the game, including 19 percent (3-16) from long range. Despite their struggles offensively, the Sun Devils set up other scoring opportunities by getting to the foul line 26 times. Unfortunately for ASU, it missed 11 free throws and ended the game making only 58 percent of its attempts.
Jayde Van Hyfte came through with a double-digit rebounding effort (10) for the second time in three games and the fourth time this season. As a team, the Sun Devils were plus-4 on the glass and plus-8 on the offensive boards, which led to a 16-9 advantage for ASU in second-chance points. Also contributing to ASU's rebounding performance were Russell (career high-tying seven rebounds, three steals) and Ja'Tavia Tapley (nine points, seven rebounds).
In Friday's win over Maine, the Sun Devils dominated the middle 20 minutes, enabling them to enter the fourth quarter with a big lead. On Saturday, it was during the same middle 20 minutes when Purdue was most efficient on offense, shooting 58 percent from the floor and outscoring the Sun Devils 38-24.
The first half was a game of scoring runs. After the Boilermakers claimed an early 6-1 lead, the Sun Devils responded with a 17-2 run that carried into the early moments of the second quarter. Russell's steal and layup gave the Sun Devils an 18-8 lead 15 seconds into the second stanza.
A 17-7 scoring burst by Purdue (6-0) knotted the score at 25-25 with two minutes left in the half. From that point, the Boilermakers outscored ASU 6-2 to take a 31-27 halftime lead.
Although it tied the score at 31-31 early in the third quarter, ASU was not able to reclaim the lead on the scoreboard as Purdue would eventually push its lead to 10 in the fourth quarter.
Back-to-back jumpers by Van Hyfte and Hanson and a pair of made free throws by Tapley got ASU back within four, 50-46, with 4:32 remaining. ASU's offense stalled at that point as it scored only three points – a 3-pointer by Robbi Ryan that got ASU within three points with 1:41 remaining – in the ensuing three minutes.
The Boilermakers matched their largest lead of 10 in the final minute before Hanson hit a 3-pointer with nine seconds left.
The Sun Devils will face Middle Tennessee in the third-place game of the Gulf Coast Showcase on Sunday at 5 p.m. EST/3 p.m. MST.