BOULDER, Colo. – Seniors Ja'Tavia Tapley (16 points), Reili Richardson (16 points) and Robbi Ryan (15 points) combined for 47 points to help the No. 21 Arizona State women's basketball team win its third straight game, 65-59 over Colorado on Friday night.
The Sun Devils (19-8, 9-6 Pac-12) had their best shooting effort in Pac-12 play, connecting on 53 percent of their shots, including a season-high 64 percent (7-11 3FGs) from behind the arc.
Senior Jamie Ruden scored all six of her points in the first half while fellow senior Kiara Russell added three points, had a season best-four steals and tied Tapley for the team lead with four rebounds.
ASU was outrebounded for only the sixth time this season (29-23). After the Buffaloes doubled up the Sun Devils on the boards 14-7 in the first half, ASU held a slight 16-15 edge in the second half.
For the first three quarters, Colorado was also extremely accurate from the floor shooting 50 percent after 30 minutes. The Buffaloes (15-11, 4-11), trailed by six at the half and found themselves down by six after Ryan's jumper gave ASU a 42-36 lead midway through the third quarter.
The Buffaloes closed the quarter on a 11-3 run to reclaim the lead 47-45 after Lesila Finau knocked down a 3-pointer at the buzzer. Colorado eventually pushed its lead to six after scoring the first four points of the final quarter to go up 51-45.
Tapley would personally account for the game's next seven points to put ASU back in front, 52-51 with 2:41 remaining. After a defensive stop, Ryan knocked down a triple to extend ASU's lead to 55-51.
The Buffaloes countered with a layup to get back within two, but Richardson answered with her fourth 3-pointer of the night to put ASU up 60-55 with 28 seconds remaining. The Devils would then close out the win by hitting 5-of-6 free throws in the final 18 seconds.
ASU allowed Colorado to shoot just 29 percent in the fourth quarter. The Buffaloes missed eight straight shots and missed 10 of their final 13 attempts after they took a 51-45 lead.
Richardson (nine points), Ryan (eight points), Ruden and Tapley (six points each) combined to score 29 of ASU's 33 points in the first half. Richardson scored all of her points from downtown. Ryan also used the long ball to score six of her points while Ruden and Tapley were both doing work in the paint. Russell and Jayde Van Hyfte also scored for the Sun Devils, who shot 75 percent in the second quarter (9-12) after managing only 42 percent in the opening period.
Down by six after one quarter, the Sun Devils came back to outscore the Buffaloes 21-9 in the second quarter to take a 33-27 lead at the half.
Richardson, who came in leading ASU in scoring over its last six games (14.8 ppg), played only 8:30 in the second half after picking up her fourth foul midway through the third quarter.
The Sun Devils conclude their final regular season road trip on Sunday (noon MST) when they travel to Salt Lake City to take on Utah. The game can be seen on Pac-12 Arizona and heard on KDUS AM 1060.
The Sun Devils (19-8, 9-6 Pac-12) had their best shooting effort in Pac-12 play, connecting on 53 percent of their shots, including a season-high 64 percent (7-11 3FGs) from behind the arc.
Senior Jamie Ruden scored all six of her points in the first half while fellow senior Kiara Russell added three points, had a season best-four steals and tied Tapley for the team lead with four rebounds.
ASU was outrebounded for only the sixth time this season (29-23). After the Buffaloes doubled up the Sun Devils on the boards 14-7 in the first half, ASU held a slight 16-15 edge in the second half.
For the first three quarters, Colorado was also extremely accurate from the floor shooting 50 percent after 30 minutes. The Buffaloes (15-11, 4-11), trailed by six at the half and found themselves down by six after Ryan's jumper gave ASU a 42-36 lead midway through the third quarter.
The Buffaloes closed the quarter on a 11-3 run to reclaim the lead 47-45 after Lesila Finau knocked down a 3-pointer at the buzzer. Colorado eventually pushed its lead to six after scoring the first four points of the final quarter to go up 51-45.
Tapley would personally account for the game's next seven points to put ASU back in front, 52-51 with 2:41 remaining. After a defensive stop, Ryan knocked down a triple to extend ASU's lead to 55-51.
The Buffaloes countered with a layup to get back within two, but Richardson answered with her fourth 3-pointer of the night to put ASU up 60-55 with 28 seconds remaining. The Devils would then close out the win by hitting 5-of-6 free throws in the final 18 seconds.
ASU allowed Colorado to shoot just 29 percent in the fourth quarter. The Buffaloes missed eight straight shots and missed 10 of their final 13 attempts after they took a 51-45 lead.
Richardson (nine points), Ryan (eight points), Ruden and Tapley (six points each) combined to score 29 of ASU's 33 points in the first half. Richardson scored all of her points from downtown. Ryan also used the long ball to score six of her points while Ruden and Tapley were both doing work in the paint. Russell and Jayde Van Hyfte also scored for the Sun Devils, who shot 75 percent in the second quarter (9-12) after managing only 42 percent in the opening period.
Down by six after one quarter, the Sun Devils came back to outscore the Buffaloes 21-9 in the second quarter to take a 33-27 lead at the half.
Richardson, who came in leading ASU in scoring over its last six games (14.8 ppg), played only 8:30 in the second half after picking up her fourth foul midway through the third quarter.
The Sun Devils conclude their final regular season road trip on Sunday (noon MST) when they travel to Salt Lake City to take on Utah. The game can be seen on Pac-12 Arizona and heard on KDUS AM 1060.