SALT LAKE CITY – Despite tying a season-high with 10 3-pointers, the No. 21 Arizona State women's basketball team was upset by Utah 75-71 on Sunday.
Reili Richardson knocked down a career-high six 3-pointers – one triple shy of tying the school record – and scored 22 points. Eboni Walker tied a career-high with 13 points and Robbi Ryan and Ja'Tavia Tapley added 10 points each for the Sun Devils, who shot 41 percent for the game.
As a team, the Sun Devils (19-9, 9-7 Pac-12) shot 50 percent (10-20) from long range. That was the good news. The bad news is they made only two triples after halftime, missing nine of their 11 attempts after knocking down 8-of-9 in the first half.
The Utes (13-14, 6-10) came into the game third in the Pac-12 in both 3-pointers per game and 3-point shooting percentage. After starting the game 0-4, the Utes knocked down 65 percent of their 3s (11-17) over the final three quarters.
The Sun Devils were outrebounded (33-30) for the second straight game and the seventh time this season. Tapley, who had a season-high four steals on Sunday, led ASU with seven boards. ASU's 12-4 advantage in offensive rebounds translated into a 13-3 advantage in second chance points.
Richardson, Kiara Russell and Iris Mbulito had four assists apiece and combined for 12 assists and only three turnovers. As a team, ASU had only nine turnovers while forcing Utah into 16 miscues which were converted into 14 points.
Richardson scored all 15 of her first-half points via the long ball as she made 5-of-6 over the first 20 minutes.
Ryan's pull-up jumper gave ASU its largest lead of the game, 42-29, with 95 seconds remaining in the second quarter. The Utes responded with consecutive 3-pointers to cut ASU's lead to seven at the half, 42-35.
After Tapley scored the first basket of the second half, the Utes used a 15-6 run to knot the game at 50-50 with 3:51 left in the third quarter. Utah would go on to score 26 points in the period tying the second-most points the Sun Devils have given up in a quarter this season and took a four-point lead into the final frame.
The Sun Devils came through with a pair of dramatic come-from-behind wins over the Utes last season. After falling behind by eight points with 3:35 remaining, the Sun Devils appeared to be setting the stage for another memorable finish after Tapley and Walker both hit two free throws to get ASU within four with 1:41 remaining.
Unfortunately for ASU, there would be no heroes on this day as the Sun Devils missed their next five shots while the Utes went 3-of-4 from the line in the final minute to seal the win.
After making 50 percent of their shots through three quarters, the Sun Devils suddenly went cold in the final period making only 17 percent of their attempts.
The Sun Devils close out regular season action next week when they host Cal (Friday at 8 p.m. MST) and No. 4 Stanford (Sunday at 12 p.m. MST). Sunday's game will be Senior Day. Senior Sun Devils Reili Richardson, Jamie Ruden, Kiara Russell, Robbi Ryan and Ja'Tavia Tapley will be honored in a ceremony after the game.
Reili Richardson knocked down a career-high six 3-pointers – one triple shy of tying the school record – and scored 22 points. Eboni Walker tied a career-high with 13 points and Robbi Ryan and Ja'Tavia Tapley added 10 points each for the Sun Devils, who shot 41 percent for the game.
As a team, the Sun Devils (19-9, 9-7 Pac-12) shot 50 percent (10-20) from long range. That was the good news. The bad news is they made only two triples after halftime, missing nine of their 11 attempts after knocking down 8-of-9 in the first half.
The Utes (13-14, 6-10) came into the game third in the Pac-12 in both 3-pointers per game and 3-point shooting percentage. After starting the game 0-4, the Utes knocked down 65 percent of their 3s (11-17) over the final three quarters.
The Sun Devils were outrebounded (33-30) for the second straight game and the seventh time this season. Tapley, who had a season-high four steals on Sunday, led ASU with seven boards. ASU's 12-4 advantage in offensive rebounds translated into a 13-3 advantage in second chance points.
Richardson, Kiara Russell and Iris Mbulito had four assists apiece and combined for 12 assists and only three turnovers. As a team, ASU had only nine turnovers while forcing Utah into 16 miscues which were converted into 14 points.
Richardson scored all 15 of her first-half points via the long ball as she made 5-of-6 over the first 20 minutes.
Ryan's pull-up jumper gave ASU its largest lead of the game, 42-29, with 95 seconds remaining in the second quarter. The Utes responded with consecutive 3-pointers to cut ASU's lead to seven at the half, 42-35.
After Tapley scored the first basket of the second half, the Utes used a 15-6 run to knot the game at 50-50 with 3:51 left in the third quarter. Utah would go on to score 26 points in the period tying the second-most points the Sun Devils have given up in a quarter this season and took a four-point lead into the final frame.
The Sun Devils came through with a pair of dramatic come-from-behind wins over the Utes last season. After falling behind by eight points with 3:35 remaining, the Sun Devils appeared to be setting the stage for another memorable finish after Tapley and Walker both hit two free throws to get ASU within four with 1:41 remaining.
Unfortunately for ASU, there would be no heroes on this day as the Sun Devils missed their next five shots while the Utes went 3-of-4 from the line in the final minute to seal the win.
After making 50 percent of their shots through three quarters, the Sun Devils suddenly went cold in the final period making only 17 percent of their attempts.
The Sun Devils close out regular season action next week when they host Cal (Friday at 8 p.m. MST) and No. 4 Stanford (Sunday at 12 p.m. MST). Sunday's game will be Senior Day. Senior Sun Devils Reili Richardson, Jamie Ruden, Kiara Russell, Robbi Ryan and Ja'Tavia Tapley will be honored in a ceremony after the game.