TEMPE, Ariz. – Coming off a triple overtime win over USC on Friday, the No. 19 Arizona State women's basketball team was unable to complete a sweep of the Pac-12's Los Angeles schools after falling to No. 8 UCLA 70-61 on Sunday.
The Sun Devils (16-6, 6-4 Pac-12) found themselves on the wrong end of a 20-10 third quarter that ultimately proved to be the difference in a game they led by nine in the early stages of the second quarter.
Seniors Robbi Ryan (15 points), Jamie Ruden (15 points) and Reili Richardson (12 points) combined for 42 of ASU's points on Sunday.
Freshman Eboni Walker (seven rebounds) and sophomore Taya Hanson (six rebounds) led ASU's effort on the boards where the Sun Devils were plus-five (42-37) for the game.
Although they committed a season-high 26 turnovers in Friday's game against USC, the Trojans scored only 11 points off of ASU's miscues. The Sun Devils were not as fortunate on Sunday as the Bruins (19-2, 8-2) took full advantage of ASU's mistakes, scoring 24 points off of ASU's 16 turnovers.
Seven different Sun Devils scored in the first quarter to help ASU to a 20-15 lead after 10 minutes. Ryan led the way with five points while Ruden added four. UCLA led by as many as five points early on before Walker's layup gave ASU an 8-7 lead. The Bruins would go back up by three later in the quarter but the Sun Devils closed with an 8-0 run to help them take a five-point lead into the second quarter. Richardson and Ryan capped the run with consecutive 3-pointers.
Ryan connected on a pair of jumpers to help ASU extend its lead to nine points, 24-15, early in the second quarter. The Bruins would answer with a 10-3 run to get back within two points after Jaden Owens' 3-point play. ASU would reel off seven of the next nine points – Kiara Russell accounted for four of those points – to boost its lead back up to seven. The Bruins would close the half with five straight points to cut ASU's lead to two points at the half, 34-32.
Seniors Ryan (nine points), Richardson (six points) and Ruden (six points) combined for 21 of ASU's 34 points in the half.
Neither team led by more than two points over the first five-plus minutes of the third quarter. With ASU up 40-39 the momentum shifted in UCLA's favor after the Bruins scored nine straight points to take a 48-40 lead after Charisma Osborne's 3-pointer with 3:48 left in the quarter.
Ruden's layup got the Sun Devils within six points early in the fourth quarter, but the Bruins countered by scoring eight of the game's next 10 points to go up 60-48 with 6:13 remaining.
UCLA eventually led by as many as 13 points before the Sun Devils responded with a 7-0 run – two free throws by Ryan, a 3-pointer by Richardson and a jumper by Ryan – to get back within six points with 1:25 remaining.
That was as close as the Sun Devils could get after not being able to connect on any shots until Ruden's 3-pointer before the final buzzer.
Up next is a road trip to Oregon where the Sun Devils will face No. 10 Oregon State on Friday at 8 p.m. PT/9 p.m. MT (Pac-12 Oregon/KDUS AM 1060) and No. 3 Oregon on Sunday at 2 p.m. PT/3 p.m. MT (Pac-12 Oregon/KDUS AM 1060).
The Sun Devils (16-6, 6-4 Pac-12) found themselves on the wrong end of a 20-10 third quarter that ultimately proved to be the difference in a game they led by nine in the early stages of the second quarter.
Seniors Robbi Ryan (15 points), Jamie Ruden (15 points) and Reili Richardson (12 points) combined for 42 of ASU's points on Sunday.
Freshman Eboni Walker (seven rebounds) and sophomore Taya Hanson (six rebounds) led ASU's effort on the boards where the Sun Devils were plus-five (42-37) for the game.
Although they committed a season-high 26 turnovers in Friday's game against USC, the Trojans scored only 11 points off of ASU's miscues. The Sun Devils were not as fortunate on Sunday as the Bruins (19-2, 8-2) took full advantage of ASU's mistakes, scoring 24 points off of ASU's 16 turnovers.
Seven different Sun Devils scored in the first quarter to help ASU to a 20-15 lead after 10 minutes. Ryan led the way with five points while Ruden added four. UCLA led by as many as five points early on before Walker's layup gave ASU an 8-7 lead. The Bruins would go back up by three later in the quarter but the Sun Devils closed with an 8-0 run to help them take a five-point lead into the second quarter. Richardson and Ryan capped the run with consecutive 3-pointers.
Ryan connected on a pair of jumpers to help ASU extend its lead to nine points, 24-15, early in the second quarter. The Bruins would answer with a 10-3 run to get back within two points after Jaden Owens' 3-point play. ASU would reel off seven of the next nine points – Kiara Russell accounted for four of those points – to boost its lead back up to seven. The Bruins would close the half with five straight points to cut ASU's lead to two points at the half, 34-32.
Seniors Ryan (nine points), Richardson (six points) and Ruden (six points) combined for 21 of ASU's 34 points in the half.
Neither team led by more than two points over the first five-plus minutes of the third quarter. With ASU up 40-39 the momentum shifted in UCLA's favor after the Bruins scored nine straight points to take a 48-40 lead after Charisma Osborne's 3-pointer with 3:48 left in the quarter.
Ruden's layup got the Sun Devils within six points early in the fourth quarter, but the Bruins countered by scoring eight of the game's next 10 points to go up 60-48 with 6:13 remaining.
UCLA eventually led by as many as 13 points before the Sun Devils responded with a 7-0 run – two free throws by Ryan, a 3-pointer by Richardson and a jumper by Ryan – to get back within six points with 1:25 remaining.
That was as close as the Sun Devils could get after not being able to connect on any shots until Ruden's 3-pointer before the final buzzer.
Up next is a road trip to Oregon where the Sun Devils will face No. 10 Oregon State on Friday at 8 p.m. PT/9 p.m. MT (Pac-12 Oregon/KDUS AM 1060) and No. 3 Oregon on Sunday at 2 p.m. PT/3 p.m. MT (Pac-12 Oregon/KDUS AM 1060).