LAS VEGAS – A sudden 20-0 run by Cal that started late in the third quarter and lasted into the early stages of the fourth quarter proved to be the difference in the No. 24 Arizona State women's basketball team's 71-67 loss to the Bears in the first round of the Pac-12 Tournament on Thursday.
Seniors Reili Richardson (20 points), Robbi Ryan (14 points) and Ja'Tavia Tapley (13 points) combined for 47 points for the Sun Devils (20-11), who shot 44 percent for the game. Richardson also added a game-high six assists and six rebounds, while Eboni Walker led ASU's rebounding effort with nine boards.
The Bears scored 20 of their 50 second half points at the free throw line where they went 20-of-22 over the last 20 minutes. The opportunistic Bears also scored 24 points off of ASU's 21 turnovers.
The Sun Devils also had success with capitalizing on opponent miscues as they cashed in Cal's 17 turnovers for 22 points. ASU was whistled for 16 fouls in the second half, more than twice as many as the seven they had in the first half.
The Sun Devils led by as many as 15 points in the second quarter and went to the half with an 11-point lead, 32-21.
The game's turning point was equally sudden and swift. After Cal got within five points, the Sun Devils scored six straight points, capped by Richardson's 3-point play that gave ASU a 46-35 lead with just under two minutes left in the third period. By quarter's end, it was Cal that would be taking a lead into the fourth quarter after they exploded for 13 straight points in the space of 75 seconds.
After scoring the first seven points of the fourth quarter, Cal extended its lead to nine points, 55-46 with 8:47 remaining in the game.
ASU would cut the lead to four after Ryan's 3-pointer with 6:46 remaining, but five straight points by Cal built its lead back up to nine, 62-53.
Still down by eight with under three minutes left, the Sun Devils would make one last run. Two free throws by Ryan started a burst of eight straight points by ASU that got it within one point after the last of four straight free throws by Richardson made the score 66-65 with 1:03 remaining.
Cal hit 1-of-2 at the line to go up 67-65 with 32 seconds left. The Sun Devils went for the go-ahead points, but two good looks at 3-pointers missed their mark. The Bears would then close out the upset by making four free throws in the final 14 seconds.
After posting their school record seventh consecutive 20-win season, the Sun Devils will now await word on their NCAA Tournament assignment when the brackets are announced on Monday, March 16.
Seniors Reili Richardson (20 points), Robbi Ryan (14 points) and Ja'Tavia Tapley (13 points) combined for 47 points for the Sun Devils (20-11), who shot 44 percent for the game. Richardson also added a game-high six assists and six rebounds, while Eboni Walker led ASU's rebounding effort with nine boards.
The Bears scored 20 of their 50 second half points at the free throw line where they went 20-of-22 over the last 20 minutes. The opportunistic Bears also scored 24 points off of ASU's 21 turnovers.
The Sun Devils also had success with capitalizing on opponent miscues as they cashed in Cal's 17 turnovers for 22 points. ASU was whistled for 16 fouls in the second half, more than twice as many as the seven they had in the first half.
The Sun Devils led by as many as 15 points in the second quarter and went to the half with an 11-point lead, 32-21.
The game's turning point was equally sudden and swift. After Cal got within five points, the Sun Devils scored six straight points, capped by Richardson's 3-point play that gave ASU a 46-35 lead with just under two minutes left in the third period. By quarter's end, it was Cal that would be taking a lead into the fourth quarter after they exploded for 13 straight points in the space of 75 seconds.
After scoring the first seven points of the fourth quarter, Cal extended its lead to nine points, 55-46 with 8:47 remaining in the game.
ASU would cut the lead to four after Ryan's 3-pointer with 6:46 remaining, but five straight points by Cal built its lead back up to nine, 62-53.
Still down by eight with under three minutes left, the Sun Devils would make one last run. Two free throws by Ryan started a burst of eight straight points by ASU that got it within one point after the last of four straight free throws by Richardson made the score 66-65 with 1:03 remaining.
Cal hit 1-of-2 at the line to go up 67-65 with 32 seconds left. The Sun Devils went for the go-ahead points, but two good looks at 3-pointers missed their mark. The Bears would then close out the upset by making four free throws in the final 14 seconds.
After posting their school record seventh consecutive 20-win season, the Sun Devils will now await word on their NCAA Tournament assignment when the brackets are announced on Monday, March 16.