TUCSON, Ariz. – Despite a career-high 25 points from senior guard Robbi Ryan, the No. 16 Arizona State women's basketball team had its five-game winning streak snapped by No. 18 Arizona, 59-53 on Friday night.
Eboni Walker, who had 12 points in last month's meeting vs. Arizona, just missed her first career double-double with nine points and a career-high 10 rebounds.
The Wildcats (16-3, 5-3 Pac-12) connected on nine 3-pointers and scored 18 points from the free throw line where they made 67 percent of their attempts (18-27).
For only the fourth time this season, the Sun Devils (15-5, 5-3 Pac-12) came up on the short end of the rebounding battle as the Wildcats had a 38-35 edge for the game.
After scoring 20 points in ASU's win at Washington State last Sunday, Ryan did everything she could to help the Sun Devils continue the winning streak that included upsets of No. 2 Oregon and No. 3 Oregon State earlier this month. Ryan, who went over 1,000 career points on Friday night, was the Sun Devils' only consistent threat from beyond the arc where she hit 44 percent of her attempts (4-9).
In a contest that featured two of the nation's top defensive teams, points were hard to come by for much of the game. The Sun Devils shot 40 percent in the first half while limiting Arizona to only 25 percent. It appeared ASU would go to the intermission with a two-possession lead but due to an error by the timekeeper, the Wildcats got what amounted to a do-over on their last possesion and the result was a 3-pointer by Arizona's Aari McDonald (game-high 25 points) that cut ASU's lead to 23-20 at the half.
The third quarter proved to be the difference in the game – ASU was plus-3 in the other three quarters – as the Wildcats outscored the Sun Devils 19-10 to go to the final frame with a six-point lead, 39-33.
After falling behind by eight points early in the fourth quarter, the Sun Devils slowly fought their way back into the game. Four free throws by Ja'Tavia Tapley and a bucket by Ryan allowed the Sun Devils to get within two points, 41-39, with 5:55 remaining.
The Wildcats would counter with an 11-3 run to take their largest lead of the game, 52-42, with 1:36 left.
The Sun Devils would not give up and – thanks to a pair of 3-pointers by Ryan – got back within four points with 44 seconds left. That is as close as the Sun Devils could make it as they could not get any more shots to fall.
The Sun Devils return to action next Friday (11 a.m. MST) when they host USC in the Sun Devil women's basketball team's annual Sparky's Kids to College Field Trip Game.
Eboni Walker, who had 12 points in last month's meeting vs. Arizona, just missed her first career double-double with nine points and a career-high 10 rebounds.
The Wildcats (16-3, 5-3 Pac-12) connected on nine 3-pointers and scored 18 points from the free throw line where they made 67 percent of their attempts (18-27).
For only the fourth time this season, the Sun Devils (15-5, 5-3 Pac-12) came up on the short end of the rebounding battle as the Wildcats had a 38-35 edge for the game.
After scoring 20 points in ASU's win at Washington State last Sunday, Ryan did everything she could to help the Sun Devils continue the winning streak that included upsets of No. 2 Oregon and No. 3 Oregon State earlier this month. Ryan, who went over 1,000 career points on Friday night, was the Sun Devils' only consistent threat from beyond the arc where she hit 44 percent of her attempts (4-9).
In a contest that featured two of the nation's top defensive teams, points were hard to come by for much of the game. The Sun Devils shot 40 percent in the first half while limiting Arizona to only 25 percent. It appeared ASU would go to the intermission with a two-possession lead but due to an error by the timekeeper, the Wildcats got what amounted to a do-over on their last possesion and the result was a 3-pointer by Arizona's Aari McDonald (game-high 25 points) that cut ASU's lead to 23-20 at the half.
The third quarter proved to be the difference in the game – ASU was plus-3 in the other three quarters – as the Wildcats outscored the Sun Devils 19-10 to go to the final frame with a six-point lead, 39-33.
After falling behind by eight points early in the fourth quarter, the Sun Devils slowly fought their way back into the game. Four free throws by Ja'Tavia Tapley and a bucket by Ryan allowed the Sun Devils to get within two points, 41-39, with 5:55 remaining.
The Wildcats would counter with an 11-3 run to take their largest lead of the game, 52-42, with 1:36 left.
The Sun Devils would not give up and – thanks to a pair of 3-pointers by Ryan – got back within four points with 44 seconds left. That is as close as the Sun Devils could make it as they could not get any more shots to fall.
The Sun Devils return to action next Friday (11 a.m. MST) when they host USC in the Sun Devil women's basketball team's annual Sparky's Kids to College Field Trip Game.