TEMPE – Another strong fourth quarter performance propelled the Sun Devil women's basketball team to a 49-40 victory over VCU on Friday at the Desert Financial Arena as part of the Global Sports & Events Tipoff: Phoenix in Tempe.
Eboni Walker recorded 10 second half points and posted her second double-double to start the season and the third in her last five games dating back to last year. She matched career-highs with 13 points and 13 rebounds while going 6-of-6 shooting from the free throw line.
Like the season opener, ASU entered the final quarter against a scrappy opponent with just a slim lead at 32-30.
But also like the season opener, the Sun Devils locked things down in the final frame, holding VCU to a six-minute scoring drought in the fourth quarter, forcing five turnovers in that span as ASU went on a 7-0 run to make it a nine-point game with just over two minutes remaining.
The Sun Devils were strong at the free-throw line in the frame to help maintain the lead, going 11-of-16 from the charity stripe in the fourth quarter and 18-of-24 in the game.
The Rams were just 1-of-13 from the field in the fourth quarter after ASU held Stephen F. Austin to 4-of-17 fourth quarter shooting in the season opener on Wednesday.
Sydnei Caldwell provided a much-needed spark of energy on both sides of the ball in the fourth quarter, pulling down a pair of rebounds, scoring five points with an assist and steal and some tough defense and drawing a couple of offensive fouls on the opponent. She finished with a career-best seven points.
ASU ripped off seven straight points to start the game and took a 9-3 lead into the first media timeout. It was all Taya Hanson in the opening frame, as she led all players with seven points and four rebounds as ASU took a 13-7 lead at the quarter.
Hanson scored 11 of the first 17 Sun Devil points before the Sun Devils went cold from the floor to close out the first half, recording just three points over the final 6:49 of the second quarter as VCU climbed back within 22-20 at the break.
Hanson finished with 12 points and six rebounds.
ASU struggled from the field out of halftime, going just 2-for-18 from the field in the third quarter but was able to draw contact and get to the line with Walker going 4-for-4 from the line with six points in the frame to keep ASU on top, 32-30, heading into the decisive final quarter of action.
The Sun Devils will conclude the Global Sports & Events Tipoff: Phoenix on Monday against Saint Mary's at 4 p.m. AZT in Tempe.
NOTES
Eboni Walker recorded 10 second half points and posted her second double-double to start the season and the third in her last five games dating back to last year. She matched career-highs with 13 points and 13 rebounds while going 6-of-6 shooting from the free throw line.
Like the season opener, ASU entered the final quarter against a scrappy opponent with just a slim lead at 32-30.
But also like the season opener, the Sun Devils locked things down in the final frame, holding VCU to a six-minute scoring drought in the fourth quarter, forcing five turnovers in that span as ASU went on a 7-0 run to make it a nine-point game with just over two minutes remaining.
The Sun Devils were strong at the free-throw line in the frame to help maintain the lead, going 11-of-16 from the charity stripe in the fourth quarter and 18-of-24 in the game.
The Rams were just 1-of-13 from the field in the fourth quarter after ASU held Stephen F. Austin to 4-of-17 fourth quarter shooting in the season opener on Wednesday.
Sydnei Caldwell provided a much-needed spark of energy on both sides of the ball in the fourth quarter, pulling down a pair of rebounds, scoring five points with an assist and steal and some tough defense and drawing a couple of offensive fouls on the opponent. She finished with a career-best seven points.
ASU ripped off seven straight points to start the game and took a 9-3 lead into the first media timeout. It was all Taya Hanson in the opening frame, as she led all players with seven points and four rebounds as ASU took a 13-7 lead at the quarter.
Hanson scored 11 of the first 17 Sun Devil points before the Sun Devils went cold from the floor to close out the first half, recording just three points over the final 6:49 of the second quarter as VCU climbed back within 22-20 at the break.
Hanson finished with 12 points and six rebounds.
ASU struggled from the field out of halftime, going just 2-for-18 from the field in the third quarter but was able to draw contact and get to the line with Walker going 4-for-4 from the line with six points in the frame to keep ASU on top, 32-30, heading into the decisive final quarter of action.
The Sun Devils will conclude the Global Sports & Events Tipoff: Phoenix on Monday against Saint Mary's at 4 p.m. AZT in Tempe.
NOTES
- VCU scored 87 points in its opener against Saint Mary's on Wednesday before the Sun Devils stymied them to the tune of just 40 points on Friday.
- The 87 points allowed by ASU through the first two games were the fewest allowed by ASU in the first two games of the season since holding Illinois State (40) and San Jose State (37) to 77 to open the 2016-17 season.
- The seven first quarter points allowed were the fewest by a Sun Devil opponent since Washington also recorded 7 on Jan. 17 last season.