TEMPE, Ariz. – For the second time in as many games, the Sun Devil women's basketball team was in position to come away with a victory in the game's final minute only to come up short in a 55-53 loss to Washington on Sunday.
Jaddan Simmons, who had a game-high 20 points in Friday's 61-57 loss to Washington State, and Tyi Skinner tied for the team lead with 11 points. Skinner scored all 11 of her points in the final quarter and scored or assisted on all but two of the team's points in the final quarter. Simmons also had team highs in assists (5) and steals (2).
ASU recorded its second-most points in the first quarter in conference play this season and led the Huskies 19-14 after the first 12 minutes.
The Sun Devils continued to assert their defensive dominance into the second quarter, allowing just five points in the first 5:26.
A Sydney Erikstrup layup gave the Sun Devils a 26-17 lead, their largest of the half.
ASU allowed 10 points in the second quarter, the fewest points it has allowed in any quarter in conference play this season and it carried a 28-24 lead into halftime.
Following a Treasure Hunt 3-pointer on ASU's first possession of the second half, Washington went on a 6-0 run, cutting the Sun Devil lead to just one.
Washington went on to outscore the Sun Devils 19-10 in the quarter and the Sun Devils went to the final quarter trailing 43-38.
ASU cut Washington's lead to a single point after making three straight shots to start the fourth quarter.
The Sun Devils tied the game at 47-47 with a Skinner three-pointer. Skinner, who had seven points in a 2:15 span, then put ASU up 49-47 with 5:30 remaining.
The Huskies responded with a 6-0 run to go up 53-49 with 2:32 left. After an exchange of baskets, Simmons got ASU back within two after her layup with 42 seconds remaining.
Simmons nearly forced overtime but was unable to connect on a jumper as time expired.
Notables
Trayanna Crisp became the third Sun Devil this season with at least one three-pointer made in five consecutive games (Treasure Hunt, Tyi Skinner). The Sun Devils shot 50% from behind the arc in the first half, its best three-point percentage in a first half this season.
55 points is the fewest points the Sun Devils have allowed in a conference game this season.
It's the first time this season forcing at least 10 turnovers in the first half in consecutive games. t's just the third time since 2016-17 forcing at least 20 turnovers three times in a four-game span.
Up Next:
The Sun Devils travel to Los Angeles to face USC on Friday, Feb. 3 at 8 p.m. MST on Pac-12 Los Angeles and KDUS 1060 AM.
Quotes:
Arizona State Head Coach Natasha Adair:
Opening Statement:
"We're putting it together, it's just getting closer and closer and closer. We did talk about the free throws down the stretch. 66% from the line. Just the parody in all the teams, every possession matters. Offensively and defensively. I thought that we were super aggressive coming out of the first half and that is something that we've talked about, including ball-pressure on. I think that we got a little laxed in the third (quarter). Then we picked it back up and we were talking about those lulls and those possessions and moments. Two backdoor layups, uncontested three which is the difference. But also Jadaan Simmons, her with the ball in her hands at the end of game, I would take that everyday. For all that she does for our team for what she brings on both sides of the ball. To be able to have that opportunity, for her to be right there, I thought that the gut of the game where there were some possessions that didn't go our way and some miscues defensively, it just came down to a possession. You learn from it and grow from it. I was proud we got on those 50-50 balls and we made extra plays. In this league it's a possession game and we have to make sure we value more possessions and take care of the opportunities, especially the free throws to get it done.
On Tyi Skinner getting in foul trouble, how the offense changed:
"Either way if she's in or if she's not and thats the beauty of having interchangeable guards. We work on that everyday, Jaddan's been a combo, (Treyanna) Crisp has been a combo, Tyi (Skinner) is a combo and they can all score. I think when Tyi sits down its just next person up. We have the abiltiy now with Izze in the game we put her in and so I think just having that depth. I was proud that she came in and was that spark that she had for us. It gave us a little bit more energy down the stretch but as far as her sitting down with those early fouls I just thought our players stepped up.
On the third quarter:
"I thought our help was not where it needed to be and we weren't bodying enough and getting over those screens and we were kinda going under or going into them. So that's what we worked on, you gotta body up you gotta get over, you gotta jump off the ball and not get face cut and help. It's supposed to be there and counter anything at the rim and we were just a little late. I took an early timeout to regroup, refocus and remind them that these are the rotations of 'okay, this is what we're supposed to do.' But at the point you don't need that shift especially coming out of the locker room."
On Tyi Skinner's fourth quarter and aggressiveness:
"That's what we've talked about throughout the game. Advantage us, we were in the bonus, put pressure on, get to the free throw line and not settle. I thought we were settling for three's early in the third and that's not what I wanted to do, I wanted us to play downhill. We are good at getting to the free throw line. We want to average 20-plus attempts, but we got there but we shot 66 percent. We're a team that shoots over 70-percent from the free throw line and we just have to make sure we knock those down."
On balancing the aggressive defense:
"I think it's how you position yourself and knowing where they want to go, That's why you jump off, toward the ball so you can send the cutter behind you so they're not open. If something happens then the last line of defnese is the help defense. It's almost all five-people moving on that defensive string. Because the offense moves you around, they want you to guard for 30-seconds and so it's one miscue, they're going to be open. We were just a little reactive in it instead of being proactive."
On keeping the team motivated:
"Your honest with them. Everyday we talk, everyday we work on certain things. We want to be a balanced team offensively and defensively. We talk about possessions by possession and there's certain key factors for us to be successful, we want to win the rebound margin, we want to be 80-percent from the free throw line, we want to limit points in the paint, we want to have more second chance opportunities and transition points and so we chart those. The biggest one is free throws. That's something we do and we shoot them everyday and so not that it was a difference maker but it was a category. As we're checking off all the boxes in the things that we've done well or the things we need to continue to improve upon. That's the one we can control for sure. Those are the controllable plays we talk about. I talk to them about their effort and how they're playing hard. We were in a position to win, but it didn't come down to that last shot. I hate to see that sometimes because they carry it on them. That wasn't the deal, the deal was throughout the game when those backdoor layups, free throws, me having to call that timeout early in the third to re-focus us. For me as a team still growing and getting better, we eliminate those things, the controllable things we will see it shift."
On coming out of the half and continuing the momentum:
"I think that's just something we have to continue to talk about. We're in there and we are reminding them it's 0-0 and start of a new part of the game again. We don't get comfortable with the lead and you don't hang your head if you're down. It's a 40-mintute game and so as coaches we're going to continue to remind them. But as players, again collectively, they're going to have to come together and get it done. They're things that they do and show them clips, scout and have them refocus on the keys, go over them again and just dialing them back in, but at the end of the day we have to come out ready.
Arizona State Guard Tyi Skinner:
On her fourth quarter performance and what changed:
"I wasn't sure when I got taken out in the first quarter but it took me out of the rhythm because I was just trying to get a feel for the flow of the game. When I came back in the second half, I tried to go with the game flow and got some easy shots."
On if driving to the basket made a difference in the fourth quarter:
"Us being aggressive and being able to get downhill puts foul pressure on them, and it's easier to get to the rim then trying to score from behind-the-arc."
On falling in consecutive games this season by single digits:
"We want to win but as you can see, we definitely are getting better and that's all that matters. It was a tough third quarter for us and that's what really hurt us in this game specifically, but we're going to keep fighting, we're not going to give up. We still have a whole half of a season left to play. We just have to keep carrying over everything we learn to the next game."
Jaddan Simmons, who had a game-high 20 points in Friday's 61-57 loss to Washington State, and Tyi Skinner tied for the team lead with 11 points. Skinner scored all 11 of her points in the final quarter and scored or assisted on all but two of the team's points in the final quarter. Simmons also had team highs in assists (5) and steals (2).
Big fans of attacking Jaddan, too @CindyBrunsonAZ
— Sun Devil WBB (@SunDevilWBB) January 29, 2023
?? https://t.co/Y5eRHilAU1#ForksUp /// #O2V pic.twitter.com/t6rTep8DPE
ASU recorded its second-most points in the first quarter in conference play this season and led the Huskies 19-14 after the first 12 minutes.
The Sun Devils continued to assert their defensive dominance into the second quarter, allowing just five points in the first 5:26.
A Sydney Erikstrup layup gave the Sun Devils a 26-17 lead, their largest of the half.
ASU allowed 10 points in the second quarter, the fewest points it has allowed in any quarter in conference play this season and it carried a 28-24 lead into halftime.
Following a Treasure Hunt 3-pointer on ASU's first possession of the second half, Washington went on a 6-0 run, cutting the Sun Devil lead to just one.
Washington went on to outscore the Sun Devils 19-10 in the quarter and the Sun Devils went to the final quarter trailing 43-38.
ASU cut Washington's lead to a single point after making three straight shots to start the fourth quarter.
The Sun Devils tied the game at 47-47 with a Skinner three-pointer. Skinner, who had seven points in a 2:15 span, then put ASU up 49-47 with 5:30 remaining.
SHOWTYIM3!!
— Sun Devil WBB (@SunDevilWBB) January 29, 2023
Tie game.
UW needs to chat it out.
?? https://t.co/Y5eRHilAU1#ForksUp /// #O2V pic.twitter.com/vEj0KLXsYR
The Huskies responded with a 6-0 run to go up 53-49 with 2:32 left. After an exchange of baskets, Simmons got ASU back within two after her layup with 42 seconds remaining.
Simmons nearly forced overtime but was unable to connect on a jumper as time expired.
Notables
Trayanna Crisp became the third Sun Devil this season with at least one three-pointer made in five consecutive games (Treasure Hunt, Tyi Skinner). The Sun Devils shot 50% from behind the arc in the first half, its best three-point percentage in a first half this season.
55 points is the fewest points the Sun Devils have allowed in a conference game this season.
It's the first time this season forcing at least 10 turnovers in the first half in consecutive games. t's just the third time since 2016-17 forcing at least 20 turnovers three times in a four-game span.
Up Next:
The Sun Devils travel to Los Angeles to face USC on Friday, Feb. 3 at 8 p.m. MST on Pac-12 Los Angeles and KDUS 1060 AM.
Quotes:
Arizona State Head Coach Natasha Adair:
Opening Statement:
"We're putting it together, it's just getting closer and closer and closer. We did talk about the free throws down the stretch. 66% from the line. Just the parody in all the teams, every possession matters. Offensively and defensively. I thought that we were super aggressive coming out of the first half and that is something that we've talked about, including ball-pressure on. I think that we got a little laxed in the third (quarter). Then we picked it back up and we were talking about those lulls and those possessions and moments. Two backdoor layups, uncontested three which is the difference. But also Jadaan Simmons, her with the ball in her hands at the end of game, I would take that everyday. For all that she does for our team for what she brings on both sides of the ball. To be able to have that opportunity, for her to be right there, I thought that the gut of the game where there were some possessions that didn't go our way and some miscues defensively, it just came down to a possession. You learn from it and grow from it. I was proud we got on those 50-50 balls and we made extra plays. In this league it's a possession game and we have to make sure we value more possessions and take care of the opportunities, especially the free throws to get it done.
On Tyi Skinner getting in foul trouble, how the offense changed:
"Either way if she's in or if she's not and thats the beauty of having interchangeable guards. We work on that everyday, Jaddan's been a combo, (Treyanna) Crisp has been a combo, Tyi (Skinner) is a combo and they can all score. I think when Tyi sits down its just next person up. We have the abiltiy now with Izze in the game we put her in and so I think just having that depth. I was proud that she came in and was that spark that she had for us. It gave us a little bit more energy down the stretch but as far as her sitting down with those early fouls I just thought our players stepped up.
On the third quarter:
"I thought our help was not where it needed to be and we weren't bodying enough and getting over those screens and we were kinda going under or going into them. So that's what we worked on, you gotta body up you gotta get over, you gotta jump off the ball and not get face cut and help. It's supposed to be there and counter anything at the rim and we were just a little late. I took an early timeout to regroup, refocus and remind them that these are the rotations of 'okay, this is what we're supposed to do.' But at the point you don't need that shift especially coming out of the locker room."
On Tyi Skinner's fourth quarter and aggressiveness:
"That's what we've talked about throughout the game. Advantage us, we were in the bonus, put pressure on, get to the free throw line and not settle. I thought we were settling for three's early in the third and that's not what I wanted to do, I wanted us to play downhill. We are good at getting to the free throw line. We want to average 20-plus attempts, but we got there but we shot 66 percent. We're a team that shoots over 70-percent from the free throw line and we just have to make sure we knock those down."
On balancing the aggressive defense:
"I think it's how you position yourself and knowing where they want to go, That's why you jump off, toward the ball so you can send the cutter behind you so they're not open. If something happens then the last line of defnese is the help defense. It's almost all five-people moving on that defensive string. Because the offense moves you around, they want you to guard for 30-seconds and so it's one miscue, they're going to be open. We were just a little reactive in it instead of being proactive."
On keeping the team motivated:
"Your honest with them. Everyday we talk, everyday we work on certain things. We want to be a balanced team offensively and defensively. We talk about possessions by possession and there's certain key factors for us to be successful, we want to win the rebound margin, we want to be 80-percent from the free throw line, we want to limit points in the paint, we want to have more second chance opportunities and transition points and so we chart those. The biggest one is free throws. That's something we do and we shoot them everyday and so not that it was a difference maker but it was a category. As we're checking off all the boxes in the things that we've done well or the things we need to continue to improve upon. That's the one we can control for sure. Those are the controllable plays we talk about. I talk to them about their effort and how they're playing hard. We were in a position to win, but it didn't come down to that last shot. I hate to see that sometimes because they carry it on them. That wasn't the deal, the deal was throughout the game when those backdoor layups, free throws, me having to call that timeout early in the third to re-focus us. For me as a team still growing and getting better, we eliminate those things, the controllable things we will see it shift."
On coming out of the half and continuing the momentum:
"I think that's just something we have to continue to talk about. We're in there and we are reminding them it's 0-0 and start of a new part of the game again. We don't get comfortable with the lead and you don't hang your head if you're down. It's a 40-mintute game and so as coaches we're going to continue to remind them. But as players, again collectively, they're going to have to come together and get it done. They're things that they do and show them clips, scout and have them refocus on the keys, go over them again and just dialing them back in, but at the end of the day we have to come out ready.
Arizona State Guard Tyi Skinner:
On her fourth quarter performance and what changed:
"I wasn't sure when I got taken out in the first quarter but it took me out of the rhythm because I was just trying to get a feel for the flow of the game. When I came back in the second half, I tried to go with the game flow and got some easy shots."
On if driving to the basket made a difference in the fourth quarter:
"Us being aggressive and being able to get downhill puts foul pressure on them, and it's easier to get to the rim then trying to score from behind-the-arc."
On falling in consecutive games this season by single digits:
"We want to win but as you can see, we definitely are getting better and that's all that matters. It was a tough third quarter for us and that's what really hurt us in this game specifically, but we're going to keep fighting, we're not going to give up. We still have a whole half of a season left to play. We just have to keep carrying over everything we learn to the next game."