TEMPE, Ariz – After trailing by nine going into half time, the Sun Devil women's basketball team comeback bid ultimately came up short, falling to Washington State 61-57 in the second game of a three-game home stand.
Jaddan Simmons continued her impressive scoring stretch with 20 points, her fifth consecutive game in double figures, and her third career game with 20-or-more points. Pacing her was Trayanna Crisp, who scored 11 points on her birthday.
Washington State scored on back-to-back three-pointers in the first 0:50 of the game and started 4-of-5 from beyond the arc, jumping out to 15-8 lead at the first media timeout.
The Sun Devils responded well, allowing 0 points in the final 2:41 of the quarter, forcing five turnovers and 11 in the first half alone.
In the second half, the Sun Devils cut the lead down to five with four unanswered points from Jaddan Simmons.
The Sun Devils got hot, scoring 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting before the media timeout with 4:43 left in the third quarter. They outscored Washington State 22-15 in the quarter and cut the Cougar's lead to just two points by the end of the quarter.
Arizona's hot streak continued into the fourth quarter as they took its first lead of the game, 55-54, on a Jaddan Simmons layup with 3:51 left.
Arizona State's defense was impressive, limiting Washington State to one made field goal in the final 7:50, but the Sun Devils had a scoreless drought in three minutes after its first lead, giving the Cougars a two-point advantage with under a minute left courtesy of free throws.
Washington State finished the game 7-of-8 from the free throw line, ending Arizona State's attempt at a comeback.
QUOTES
Arizona State Women's Basketball Head Coach Natasha Adair
Opening Statement
"I hurt for our players. Because you saw them play hard today. Jaddan Simmons led us and she's been very consistent. But this is a group, as you all saw it, that is playing with everything inside of them. Like I told them, keep fighting. Keep fighting. I thought our defense was phenomenal in a way. They didn't score in the last five minutes. I thought we did a great job in the second half being aggressive. We didn't have a free throw attempt, we talked about it at half, and we finished 8 for 12. I thought early on the lid wasn't on, but I thought we adjusted in the second half led by these two (Jaddan Simmons and Trayanna Crisp). And what you're always going to see is our team play hard. I just told them to keep fighting. They've worked too hard and they're going to keep fighting. "
On conversations with players going into the second half
"I think we just talked about being aggressive. We're a team that can get to the free throw line 20 plus times a game, and we didn't have any (in the first half). And that's an indicator right there. I thought that we created the openings offensively in the first half. We were just overpassing or we looked a little hesitant offensively. But, in the second half, you saw us pick it up. You saw us be more aggressive. We brought it to their attention and they responded."
"I thought when you look at the stats, 38 points in the paint, the goal was at least 30. 20 points off turn-overs. We were very aggressive. Second chance points, they got us there and that's an area where we're going to continue to work. But 13 fast break points, I thought we pushed the pace. But I think coming out of the gate, we weren't as aggressive offensively.
On strategy for defending Washington State's Charlisse Leger-Walker
"Jaddan Simmons, that's the strategy. Jaddan is relentless defensively and for her, she gives us balance on both sides of the ball. But we know if we need someone to shut down their premier player, Jaddan never backs away or shys away from that assignment. Obviously we were corralling them a little bit, we were icing their ball screens, kind of putting her in a pocket and making it hard for her and trapping inside. These were the things that we work on daily and the players do a phenomenal job in scout, in prep. Jaddan again to be able to guard for 40 minutes, to score for 40 minutes, I mean that's leadership. I think she sets a phenomenal example for her team. The adjustment, the strategy was to put Jaddan on her."
On getting injured players back and role players stepping up:
"Well I thought it gave us depth. We were able to sub in and out. Our role players are key players, it's just who's on the court at that time. And the deeper we go you can see that there is no drop off. Izzy (Isadora Sousa) comes in and she, aside from being a phenomenal leader, her IQ for the game, she makes people better and she knows how to bring everyone together. Meg will come in and she's instant energy. She'll fly around, she'll get those second chance opportunities. To echo Jaddan, when their name is called, they're ready. But I think it just helps us to go a little deeper to where we can give players a little bit of a rest. As deep as we can go, everyone will contribute."
Arizona State Women's Basketball Guard Jaddan Simmons
On getting more aggressive defensively:
"I think it was halftime, I mean we didn't started how we wanted, we had given up three's and I think we just talked about it and we went over the game plan during halftime. We came out and we were really aggressive and we were pushing up, the posts were stepping up, we were blocking shots. So I think that just got us going and then also I just want to give a shout out to Kayla (Mokwuah) because she's a big leader tonight. Even besides from points, she was just like, 'You guys go.' If she's on the bench, she's talking so I think Kayla was our number one leader tonight."
On role players stepping up and how that contributed to the team aspect:
"I mean we always talk about if you're on the floor, it's your time. I even told Tray that third pass when we're in spread, go downhill. I trust her, the team trusts her and that's how it is with everybody. Izzy (Sousa)'s just a very precise player and she also just helps us, she's another leader on our team. We have a lot of players that can hit shots, get to the hole, so I think we spread out really well. I think the bench also does a great job when they come in."
Arizona State Women's Basketball Guard Trayanna Crisp
On having success on both ends of the floor (started from 3:40 mark):
"I will really just give it to my team because we went from a spare majority of the time and just us moving the ball and everybody had opportunities to kind of create it for myself as well."
Up Next:
The Sun Devils wrap up a three-game home stand versus Washington on Sunday, Jan. 29, at noon MST on Pac-12 Washington and KDUS AM 1060.
Jaddan Simmons continued her impressive scoring stretch with 20 points, her fifth consecutive game in double figures, and her third career game with 20-or-more points. Pacing her was Trayanna Crisp, who scored 11 points on her birthday.
Arizona State's defense created many problems for Washington State, forcing 20 turnovers, the Cougar's second-most of the season. Washington State guard Charlisse Leger-Walker, who leads the Pac-12 in points per game was held to just 12 points – her second-fewest of the season – and a career-high seven turnovers. It marked the second time ASU forced 20 turnovers, as it also forced 20 vs. Oregon State.
Jaddan hits double figures ??
— Sun Devil WBB (@SunDevilWBB) January 28, 2023
?? https://t.co/Y5eRHil34t#ForksUp /// #O2V pic.twitter.com/TsPhmwPkB7
Washington State scored on back-to-back three-pointers in the first 0:50 of the game and started 4-of-5 from beyond the arc, jumping out to 15-8 lead at the first media timeout.
The Sun Devils responded well, allowing 0 points in the final 2:41 of the quarter, forcing five turnovers and 11 in the first half alone.
In the second half, the Sun Devils cut the lead down to five with four unanswered points from Jaddan Simmons.
It's allll Jaddan to open up the half ??
— Sun Devil WBB (@SunDevilWBB) January 28, 2023
ASU: 23 WSU: 28#ForksUp /// #O2V pic.twitter.com/ucyxOEDTY5
The Sun Devils got hot, scoring 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting before the media timeout with 4:43 left in the third quarter. They outscored Washington State 22-15 in the quarter and cut the Cougar's lead to just two points by the end of the quarter.
Arizona's hot streak continued into the fourth quarter as they took its first lead of the game, 55-54, on a Jaddan Simmons layup with 3:51 left.
Arizona State's defense was impressive, limiting Washington State to one made field goal in the final 7:50, but the Sun Devils had a scoreless drought in three minutes after its first lead, giving the Cougars a two-point advantage with under a minute left courtesy of free throws.
Washington State finished the game 7-of-8 from the free throw line, ending Arizona State's attempt at a comeback.
QUOTES
Arizona State Women's Basketball Head Coach Natasha Adair
Opening Statement
"I hurt for our players. Because you saw them play hard today. Jaddan Simmons led us and she's been very consistent. But this is a group, as you all saw it, that is playing with everything inside of them. Like I told them, keep fighting. Keep fighting. I thought our defense was phenomenal in a way. They didn't score in the last five minutes. I thought we did a great job in the second half being aggressive. We didn't have a free throw attempt, we talked about it at half, and we finished 8 for 12. I thought early on the lid wasn't on, but I thought we adjusted in the second half led by these two (Jaddan Simmons and Trayanna Crisp). And what you're always going to see is our team play hard. I just told them to keep fighting. They've worked too hard and they're going to keep fighting. "
On conversations with players going into the second half
"I think we just talked about being aggressive. We're a team that can get to the free throw line 20 plus times a game, and we didn't have any (in the first half). And that's an indicator right there. I thought that we created the openings offensively in the first half. We were just overpassing or we looked a little hesitant offensively. But, in the second half, you saw us pick it up. You saw us be more aggressive. We brought it to their attention and they responded."
"I thought when you look at the stats, 38 points in the paint, the goal was at least 30. 20 points off turn-overs. We were very aggressive. Second chance points, they got us there and that's an area where we're going to continue to work. But 13 fast break points, I thought we pushed the pace. But I think coming out of the gate, we weren't as aggressive offensively.
On strategy for defending Washington State's Charlisse Leger-Walker
"Jaddan Simmons, that's the strategy. Jaddan is relentless defensively and for her, she gives us balance on both sides of the ball. But we know if we need someone to shut down their premier player, Jaddan never backs away or shys away from that assignment. Obviously we were corralling them a little bit, we were icing their ball screens, kind of putting her in a pocket and making it hard for her and trapping inside. These were the things that we work on daily and the players do a phenomenal job in scout, in prep. Jaddan again to be able to guard for 40 minutes, to score for 40 minutes, I mean that's leadership. I think she sets a phenomenal example for her team. The adjustment, the strategy was to put Jaddan on her."
On getting injured players back and role players stepping up:
"Well I thought it gave us depth. We were able to sub in and out. Our role players are key players, it's just who's on the court at that time. And the deeper we go you can see that there is no drop off. Izzy (Isadora Sousa) comes in and she, aside from being a phenomenal leader, her IQ for the game, she makes people better and she knows how to bring everyone together. Meg will come in and she's instant energy. She'll fly around, she'll get those second chance opportunities. To echo Jaddan, when their name is called, they're ready. But I think it just helps us to go a little deeper to where we can give players a little bit of a rest. As deep as we can go, everyone will contribute."
Arizona State Women's Basketball Guard Jaddan Simmons
On getting more aggressive defensively:
"I think it was halftime, I mean we didn't started how we wanted, we had given up three's and I think we just talked about it and we went over the game plan during halftime. We came out and we were really aggressive and we were pushing up, the posts were stepping up, we were blocking shots. So I think that just got us going and then also I just want to give a shout out to Kayla (Mokwuah) because she's a big leader tonight. Even besides from points, she was just like, 'You guys go.' If she's on the bench, she's talking so I think Kayla was our number one leader tonight."
On role players stepping up and how that contributed to the team aspect:
"I mean we always talk about if you're on the floor, it's your time. I even told Tray that third pass when we're in spread, go downhill. I trust her, the team trusts her and that's how it is with everybody. Izzy (Sousa)'s just a very precise player and she also just helps us, she's another leader on our team. We have a lot of players that can hit shots, get to the hole, so I think we spread out really well. I think the bench also does a great job when they come in."
Arizona State Women's Basketball Guard Trayanna Crisp
On having success on both ends of the floor (started from 3:40 mark):
"I will really just give it to my team because we went from a spare majority of the time and just us moving the ball and everybody had opportunities to kind of create it for myself as well."
Up Next:
The Sun Devils wrap up a three-game home stand versus Washington on Sunday, Jan. 29, at noon MST on Pac-12 Washington and KDUS AM 1060.