TEMPE – Despite a game high-tying 25 points from Jalyn Brown – her eighth 20-point performance of the season and sixth in her last nine games – the Sun Devil women's basketball team fell to Cincinnati 73-66 on Saturday.
Kennedy Fauntleroy scored 16 points, one point short of matching her season high. Tyi Skinner scored 10 of her 12 points in the second half for the Sun Devils (8-13, 2-7 Big 12), who connected on 50 percent of their 3-pointers (7-14) in the game. Fauntleroy (2-2) and Skinner (3-6) both had multiple triples.
For the fourth time this season, the Sun Devils had the exact number of rebounds as the opposition. Brown led the way with nine boards, one short of giving her a double-double for points and rebounds. Nevaeh Parkinson pulled down six (also scored six points) and Jazion Jackson had five to go with one assist and two steals.
The Bearcats (12-6, 4-4 Big 12) scored 38 percent of their points at the line where they made 28-39 for the game. Nearly half of their 29 fourth quarter points came the same way as they hit 82 percent (14-17) of their free throws in their final 10 minutes.
Brown was perfect at the line making all 12 of her free throws on Saturday. As a team the Sun Devils connected on 79 percent (19-24) of their attempts.
After scoring 20 points in the second quarter and 21 in the third quarter, it appeared the Sun Devils were on course to win the game when Parkinson's second layup in 37 seconds gave ASU a 57-46 advantage, matching its biggest lead of the game.
At the time, there was little indication that the Bearcats were capable of making a comeback. They had scored 28 points in the first half and had not scored more than 16 points in any of the first three quarters.
In addition, it appeared the Sun Devils were on the verge of growing their lead even more as Parkinson's two field goals early in the fourth quarter made it nine of 10 shots the Sun Devils made going back to the third quarter. At the same time, the Bearcats had made only two of their last 13 attempts.
As it turned out, the Sun Devils made only two of their final 14 shots. After Brown's layup put ASU up 59-50 with 5:47 remaining, their scoring consisted of four free throws and one 3-pointer the rest of the way.
During that same span, the Bearcats outscored ASU 23-7 to come away with the win. Fourteen of those 23 points came at the foul line.
Defense defined the first half as neither team was able to find its groove with the Sun Devils shooting 36 percent and the Bearcats shooting 29 percent.
It took 2:29 for either team to get points on the board (layup by Cincinnati's Alliance Ndiba).
The bad news for ASU is that it did not score until the 5:42 mark of the first quarter (layup by Fauntleroy). The good news is the Bearcats had only scored four points at that point in the game.
The first quarter finished much like it started as the two squads combined for five points over the last three minutes. Fauntleroy's 3-pointer with 22 seconds remaining knotted the score at 12-12.
Brown hit two free throws to give ASU a 20-16 lead in the opening minutes of the second quarter, but that's as much distance at the Sun Devils were able to get as the Bearcats scored the next four points to once again tie the game at 20-20.
Brown's two free throws on ASU's ensuing possession ignited a 10-3 run for the Sun Devils, giving them a 30-23 lead after Brown's 3-pointer with 2:35 remaining in the first half.
Brown scored 13 of ASU's 20 points in the second quarter – the most points scored by a Sun Devil in a quarter this season – and ended the first half with 17 points to help the Sun Devils lead 32-28 at the half.
For Brown, it was the fifth time this season she scored 17 or more points in a half and the second time in three games as she scored 18 points in the first half of last Sunday's contest at Kansas State. Brown's 19 points in the first half of ASU's win over SMU (Nov. 16) represent the most points scored by a Sun Devil in a half this season.
The Bearcats reclaimed the advantage after scoring the first seven points of the third quarter to go up 35-32 after Tineya Hilton's two free throws 2:40 into the second half.
With the scored tied at 36-36 later in the quarter, Brown's layup with 6:10 remaining were the first of 10 straight points ASU scored in the space of only 2:11.
With 22 seconds left in the quarter, Kennedy Basham knocked down two free throws to put ASU up 53-42, the first of three times ASU led the game by 11 points.
Saturday's game was the second in a stretch in which ASU is playing three of four games at home. Up next for the Sun Devils is a trip to Oklahoma to face Oklahoma State on Wednesday (5:30 p.m. MST). ASU will then start the month of February at home next Saturday (6:30 p.m. MST) when it hosts BYU at Desert Financial Arena.
Quotes
Arizona State Head Coach Natasha Adair:
Opening Statement:
"They all sting, but this one stings. I thought we played hard and together. We had some big minutes by certain players, but Makayla Moore came in and gave us a huge spark. Heavenly Greer came in and had a presence inside. We discussed them being 6 for 11 from the free-throw line at halftime, and they finished 28 for 39. We knew they would exploit and create momentum from the free throw line, but we went 24 times. I thought we matched a bit of that intensity, at key moments where the ball didn't fall or possessions where we got second-chance opportunities, but it wasn't for a lack of fight from the team. We have to learn from this stuff, and we will. It's a locker room that's not satisfied with the outcome. It's a locker room still competing and fighting, knowing there are Big 12 games to play, but these are teachable moments. We have to go back and continue to learn and grow to put 40 full minutes together."
On having the alumni in attendance:
"Oh, it was awesome to recognize them and continue to grow that. They've paved the way for us. To be able to be here and honor them was special. Some came to shootaround, and some went on a campus tour. They hadn't been back for a while. Any opportunity we can celebrate our alums and thank them for everything they've done, we'll always do that."
On if being in the bonus affected the game:
"Well, you saw people subbing in and out. I think down the stretch, we had some lineups that were a little different than what we had been playing during the game, and those lineups didn't have the same rhythm. But we need everyone ready when their name is called. So, I think the lineups affected the rhythm in the game."
Junior Guard Jalyn Brown:
On what helps her perform well consistently in games:
"I just work, I'm a workhorse. I'm in the gym before practice, after practice, and I'm in it during practice. So just making sure that I'm well-rounded in everything that I do because when we play better teams they're going to scout my drive. There were a couple of charges I had today and I can't have that. Also, jumping on two, and making sure I shoot above shooters or stepping back to hit my wide-open threes to make them have to come out to guard me because then it opens the lane for our post players. So just being well-rounded, watching films, and understanding what I do well and how could I improve after every single game. It's just my biggest thing."
On senior leadership and the respect her teammates have for her:
"I love my team to death and there is nothing that I wouldn't do for any of them. The respect that they have for me, genuinely just drives me to want to be better. I'm like our social butterfly, I'm everywhere with the team all of the time, and just for them to have that respect for me, it helps me lead them because I know that they trust me enough to let me lead them and that in itself is more than enough for me to just keep going and doing everything that they need to do for them."
Cincinnati Head Coach Katrina Merriweather:
Opening Statement:
"Well, it's been a trip out here to Arizona, that's for sure. Proud of our group for battling, and not giving up. We're still going to continue to fight, not put ourselves in those positions, but it is good to know that we have the personnel who will continue to battle, no matter the score, or how much time is left on the clock. Hats off to Arizona State, they were incredibly prepared and that zone gave us a lot of problems in being able to score. So just really happy that we pulled this one out."
On the strategy coming out of halftime:
"We average approximately 18 points on the free throw line each game. So we went in at halftime and saw we didn't visit the free-throw line. Sometimes I think that when people zone us, we don't shoot the ball well from the perimeter. We try to find out if we will make shots that day, and start taking some shots outside of the paint. Once we realize we dug ourselves a hole playing like that, we start attacking and being more aggressive."
On the fourth-quarter comeback:
"The number one thing was leadership. Jillian Hayes sitting right next to me has no quit and we refer to her as our heartbeat. Our team continues to see her battle when she has rough starts and they must follow her lead, and they do. We got Cloe Mann, who got her first start today and she was aggressive and attacked. I would chalk it up to this team being tough, and there are moments, where I get frustrated because I don't know that we play as well as we can, but I do know that they're going to try and work hard. I could give you X and O stuff, but it's the intangibles, and it starts with our leadership with Jill, and then I would throw Tanay in there as well."
Senior Forward Jillian Hayes:
On how her performance elevated the team:
"I feel like I started off slow, at least offensively, but our coaches are big on doing what you can control. Even though my shots weren't falling, I was trying to still lead, play defense, and get rebounds. So, I'm just grateful that I have coaches and teammates who picked me up, and I think Chloe Mann and the rest of my teammates did a great job of stepping up today."
On the importance of taking advantage of one-on-ones:
"When I get those one-on-one opportunities, it's really big for me to capitalize on them because Coach Katrina says I don't get them often. So really just taking advantage of it and trying to help get the team some baskets."
Kennedy Fauntleroy scored 16 points, one point short of matching her season high. Tyi Skinner scored 10 of her 12 points in the second half for the Sun Devils (8-13, 2-7 Big 12), who connected on 50 percent of their 3-pointers (7-14) in the game. Fauntleroy (2-2) and Skinner (3-6) both had multiple triples.
For the fourth time this season, the Sun Devils had the exact number of rebounds as the opposition. Brown led the way with nine boards, one short of giving her a double-double for points and rebounds. Nevaeh Parkinson pulled down six (also scored six points) and Jazion Jackson had five to go with one assist and two steals.
The Bearcats (12-6, 4-4 Big 12) scored 38 percent of their points at the line where they made 28-39 for the game. Nearly half of their 29 fourth quarter points came the same way as they hit 82 percent (14-17) of their free throws in their final 10 minutes.
Brown was perfect at the line making all 12 of her free throws on Saturday. As a team the Sun Devils connected on 79 percent (19-24) of their attempts.
After scoring 20 points in the second quarter and 21 in the third quarter, it appeared the Sun Devils were on course to win the game when Parkinson's second layup in 37 seconds gave ASU a 57-46 advantage, matching its biggest lead of the game.
At the time, there was little indication that the Bearcats were capable of making a comeback. They had scored 28 points in the first half and had not scored more than 16 points in any of the first three quarters.
In addition, it appeared the Sun Devils were on the verge of growing their lead even more as Parkinson's two field goals early in the fourth quarter made it nine of 10 shots the Sun Devils made going back to the third quarter. At the same time, the Bearcats had made only two of their last 13 attempts.
As it turned out, the Sun Devils made only two of their final 14 shots. After Brown's layup put ASU up 59-50 with 5:47 remaining, their scoring consisted of four free throws and one 3-pointer the rest of the way.
During that same span, the Bearcats outscored ASU 23-7 to come away with the win. Fourteen of those 23 points came at the foul line.
Defense defined the first half as neither team was able to find its groove with the Sun Devils shooting 36 percent and the Bearcats shooting 29 percent.
It took 2:29 for either team to get points on the board (layup by Cincinnati's Alliance Ndiba).
The bad news for ASU is that it did not score until the 5:42 mark of the first quarter (layup by Fauntleroy). The good news is the Bearcats had only scored four points at that point in the game.
The first quarter finished much like it started as the two squads combined for five points over the last three minutes. Fauntleroy's 3-pointer with 22 seconds remaining knotted the score at 12-12.
Brown hit two free throws to give ASU a 20-16 lead in the opening minutes of the second quarter, but that's as much distance at the Sun Devils were able to get as the Bearcats scored the next four points to once again tie the game at 20-20.
Brown's two free throws on ASU's ensuing possession ignited a 10-3 run for the Sun Devils, giving them a 30-23 lead after Brown's 3-pointer with 2:35 remaining in the first half.
Brown scored 13 of ASU's 20 points in the second quarter – the most points scored by a Sun Devil in a quarter this season – and ended the first half with 17 points to help the Sun Devils lead 32-28 at the half.
For Brown, it was the fifth time this season she scored 17 or more points in a half and the second time in three games as she scored 18 points in the first half of last Sunday's contest at Kansas State. Brown's 19 points in the first half of ASU's win over SMU (Nov. 16) represent the most points scored by a Sun Devil in a half this season.
The Bearcats reclaimed the advantage after scoring the first seven points of the third quarter to go up 35-32 after Tineya Hilton's two free throws 2:40 into the second half.
With the scored tied at 36-36 later in the quarter, Brown's layup with 6:10 remaining were the first of 10 straight points ASU scored in the space of only 2:11.
With 22 seconds left in the quarter, Kennedy Basham knocked down two free throws to put ASU up 53-42, the first of three times ASU led the game by 11 points.
Saturday's game was the second in a stretch in which ASU is playing three of four games at home. Up next for the Sun Devils is a trip to Oklahoma to face Oklahoma State on Wednesday (5:30 p.m. MST). ASU will then start the month of February at home next Saturday (6:30 p.m. MST) when it hosts BYU at Desert Financial Arena.
Quotes
Arizona State Head Coach Natasha Adair:
Opening Statement:
"They all sting, but this one stings. I thought we played hard and together. We had some big minutes by certain players, but Makayla Moore came in and gave us a huge spark. Heavenly Greer came in and had a presence inside. We discussed them being 6 for 11 from the free-throw line at halftime, and they finished 28 for 39. We knew they would exploit and create momentum from the free throw line, but we went 24 times. I thought we matched a bit of that intensity, at key moments where the ball didn't fall or possessions where we got second-chance opportunities, but it wasn't for a lack of fight from the team. We have to learn from this stuff, and we will. It's a locker room that's not satisfied with the outcome. It's a locker room still competing and fighting, knowing there are Big 12 games to play, but these are teachable moments. We have to go back and continue to learn and grow to put 40 full minutes together."
On having the alumni in attendance:
"Oh, it was awesome to recognize them and continue to grow that. They've paved the way for us. To be able to be here and honor them was special. Some came to shootaround, and some went on a campus tour. They hadn't been back for a while. Any opportunity we can celebrate our alums and thank them for everything they've done, we'll always do that."
On if being in the bonus affected the game:
"Well, you saw people subbing in and out. I think down the stretch, we had some lineups that were a little different than what we had been playing during the game, and those lineups didn't have the same rhythm. But we need everyone ready when their name is called. So, I think the lineups affected the rhythm in the game."
Junior Guard Jalyn Brown:
On what helps her perform well consistently in games:
"I just work, I'm a workhorse. I'm in the gym before practice, after practice, and I'm in it during practice. So just making sure that I'm well-rounded in everything that I do because when we play better teams they're going to scout my drive. There were a couple of charges I had today and I can't have that. Also, jumping on two, and making sure I shoot above shooters or stepping back to hit my wide-open threes to make them have to come out to guard me because then it opens the lane for our post players. So just being well-rounded, watching films, and understanding what I do well and how could I improve after every single game. It's just my biggest thing."
On senior leadership and the respect her teammates have for her:
"I love my team to death and there is nothing that I wouldn't do for any of them. The respect that they have for me, genuinely just drives me to want to be better. I'm like our social butterfly, I'm everywhere with the team all of the time, and just for them to have that respect for me, it helps me lead them because I know that they trust me enough to let me lead them and that in itself is more than enough for me to just keep going and doing everything that they need to do for them."
Cincinnati Head Coach Katrina Merriweather:
Opening Statement:
"Well, it's been a trip out here to Arizona, that's for sure. Proud of our group for battling, and not giving up. We're still going to continue to fight, not put ourselves in those positions, but it is good to know that we have the personnel who will continue to battle, no matter the score, or how much time is left on the clock. Hats off to Arizona State, they were incredibly prepared and that zone gave us a lot of problems in being able to score. So just really happy that we pulled this one out."
On the strategy coming out of halftime:
"We average approximately 18 points on the free throw line each game. So we went in at halftime and saw we didn't visit the free-throw line. Sometimes I think that when people zone us, we don't shoot the ball well from the perimeter. We try to find out if we will make shots that day, and start taking some shots outside of the paint. Once we realize we dug ourselves a hole playing like that, we start attacking and being more aggressive."
On the fourth-quarter comeback:
"The number one thing was leadership. Jillian Hayes sitting right next to me has no quit and we refer to her as our heartbeat. Our team continues to see her battle when she has rough starts and they must follow her lead, and they do. We got Cloe Mann, who got her first start today and she was aggressive and attacked. I would chalk it up to this team being tough, and there are moments, where I get frustrated because I don't know that we play as well as we can, but I do know that they're going to try and work hard. I could give you X and O stuff, but it's the intangibles, and it starts with our leadership with Jill, and then I would throw Tanay in there as well."
Senior Forward Jillian Hayes:
On how her performance elevated the team:
"I feel like I started off slow, at least offensively, but our coaches are big on doing what you can control. Even though my shots weren't falling, I was trying to still lead, play defense, and get rebounds. So, I'm just grateful that I have coaches and teammates who picked me up, and I think Chloe Mann and the rest of my teammates did a great job of stepping up today."
On the importance of taking advantage of one-on-ones:
"When I get those one-on-one opportunities, it's really big for me to capitalize on them because Coach Katrina says I don't get them often. So really just taking advantage of it and trying to help get the team some baskets."