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Women's Basketball edged by Cincinnati, 66-64

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Women's Basketball edged by Cincinnati, 66-64Women's Basketball edged by Cincinnati, 66-64
Sun Devil Athletics

CINCINNATI – The Sun Devil Women’s Basketball team dropped consecutive games for the first time this season and lost for the first time in a game decided by five points or less (now 4-1) after falling at Cincinnati 66-64 on Saturday.

For ASU (17-4, 4-4 Big 12), Saturday’s game at Cincinnati (8-13, 3-6) was the last in a stretch in which it played eight of 11 games on the road, going back to the middle of last month. On Thursday, ASU lost a 53-43 decision at No. 22 West Virginia. The final score did not reflect how close the Sun Devils came to defeating a ranked team for the first time since 2022, as they were tied with the Mountaineers at 41-41 with under three minutes remaining. 

Sun Devil standouts

  • Gabby Elliott led ASU with 19 points, the 19th time and ninth straight game Elliott has posted a double-digit point total. Elliott also paced ASU with a career-high six assists and grabbed five rebounds.
  • McKinna Brackens scored 18 points, tied for the team lead in rebounds (six) and had a game-high four steals, one steal short of matching her career high.
  • Heloisa Carrera helped ASU get off to a fast start, accounting for eight of her 11 points in the first half. She ended the game with a career-high three steals.
  • Playing in her hometown of Cincinnati, Deborah Davenport was ASU’s top performer off the bench with eight points, a team-high six rebounds and two steals. In the second half, Davenport led ASU in rebounds (six) and had the team’s third-highest point total (eight).

How it happened

  • The Sun Devils could not have scripted a better start, outscoring the Bearcats 26-10 in the first quarter. They shot 52.2 percent (11-21 FGs), did not have a single turnover and scored 12 points off Cincinnati’s 10 turnovers.
  • Carrera (3-4 FGs, eight points), Elliott (4-8 FGs, eight points) and Brackens (2-3 FGs, four points) combined for 20 points and collectively made 60 percent (9-15) of their shots
  • In the second quarter, both teams experienced the antithesis of what occurred in the first frame. Cincinnati outscored ASU 19-5, including 11-2 in points off turnovers. As well as ASU played offensively to start the game, it suddenly lost its shooting touch, making two of its next 15 attempts.
  • It appeared the Sun Devils had taken back control of the game after Carrera (layup), Elliott (3-pointer) and Brackens (jumper) scored the first seven points of the second half to give ASU a 38-29 lead. Ultimately, the Sun Devils could not shake the Bearcats as they took a five-point lead, 50-45, into the fourth quarter. Elliott (nine points) and Brackens (six points) scored 15 of ASU’s 19 points in the third quarter.
  • Two minutes into the fourth quarter, the two teams were at the same place where they started the game – tied (52-52). A minute later, Cincinnati claimed its first lead, 54-52, after two free throws made by Joya Crawford.
  • The teams were not separated by more than two points until Davenport scored four straight points to give ASU a 63-59 lead with 2:11 remaining.
  • The Bearcats scored the next five points to take back the lead, 64-63, with 37 seconds left. After Brackens tied the game at 64-64, an exchange of turnovers decided the game. The second of those turnovers, a steal and layup by Crawford, provided Cincinnati with what proved to be the game-winning points.

Notes

  • The 26 points ASU scored in the first quarter tied its third-highest point total in a quarter this season.
  • Five Sun Devils – Elliott (four steals), Carrera (three steals), Davenport, Marley Washenitz and Last-Tear Poa (two steals each) – combined for 13 steals, the 12th time this season ASU has had 10 or more steals.
  • After not attempting a single free throw at West Virginia on Thursday, ASU had 16 attempts at Cincinnati (12-16). For the game, the Bearcats were plus-eight in free throw attempts (17-24).
  • Cincinnati’s 21 turnovers represented the 11th time this season ASU has forced the opposition into 20 or more turnovers. It was also the 11th time this season that ASU has scored 20 or more points off turnovers. 

Up next

The Sun Devils play the first of three consecutive home games on Wednesday (6:30 p.m.) when they host Arizona at Desert Financial Arena. Tickets for the game can be purchased at www.TheSunDevils.com.