TEMPE – The Sun Devil Women’s Basketball team’s unblemished record when playing at home, 12-0 entering Sunday’s game, came to an end in a 74-67 loss to Kansas State before 3,954 fans at Desert Financial Arena.
Although they never stopped fighting, the Sun Devils (18-5, 5-5 Big 12) were not able climb out of a hole that proved to be too deep as the Wildcats (12-11, 5-5) used tremendous 3-point shooting, making 11 of their first 14 attempts, to build a 24-point lead midway through the third quarter.
The Sun Devils stormed back, getting within nine points with 3:28 remaining in the game, but could not draw any closer until the game’s final seconds.
Sun Devil standouts
- The trio of McKinna Brackens (20 points), Gabby Elliott (18 points) and Heloisa Carrera (11 points) collectively scored 49 points, while Marley Washenitz and Jyah LoVett scored nine points each.
- Brackens once again led ASU in rebounds, pulling down six for the game, while Elliott and LoVett grabbed five boards each.
- The Sun Devils did a great job sharing the basketball, ending the game with 20 assists on 27 made baskets. Amaya Williams and LoVett led the way with five assists apiece, while Elliott (four assists) and Washenitz (four assists) combined for eight more.
- Brackens (15 points/10 in the fourth quarter), Elliott (11 points) and LoVett (all nine of her points) were instrumental in helping ASU get back into the game as the trio scored 35 of ASU’s 43 points in the second half.
How it happened
- Kansas State made 60 percent (12-20) of its attempts from long range and shot 51.2 percent, just the second ASU opponent to shoot 50 percent or higher this season.
- In the first and fourth quarters, ASU made half of its shots (17-34) and was plus-five in points (38-33) over the Wildcats, who shot 45 percent in the same two quarters. It was during the second and third quarters that Kansas State did much of the work that led to the outcome. The Wildcats connected on 56 percent of their shots and outscored the Sun Devils 41-29 during the middle 20 minutes. KSU’s advantage was 39-17 before ASU ended the third quarter with a 12-2 run.
- Both offenses were efficient and effective in the first quarter. Kansas State made 58 percent (7-12) of its shots, including all three of its attempts from downtown, while the Sun Devils shot 50 percent (7-14).
- The Sun Devils and Wildcats split the game’s first 18 points. ASU’s first four field goals were made by four different players – a 3-pointer by Brackens, a jumper by Elliott, a 3-pointer by Washenitz and a layup by Carrera that tied the game at 9-9 nearly six minutes into the game.
- A 3-pointer by Kansas State’s Jordan Speiser put Kansas State up 17-13, the biggest lead of the quarter for either team.
- It appeared the Wildcats were going to have the last shot of the quarter, but a steal by Elliott turned into a layup for Washenitz, and after 10 minutes, Kansas State had a 17-15 lead.
- Kansas State started to take control during the last five minutes of the second quarter, when it outscored ASU 13-4 to turn a four-point lead into a 37-24 advantage at the half.
- Kansas State continued to have success putting points on the board in the third quarter, outscoring the Sun Devils 14-6 to go up 51-30 at the media timeout.
- Trailing 56-32, the Sun Devils suddenly came alive on both ends of the floor. Their flurry of energy resulted in a 12-2 run to conclude the quarter. The 3,954 fans in attendance roared when LoVett, courtesy of a steal by Washenitz, beat the third quarter buzzer to trim Kansas State’s lead to 14, 58-44, going into the final quarter.
- After KSU boosted its lead back up to 18, ASU scored nine straight points to cut its deficit in half after Elliott’s triple made the score 64-55 with 3:28 remaining.
- Although ASU ended the game making six of its final nine shots, it could not get any closer until Elliott scored the game’s final points with five seconds remaining.
Up next
The Sun Devils conclude their three-game homestand on Wednesday (6:30 p.m. MST) when they host Oklahoma State at Desert Financial Arena. Tickets can be purchased at www.TheSunDevils.com.