Dec. 7, 1997
Women's Basketball Flattens New Mexico State
DALLAS- Playing in her native Lone Star State, ASU senior forward Stephanie Freeman (Austin, Texas) poured in a game-high 17 points to lead the Sun Devils past New Mexico State 60-46 Saturday in SMU's Moody Coliseum.
The win gave ASU (2-3) the Consolation Championship in the inaugural Southwestern Bell/Cotton Bowl Classic.
The Sun Devils, who led 21-20 at the half, outscored the Roadrunners (1-4) 39-26 in the decisive second period. Freshman guard Leaf Newman (Perris, Calif.) drained a three-pointer with just under 17 minutes to go to put ASU ahead 26-23 and spark the comeback. A 12-5 ASU run followed, capped by a Freeman trey at the 12:04-mark to give the Sun Devils a 38-28 edge. The Roadrunners did not get closer than six points for the remainder of the contest.
ASU held NMSU to just three points for more than half of the first stanza. The Roadrunners notched their second field goal with 8:33 left in the first half, but the Sun Devils had built a commanding 17-5 lead. That margin was cut to just one point as New Mexico State ended the first period on a 17-4 run.
Freeman added five steals to her performance and went 7-for-9 from the free-throw line. Senior guard Rameeka Lowe (Seattle) added a season-high 15 points and four steals, and Newman also reached double figures, finishing with 12 points and three rebounds. ASU point guard Rechelle Lang (TeKuiti, New Zealand) grabbed a game-high tying seven rebounds.
Wendy Ray led NMSU with 12 points and Rebecca Fresquez added 11.
The Sun Devils were 5-of-11 from three-point range (45.5 percent), with a pair of treys from both Newman and Freeman. ASU outrebounded the Roadrunners 38-34, however, both squads dished out just seven assists. The Sun Devils managed 25 points off turnovers to NMSU's 12.
ASU is back in action Wednesday night, when it travels to Albuquerque to face New Mexico. Game time is set for 7 p.m. CST/6 p.m. MST. The contest can be heard live on KMVP 860 AM.