February 6, 1999
TEMPE, Ariz. - The Arizona State women's basketball team beat Washington in a come-from-behind overtime victory 72-69 Saturday night at Wells Fargo Arena. The Sun Devils improve to 10-10 overall, 4-7 in Pacific-10 Conference games. The Huskies are now 10-10 overall, 6-5 in the Pac-10.
Senior guard Michelle Tom (Winslow, Ariz.) hit a three-pointer with only seven seconds left in the second-half to tie the game at 59 points. Tom would finish the game with eight points and three rebounds. Freshman forward Theresa Jantzen (Calgary, Alberta, Canada) had her second double-double on the season, with 13 points and 12 rebounds. Her 12 rebounds is also a career high. Sophomore forward Leaf Newman (Perris, Calif.) tied a career record of three three-point shots and finished the game with 15 total points. Natalie Tucker (Georgetown, Texas) and Kristine Sand (Oslo, Norway) contributed 10 points apiece, while Tucker also had six rebounds.
In overtime the Sun Devils got 10 of their 13 points from free throws. Tucker was five-of-six from the line. ASU head coach Charli Turner Thorne was confident and pleased with the team's performance from the free throw line.
"We had to be ready to shoot free throws, and to have Nat and Shelly on the line, I can't think of anyone else I'd rather have," Turner Thorne said.
ASU went into halftime with a six point lead, but had lead by as much as 14 points in the first-half. In the second-half Washington tied the game back up within the first three minutes. The Sun Devils continued to keep the game close, but several turnovers and fouls put the Huskies up by eight points with just over eight minutes to go. ASU was able to get within three points with :21 seconds left before Tom's trey sent the Sun Devils into overtime and onto victory.
Leading the Huskies was guard Megan Franza who had 21 points and five steals. Forward Amber Hall had 14 points and a season high 19 rebounds.
Arizona State is next in action against Arizona February 13 at 6 p.m. at the Wells Fargo Arena.