Dec. 21, 2001
TEMPE, Ariz. - Senior guard Amanda Levens scored a game-high 28 points, but it was not enough as the Arizona state women's basketball team fell to sixth-ranked Stanford 75-66 Friday night in the team's Pac-10 season opener at Wells Fargo Arena.
The loss dropped ASU to 9-3 on the year and snapped the Sun Devils' seven-game winning streak, while Stanford improved to 10-1 on the year and 2-0 in the Pac-10.
Stanford sophomore Nicole Powell was 10-of-15 from the field for 25 points, while senior Lindsey Yamasaki had 22 for the Cardinal.
In the first half, ASU took control early with a 15-2 run that gave it a 34-21 advantage with 5:02 remaining before the half. Levens scored nine of the 15 points, and finished with 16 in the first half. Stanford got back into the game with a 12-2 run over the final four minutes, and ASU led just 36-33 at intermission. The three-point deficit marked the first time Stanford has trailed at halftime this season.
Stanford took its first lead of the game on the strength of a 17-5 run to open the second half. The Cardinal took the lead at 39-37 on a Powell lay-up at 18:22 and built the lead to 50-41 just 3:27 later.
The Sun Devils cut the lead to five at 52-47 with 11:17 remaining, but Stanford went on a 10-2 run behind six points from Yamasaki to push the lead to 62-49 at the 7:58 mark. The Sun Devils, who tied for the Pac-10 title with Stanford and Washington last season, got no closer than seven points the rest of the way.
For ASU, Levens led the team in scoring for the ninth time this year and turned in her seventh 20-point effort of the season with 28 points, while sophomore Betsy Boardman had a season-high 11 points and senior Cian Carvalho chipped in with 10.
ASU forced Stanford to a season-high 25 turnovers but was outrebounded for the first time this season, losing the battle of the boards 32-27.
The Sun Devils return to action Sunday morning, taking on California at 11 a.m. at Wells Fargo Arena before taking a week off for the holidays. Fans attending the Cal game can receive free admission by donating a non-perishable food item for the St. Vincent de Paul.
Due the Arizona Cardinal game at Sun Devil Stadium on Sunday afternoon, fans attending the Cal game should park in Parking Structure 5, which is located south of Sun Devil Stadium.