Feb. 12, 2009
LOS ANGELES - Dymond Simon scored 15 points and Briann January, Kayli Murphy and Danielle Orsillo added 10 each as Arizona State tied the school record for consecutive wins (10) with a 72-69 victory over USC on Thursday night.
Becca Tobin tied her career high with 13 rebounds as the Sun Devils had to stave off a last-second comeback by the Women of Troy.
The Sun Devils were able to overcome 22 turnovers by shooting 46 percent for the game while allowing USC to make only 33 percent of its field goals. ASU was also able to counter USC's six 3-pointers with five of its own, including a pair by both January and Orsillo. In addition ASU (19-23) equaled USC's (19-27) production from the free throw line despite having four fewer attempts.
The Sun Devils received a solid overall performance from their post players as Murphy (3-6, 10 points), Lauren Lacey (3-5, eight points), Sybil Dosty (3-4, six points) and Tobin (3-7, six points) combined for 30 points while making 55 percent (12-22) of their shots.
This was by far the Sun Devils' closest game during their current winning streak. ASU (18-6, 10-2 Pac-10) came into its contest at USC having won its last nine games by an average of 20.4 points, the closest of those games being last Saturday's win over Oregon State (65-54). However on Thursday the Sun Devils could not relax until there were all zeros on the clock as USC guard Camille LeNoir missed a 3-pointer in the final seconds that would have forced the game into overtime.
LeNoir's miss was the last of several twists and turns in the last five-plus minutes of the game, beginning when USC freshman guard Ashley Corral, who scored a game-high 19 points, sunk a pair of free throws to tie the game at 61-61 with 5:39 left in regulation.
Sybil Dosty would put ASU back up 62-61 after making one of two free throws on ASU's ensuing possession. Tobin rebounded Dosty's miss on the second free throw and quickly scored to put the Sun Devils up 64-61 with just under five minutes left.
Tobin's field goal was ASU's last of the game, however the Sun Devils would connect on all eight of their free throw attempts (Kate Engelbrecht 2-2, January 4-4, Simon 2-2) in the final minutes while allowing USC to make only three of its last 11 field goals
ASU returns to action on Saturday (2 p.m. PT/3 p.m. MT) when it faces the UCLA Bruins in Los Angeles. The game can be heard live in the Valley on The Fan AM 1060.