Nov. 13, 2011
FORT COLLINS, Colo. - Micaela Pickensscored 10 of her 12 points in the second half and overtime as the Arizona State women's basketball team came through with a hard-fought 56-52 road win over Colorado State on Sunday.
Kimberly Brandon added 11 points, Alex Earl scored nine and Deja Mann and Jada Blackwelleach tallied eight points for the Sun Devils (2-0), who played in their first overtime game since February of 2010.
Sunday's game was a defensive struggle as both the Sun Devils (29.8%) and Rams (29.6%) shot under 30 percent for the game.
Neither team lead by more than three points in the first half as the two teams exchanged the lead seven times. Mann and Brandon scored five points each to pace the Sun Devils, who trailed 23-22 at the half.
The Rams opened the second half with a basket to take a 25-22 lead before the Sun Devils came through with their most brilliant stretch of the game as they went on a 12-0 run to take a 34-25 lead following Pickens' three-point play with 16:07 left. Pickens (five points) and Earl (two 3-pointers) combined for 11 points during the scoring burst.
Colorado State (0-2) would slowly chip away at the Sun Devils' lead before tying the score at 40-40 following a layup by Kim Mestdagh with 4:26 left in the game.
The Sun Devils would respond as Blackwell and Brandon combined for baskets on consecutive possessions to put ASU back up 44-40.
However the Rams would once again come back and tie the game behind the play of Mestdagh, who tied teammate Sam Martin with a game-high 17 points. Mestdagh would get Colorado State within one point following a three-point play and then would tie the game after making one of two free throws with 2:11 left.
Blackwell would put the Sun Devils back on top with a jumper before Mestdagh, who scored the last nine points in regulation for the Rams, answered with a layup on the opposite end to tie the game at 46-46.
The Sun Devils had a chance to win in regulation, but Mann's jumper missed the mark sending the game to overtime.
The Sun Devils would win the game at the free throw line in the extra session as they connected on 80 percent of their free throws (8-10).
ASU would lead by as many as six in the overtime following a pair of free throws by Brandon with 3:30 left.
A three-pointer by Mestdagh and a jumper by Martin would eventually cut the Sun Devil lead to 55-52 with 1:09 left.
The Rams would deny the Sun Devils on their ensuing possession and get the ball back with a chance to tie, but successive 3-point attempts by Mestdagh missed the mark. Pickens grabbed the rebound and, after being fouled, clinched the win on the opposite end by hitting one of two free throws.
While their offense was not as prolific as it was in Friday's win over UC Riverside when they shot 51 percent, the Sun Devils were equally effective on the defensive end on Sunday as they forced 17 turnovers while coming through with nine blocks and nine steals. Senior Kali Bennetttied a career high with five blocks while Pickens led ASU with four steals.
ASU played Sunday's game without freshman Eliza Normen (bruised quad) and Olivia Major(knee).
The Sun Devils return to action next Sunday (2 p.m. MT) when they host Boston College at Wells Fargo Arena.