DAVIS, Calif. – Despite a stout defensive effort and a plus-12 advantage on the boards, the Sun Devil women's basketball team came up on the short end of a 57-50 decision at UC Davis on Sunday.
For the second straight game the Sun Devils (5-5) held the opposition to the fewest points they have given up this season and allowed the Aggies (6-4) to shoot only 37 percent. Unfortunately for ASU, it struggled to put the ball in the basket as it made just 28 percent of its shots and knocked down one of its 14 attempts from long range.
Jalyn Brown led all scorers with 21 points to go with three steals. Leading ASU's effort on the boards was Maggie Besselink, who had game highs in rebounds (12) and offensive rebounds (7). For Besselink, who also had scored four points, her 12 boards were one short of matching her career high of 13 vs. USC on Mar. 3, 2021. Also providing the Sun Devils with strong rebounding performances were Kennedy Basham (6 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists) and Heavenly Greer (6 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals).
The Sun Devils were tied after one quarter (12-12) and went to the locker room down by two.
The Aggies were the only team to shoot at least 50 percent in a quarter. That came in the third frame in which they went 7 for 14 from the floor and outscored ASU 20-14.
Down by eight entering the fourth quarter, the Sun Devils did not show any letup, methodically trimming the Aggies' advantage. Besselink's layup got the Sun Devils within two points, 44-42, with 5:36 remaining.
ASU was within one possession three more times but came away without any points in each instance.
Tova Sabel's 3-pointer with 2:59 remaining pushed the Aggies' lead to six and ASU was not able to get any closer the rest of the way.
After Besselink's earlier field goal got ASU within two, the Sun Devils were only able to connect on three of their 14 shot attempts in the final five minutes of the game.
One area where the Sun Devils continued to excel was at the free throw line where they hit 82 percent of their attempts (9-11).
ASU played at UC Davis without Nevaeh Parkinson, who currently leads the team in field goal percentage and is third in both scoring and rebounds.
Sunday's game was the fifth of seven games in which ASU was on the road for a neutral site contest or as the away team in a true road game. The Sun Devils will remain in Northern California where will face San Francisco on Tuesday (12 p.m. MST). The game can be seen on ESPN+ and heard on KDUS AM 1060.
For the second straight game the Sun Devils (5-5) held the opposition to the fewest points they have given up this season and allowed the Aggies (6-4) to shoot only 37 percent. Unfortunately for ASU, it struggled to put the ball in the basket as it made just 28 percent of its shots and knocked down one of its 14 attempts from long range.
Jalyn Brown led all scorers with 21 points to go with three steals. Leading ASU's effort on the boards was Maggie Besselink, who had game highs in rebounds (12) and offensive rebounds (7). For Besselink, who also had scored four points, her 12 boards were one short of matching her career high of 13 vs. USC on Mar. 3, 2021. Also providing the Sun Devils with strong rebounding performances were Kennedy Basham (6 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists) and Heavenly Greer (6 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals).
The Sun Devils were tied after one quarter (12-12) and went to the locker room down by two.
The Aggies were the only team to shoot at least 50 percent in a quarter. That came in the third frame in which they went 7 for 14 from the floor and outscored ASU 20-14.
Down by eight entering the fourth quarter, the Sun Devils did not show any letup, methodically trimming the Aggies' advantage. Besselink's layup got the Sun Devils within two points, 44-42, with 5:36 remaining.
ASU was within one possession three more times but came away without any points in each instance.
Tova Sabel's 3-pointer with 2:59 remaining pushed the Aggies' lead to six and ASU was not able to get any closer the rest of the way.
After Besselink's earlier field goal got ASU within two, the Sun Devils were only able to connect on three of their 14 shot attempts in the final five minutes of the game.
One area where the Sun Devils continued to excel was at the free throw line where they hit 82 percent of their attempts (9-11).
ASU played at UC Davis without Nevaeh Parkinson, who currently leads the team in field goal percentage and is third in both scoring and rebounds.
Sunday's game was the fifth of seven games in which ASU was on the road for a neutral site contest or as the away team in a true road game. The Sun Devils will remain in Northern California where will face San Francisco on Tuesday (12 p.m. MST). The game can be seen on ESPN+ and heard on KDUS AM 1060.