SALT LAKE CITY – The Sun Devil women's basketball team posted its highest point total and best field goal percentage since Nov. 27. Despite its strong offensive performance, it came was not able to come through with the win, falling at Utah 102-82 in the Big 12 Conference opener for both teams.
The Sun Devils (5-7, 0-1 Big 12) scored more than 80 points for the fourth time this season and had their highest final point total since a 95-88 win vs. South Dakota at the Music City Classic on Nov. 27. ASU's shooting percentage of 48.4 percent was also its highest since the win over South Dakota (52.2 percent).
Jalyn Brown paced ASU with 22 points on 50 percent shooting (8-16). For Brown, it was her fourth time this season scoring more than 20 points and the ninth time in 11 games she has scored in double figures. Tyi Skinner and Jyah LoVett each had 16 points. For the latter, it was a season high and the fourth time in the last six games she has scored in double figures.
Nevaeh Parkinson added 14 points, hitting 86 percent of her shots (6-7), the third time this season she has shot higher than 80 percent in a game. In those three games – also vs. Arkansas State (80 percent/8-10/18 points) and vs. South Dakota (92 percent/12-13/career-high 26 points) – Parkinson has connected on 87 percent of her shots (26/30) and averaged 19.3 points.
Also providing the Sun Devils with solid contributions on both ends of the floor was Kennedy Fauntleroy, who scored four points and led the team in rebounds (seven), assists (seven) and steals (game-high four steals).
Trailing by 15-9 points with four minutes remaining in the first quarter, the Sun Devils went on a 16-8 run to end the frame with a 25-23 lead. During that stretch, ASU made 67 percent of its shots. The run started with a 3-pointer by Brown and ended on a 3-pointer by LoVett.
With the game tied at 25-25, Utah went on an 8-0 run to put some space between it and ASU.
The Sun Devils eventually cut the lead in half after a steal by Fauntleroy led to a layup by Brown.
Utah (10-2, 1-0) answered by scoring 11 of the game's next 14 points to take its largest lead of the quarter, 48-36, in the waning seconds of the half. A quick score on the opposite end by Heavenly Greer reduced ASU's deficit to 10, 48-38, at the half.
The Utes opened the second half with a 23-9 burst to swell their lead to 24, 71-47.
The Sun Devils did not go down without a fight as they slowly climbed their way back into the game. A 3-pointer by LoVett concluded a 27-12 run, getting ASU back within single digits, 83-74, with 6:44 remaining.
ASU's success was the product of a 53 percent shooting effort in the fourth quarter.
As impressive as that was, Utah was able to top it by knocking down 67 percent of its shots (10-15), including 57 percent from beyond the arc (4-7) over the final 10 minutes.
ASU was within single digits for 20 seconds after a Ute free throw on Utah's ensuing possession. From that point, Utah did not relinquish its double-digit lead for the remainder of the game.
Saturday's game at Utah concluded a daunting period in which ASU played seven consecutive games away from home.
The Sun Devils return to Tempe to play their first home game in 43 days when they host Penn on Mon., Dec. 30 at 1 p.m. MST. The contest will be played at Mullett Arena. Click here to purchase tickets to what will be Sun Devil Women's Basketball's inaugural appearance in SDA's newest on-campus Multi-Purpose Arena.
The Sun Devils (5-7, 0-1 Big 12) scored more than 80 points for the fourth time this season and had their highest final point total since a 95-88 win vs. South Dakota at the Music City Classic on Nov. 27. ASU's shooting percentage of 48.4 percent was also its highest since the win over South Dakota (52.2 percent).
Jalyn Brown paced ASU with 22 points on 50 percent shooting (8-16). For Brown, it was her fourth time this season scoring more than 20 points and the ninth time in 11 games she has scored in double figures. Tyi Skinner and Jyah LoVett each had 16 points. For the latter, it was a season high and the fourth time in the last six games she has scored in double figures.
Nevaeh Parkinson added 14 points, hitting 86 percent of her shots (6-7), the third time this season she has shot higher than 80 percent in a game. In those three games – also vs. Arkansas State (80 percent/8-10/18 points) and vs. South Dakota (92 percent/12-13/career-high 26 points) – Parkinson has connected on 87 percent of her shots (26/30) and averaged 19.3 points.
Also providing the Sun Devils with solid contributions on both ends of the floor was Kennedy Fauntleroy, who scored four points and led the team in rebounds (seven), assists (seven) and steals (game-high four steals).
Trailing by 15-9 points with four minutes remaining in the first quarter, the Sun Devils went on a 16-8 run to end the frame with a 25-23 lead. During that stretch, ASU made 67 percent of its shots. The run started with a 3-pointer by Brown and ended on a 3-pointer by LoVett.
With the game tied at 25-25, Utah went on an 8-0 run to put some space between it and ASU.
The Sun Devils eventually cut the lead in half after a steal by Fauntleroy led to a layup by Brown.
Utah (10-2, 1-0) answered by scoring 11 of the game's next 14 points to take its largest lead of the quarter, 48-36, in the waning seconds of the half. A quick score on the opposite end by Heavenly Greer reduced ASU's deficit to 10, 48-38, at the half.
The Utes opened the second half with a 23-9 burst to swell their lead to 24, 71-47.
The Sun Devils did not go down without a fight as they slowly climbed their way back into the game. A 3-pointer by LoVett concluded a 27-12 run, getting ASU back within single digits, 83-74, with 6:44 remaining.
ASU's success was the product of a 53 percent shooting effort in the fourth quarter.
As impressive as that was, Utah was able to top it by knocking down 67 percent of its shots (10-15), including 57 percent from beyond the arc (4-7) over the final 10 minutes.
ASU was within single digits for 20 seconds after a Ute free throw on Utah's ensuing possession. From that point, Utah did not relinquish its double-digit lead for the remainder of the game.
Saturday's game at Utah concluded a daunting period in which ASU played seven consecutive games away from home.
The Sun Devils return to Tempe to play their first home game in 43 days when they host Penn on Mon., Dec. 30 at 1 p.m. MST. The contest will be played at Mullett Arena. Click here to purchase tickets to what will be Sun Devil Women's Basketball's inaugural appearance in SDA's newest on-campus Multi-Purpose Arena.