ORLANDO, Fla. – Despite Jalyn Brown's 10th 20-point game and Kennedy Basham's third double-double, the Sun Devil women's basketball team lost at UCF 85-76 on Wednesday night.
For the Sun Devils (8-17, 2-11 Big 12), a difficult first quarter segued into an excellent first seven minutes of the second quarter only to let UCF (9-14, 3-11 Big 12) to take back the momentum before halftime and carry into the third quarter.
Brown, who scored 20 or more points for the eighth time in her last 13 games, led the way with 22 points to go with five rebounds. Brown was one of five Sun Devils who scored in double figures at UCF. Joining her were Tyi Skinner (14 points), Jyah LoVett (11 points), Nevaeh Parkinson (10 points, five rebounds) and Basham (10 points, team-high three blocks).
ASU had a strong night on the boards outrebounding the Knights 39-37. Coming off a 10-rebound performance at Arizona on Saturday, Basham once again led the way on the glass with 11 rebounds giving her back-to-back double-digit rebounding performances for the first time this season. Makayla Moore, who has gradually had more playing time in the last several games, pulled down eight rebounds, scored seven points and led the team in assists (five) and steals (three) in 36-plus minutes.
The first half was punctuated by massive scoring runs for both teams. In the first quarter UCF took full advantage of ASU's 11 turnovers, outscoring the Sun Devils 14-2 in points off turnovers and 11-0 in fast break points.
Up 15-10, UCF had the first big scoring run by by accounting for the last 14 points of the first quarter to take a 29-10 lead after 10 minutes.
Parkinson was ASU's best option off the offensive end in the first quarter going 4 for 5 from the floor and scoring eight of ASU's 10 points.
The Sun Devils turned the tables on the Knights in the second quarter. Trailing 32-14, LoVett not only knocked down ASU's first 3-pointer of the game but also ignited an 18-1 run for the Sun Devils.
Back-to-back 3-pointers by LoVett and Brown capped ASU's run and brought the Sun Devils within one point, 33-32 with 3:20 remaining in the second quarter.
Coming off such a tremendous period of offense, the Sun Devils suddenly lost the momentum as UCF scored the last six points of the first half to take a 39-32 lead at the half.
The Knights' momentum carried over into the third quarter as they scored the first five points of the second half to once again go up by double digits, 44-32.
The remainder of the game followed a similar pattern. After each of the four times ASU got within seven points, the Knights had a response.
UCF led by as many as 15 points early in the fourth quarter. After a 9-2 run by ASU pulled it within eight points, UCF would build its lead back uo, eventually taking a 12-point advantage with 2:12 remaining.
The Sun Devils return to action on Saturday (2 p.m. MST) when they host Utah in the program's annual Pink Game for breast cancer awareness. The game will be the first of a doubleheader with the Sun Devil men's basketball team squaring off against TCU at 6 p.m. Click here for information on how Sun Devil fans can purchase a single ticket to either game and be in attendance for both games.
For the Sun Devils (8-17, 2-11 Big 12), a difficult first quarter segued into an excellent first seven minutes of the second quarter only to let UCF (9-14, 3-11 Big 12) to take back the momentum before halftime and carry into the third quarter.
Brown, who scored 20 or more points for the eighth time in her last 13 games, led the way with 22 points to go with five rebounds. Brown was one of five Sun Devils who scored in double figures at UCF. Joining her were Tyi Skinner (14 points), Jyah LoVett (11 points), Nevaeh Parkinson (10 points, five rebounds) and Basham (10 points, team-high three blocks).
ASU had a strong night on the boards outrebounding the Knights 39-37. Coming off a 10-rebound performance at Arizona on Saturday, Basham once again led the way on the glass with 11 rebounds giving her back-to-back double-digit rebounding performances for the first time this season. Makayla Moore, who has gradually had more playing time in the last several games, pulled down eight rebounds, scored seven points and led the team in assists (five) and steals (three) in 36-plus minutes.
The first half was punctuated by massive scoring runs for both teams. In the first quarter UCF took full advantage of ASU's 11 turnovers, outscoring the Sun Devils 14-2 in points off turnovers and 11-0 in fast break points.
Up 15-10, UCF had the first big scoring run by by accounting for the last 14 points of the first quarter to take a 29-10 lead after 10 minutes.
Parkinson was ASU's best option off the offensive end in the first quarter going 4 for 5 from the floor and scoring eight of ASU's 10 points.
The Sun Devils turned the tables on the Knights in the second quarter. Trailing 32-14, LoVett not only knocked down ASU's first 3-pointer of the game but also ignited an 18-1 run for the Sun Devils.
Back-to-back 3-pointers by LoVett and Brown capped ASU's run and brought the Sun Devils within one point, 33-32 with 3:20 remaining in the second quarter.
Coming off such a tremendous period of offense, the Sun Devils suddenly lost the momentum as UCF scored the last six points of the first half to take a 39-32 lead at the half.
The Knights' momentum carried over into the third quarter as they scored the first five points of the second half to once again go up by double digits, 44-32.
The remainder of the game followed a similar pattern. After each of the four times ASU got within seven points, the Knights had a response.
UCF led by as many as 15 points early in the fourth quarter. After a 9-2 run by ASU pulled it within eight points, UCF would build its lead back uo, eventually taking a 12-point advantage with 2:12 remaining.
The Sun Devils return to action on Saturday (2 p.m. MST) when they host Utah in the program's annual Pink Game for breast cancer awareness. The game will be the first of a doubleheader with the Sun Devil men's basketball team squaring off against TCU at 6 p.m. Click here for information on how Sun Devil fans can purchase a single ticket to either game and be in attendance for both games.