Thomas' Perfect Day Leads Sun Devil WBB to 85-77 Win at Texas Tech

LUBBOCK, Texas – Adrianne Thomas scored 16 of her career-high 18 points in the second half to help lead the Arizona State women’s basketball team to a 85-77 win over Texas Tech on Sunday.

Thomas was perfect from the floor on Sunday as she connected on both of her field goal attempts and all 14 free throws to go along with four assists, four rebounds and two steals. Thomas’ 14-14 effort from the line was one made free throw short of tying the Pac-12 record for the best ‘perfect game’ from the line (three players have made 15-15).

Deja Mann (17 points) and Kelsey Moos (12 points) also scored in double figures for the Sun Devils (2-1), who shot 55 percent for the game.

Texas Tech (2-1), which had its 50-game winning streak in home non-conference games ended by ASU, was led by Minta Spears (25 points), Mariana Lizarazu (18 points) and Amber Battle (15 points), who combined for 58 of the Lady Raiders’ 77 points.

The contest featured 18 ties and 18 lead changes as neither team led by more than six points until the final minute of the game.

The Sun Devils would start to assume control in the final four minutes of the game thanks to the play of Thomas, who scored six straight points to ignite an 18-8 ASU run to close out the game.

After hitting a pair of free throws to tie the game at 69-69, Thomas came up with a steal on the defensive end and connected on two free throws on ASU’s ensuing possession to put ASU up 71-69. Thomas would then cap the 6-0 run after grabbing a rebound off a Texas Tech miss and hitting a jumper to give ASU a 73-69 lead with 2:59 remaining.

Although the Lady Raiders would answer with points on their next two possessions they would end up losing ground as Mann scored six straight points for the Sun Devils on 3-pointer and a 3-point play, to give ASU a 79-73 lead with 1:07 remaining.

Texas Tech would get no closer than four points the rest of the way as a jumper by Katie Hempen and four free throws in the final 45 seconds by Thomas sealed the win for the Sun Devils.

ASU led by as many as six and trailed by as many a four points during a back-and-forth first 20 minutes. ASU connected on 52 percent of its field goals in the first half, including 75 percent (6-8) from beyond the arc. Mann scored 11 points to lead the Sun Devils, who were whistled for 15 fouls in the first half.

The Sun Devil bench, which outscored Texas Tech’s reserves 29-25, played a big role in Sunday’s win. Every player who participated in the game for ASU scored as Elisha Davis led the way with six points off ASU’s bench. Also coming through with key contributions were Hempen, Arnecia Hawkins and Joy Burke, who had five points each, and Quinn Dornstauder and Eliza Normen, who both added four points. Normen also led ASU with six rebounds.

The Sun Devils return to action on Saturday when they host Providence at 4 p.m. at Wells Fargo Arena.