Sun Devil WBB unable to pull off comeback at BYU
PROVO, Utah – Despite a strong defensive effort, the Sun Devil women's basketball team was not able to overcome a 30-percent shooting performance in its 55-44 loss at BYU on Wednesday.
Mael Gilles, Taya Hanson and Jaddan Simmons tied for the team lead in scoring with eight points each. Coming off a career-high 15-rebound outing in ASU's most recent game against Minnesota on Friday, Maggie Besselink once again led ASU on the boards with seven rebounds. Hanson and Gilles added six each while Simmons had five. Gabriela Bosquez (six points) and Imogen Greenslade (six points) combined for 12 points in helping the Sun Devils outscore the Cougars 16-4 in bench points.
Included in the Sun Devils' shooting woes were a 42-percent effort (5-12) at the foul line and a 13-percent performance from long range.
After falling behind 14-8 with under a minute left in the first quarter, the Sun Devils (1-2) scored the game's next six points – driving layups by Simmons and Gilles and a jumper by Jade Loville – to knot the score at 14-14 with 7:52 remaining in the half.
Paisley Harding scored nine of her game-high 25 points over the last 5:30 of the second quarter to put BYU up 29-20 at the half.
The Cougars led between eight-12 points over the first seven-plus minutes of the third quarter. One of the game's critical sequences came after a basket by Gilles cut BYU's lead to 37-27 with 3:09 remaining in the quarter. Harding's field goal on BYU's ensuing possession started an 8-0 run that swelled the Cougars' lead to 18 points.
Down, but far from out, the Sun Devils methodically chipped away at BYU's lead, outscoring the Cougars 12-3 over the first five minutes of the final frame. The run included triples from Simmons and Hanson. A steal and layup by Loville had the Sun Devils back within single digits, 48-40 with 5:01 remaining.
ASU got even closer after Bosquez' driving layup got the Sun Devils within seven, 51-44 with 3:06 remaining.
A defensive stop at the opposite end gave ASU a chance to get even closer. Unfortunately, the Sun Devils came up empty and Harding's jumper put BYU up 53-44 with 1:41 left. A pair of Cougar free throws accounted for the final two points of the game.
Within the next month, the Sun Devils are hopeful they will have the full roster head coach Charli Turner Thorne was excited about over the offseason.
Jayde Van Hyfte, a full-time starter in 2020, who played only one game last season, is expected to return soon. The same goes for junior college transfer Isadora Sousa who has yet to play this season. The Sun Devils were also without one of their top threats from long range, Ayzhiana Basallo, who missed Wednesday's game due to injury.
The Sun Devils return to action on Sunday (1 p.m. MST) when they host Marist at 1 pm at Desert Financial Arena. Click here to purchase tickets.