Skinner's 26 points not enough as Sun Devil WBB Falls to Arizona

TUCSON –  The Sun Devil Women's Basketball team fell in its conference opener against the No. 18 Arizona Wildcats (11-1, 1-0), 84-66, on Thursday. 

Arizona State (7-5, 0-1) was paced by Tyi Skinner who scored 26 points, the most allowed by the Wildcats this season and the seventh time she's scored at least 20 points this season, followed by Treasure Hunt's 13 points - her third-straight game in double figures. Sophomore Meg Newman notched her second-straight game in double figures with 10 points and a team-leading nine rebounds.

Junior Jaddan Simmons led the team in assists with five on the night.

ASU recorded a season-best nine three-pointers in the game - two more than it had in any other contest this season - while its .391 percentage behind the arc was also its highest of the year.

After a slow start in the opening period, the Sun Devils responded by outscoring the Wildcats by two in the second quarter which included a 6-2 stretch in the final 1:27 to cut the deficit to 12 heading into halftime. Skinner helped lead the way with 15 points at the half as she's scored in double digits in every game so far this season.

ASU struck first to open the third quarter with Hunt's third three of the game to cut the lead to nine. The Sun Devils were unable to draw any closer as the Wildcats extended their lead to 26 toward the end of the third quarter. 

The Sun Devils ended the game on an 11-3 stretch to outscore the opposition by eight points in the fourth quarter.

The Sun Devils will continue to stay on the road as they will take on No. 2 Stanford on New Years' Eve in Palo Alto. The game can be seen on Pac-12 Bay Area and can be heard on KDUS AM 1080.