ASU Women’s Basketball: Sun Devils survive scare from Cougars

(Photo: Ryan Blank/WCSN)

In another game that went down to the wire, the ASU women’s basketball team ended its three-game losing streak, defeating Washington State on Friday night, 62-59.

The Cougars (11-14, 4-9) erased a 12-point deficit to tie the game at 38 heading into the fourth quarter.

With No. 22 Arizona State (17-8, 7-6) leading 60-57, Borislava Hristova missed a shot and got her own rebound, laying the ball up and bringing Washington State within one point with 3.8 seconds left in the game.

It was too little too late. The Cougars fouled Reili Richardson on the next ASU inbound and she made both of her free throws to seal the win.

Richardson retained ASU’s lead almost on her own in the quarter, going 2-for-2 from the three-point line and hitting 5 of 6 free throws down the stretch. Richardson — an 87 percent free throw shooter — finished with 22 points.

“It’s just like a switch flips in me,” Richardson said. “I just like to win. I just get my team fired up, and I want to take every game, basically, in the fourth quarter.”

ASU coach Charli Turner Thorne spoke briefly but highly of the senior.

“Reili’s a stud,” Turner Thorne said. “Reili’s just a stud.”

Ja’Tavia Tapley was another bright spot for the Sun Devils. After averaging 17 points early in the year, she scored 10 points or less in the five games prior to Friday’s match-up, and her average dropped to 11.5 points per game.

She recorded 14 points and six rebounds against the Cougars, and said she was proud of her performance.

“It felt great, I knew that was something I needed to improve on,” Tapley said. “I just made it something that I focused on this game, especially getting rebounds and scoring strong, finishing at the basket.”

Turner Thorne wasn’t surprised to see Tapley back in a groove.

“She’s one of our go-to players, so we’re going to her,” Turner Thorne said. “I think she kind of settled down and set things up for herself a little better.”

The Sun Devils had trouble containing Hristova who scored eight of her game-high 24 points in the fourth quarter.

They also allowed Chanelle Molina, who was scoreless in the first half, to score 13 points in the second half.

Turner Thorne said she still wants to see more effort and defensive unity from her team, which is currently projected to be a five seed in the NCAA Tournament.

“The communication wasn’t great,” she said. “We were switching screens we weren’t supposed to switch, our awareness wasn’t good, so hopefully we can get a little bit better locked in.”

Even though the game wasn’t perfect, Turner Thorne is glad to be back in the win column.

“Am I happy with how hard we’re playing collectively for 40 minutes? No,” Turner Thorne said. “But it’s all good. Any win in this conference is a great win, and we will take it.”

The Sun Devils will face the Washington Huskies (11-13, 3-10) on Sunday at Desert Financial Arena.