Devils in Detail
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ASU WBB: Sun Devils Season Ends at No. 1 Seed South Carolina

By Jordan Kaye

Mar 23, 2015; Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils forward Sophie Brunner (21) shoots over UALR Trojans forward Kaitlyn Pratt (40) during the second half in the second round of the women's NCAA Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena. The Sun Devils won 57-54. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 23, 2015; Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils forward Sophie Brunner (21) shoots over UALR Trojans forward Kaitlyn Pratt (40) during the second half in the second round of the women's NCAA Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena. The Sun Devils won 57-54. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports /
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The ASU basketball women’s team’s season is over after a 71-68 loss to South Carolina in the second round of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament.

The top seed in the Stockton Region, South Carolina Gamecocks were able to outscore the Sun Devils in three of the four quarters, but needed a late run to top the Sun Devils.

ASU was on the other side of the seeding’s last season, as they were able to host two games as a No. 2 seed, where they lost in the second round.

They had to travel to face the Gamecocks on their own floor, and played like they shouldn’t be playing them until next week.

“It’s no secret I didn’t think we should be playing a one seed in the second round on their home floor,” head coach Charli Turner Thorne said, “and I think we proved that in both of our games.”

They played like they had something to prove, and it was not more evident than in the fourth quarter down 10. They stormed back in a hostile environment to take the lead with a little over two minutes to play, not allowing South Carolina to score for over five minutes.

“Our mindset was just to never back down, we’ve never been that team to back down from a challenge,” guard Sabrina Haines said on her team’s fight, “We don’t care who you are, we don’t care what your rank is.”

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ASU walked into the locker room with a 39-33 halftime lead, and were able to extend it to 11 early in the third quarter.

Their lead was due in part to the great play again from senior Sophie Brunner. She notched 10 points to allow ASU the lead in the second quarter and finished the game with 20 points and nine rebounds.

She rounds out her career at ASU as one of the best players in program history and the most outstanding player on this year’s team, averaging 12.6 points and 6.8 rebounds per game.

Brunner got most of her help from guards Reili Richardson (16 points) and Sabrina Haines (12 points). They were most noticeable from three, where the two combined to knock down five from beyond the arc.

They were also key in not letting South Carolina score for five minutes in the fourth as ASU implemented their zone defense. They have done it just a few times this season, and on Sunday, it stifled the South Carolina playmakers long enough to allow the Devils to get back in the game.

The Devils had trouble dealing with the Gamecocks inside out game with guard Kaela Davis and forward A’ja Wilson. Davis contributed 20 points while Wilson added 21 including giving South Carolina the lead after scoring their final four points.

The Sun Devils had trouble getting calls on Sunday, as they were called for 23 fouls, when their season average is just 14. The Gamecocks were able to shoot and make eight more free throws then ASU.

“I just thought the consistency was off,” Turner Thorne said, “if they’re going to call it that tight, try to balance it out in such a big game, and I didn’t feel like it was.”

Next: ASU Basketball: Women Dominate Spartans to Advance

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