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ASU Basketball: Sun Devils fall in Round of 32 to Texas

By Carson Field

LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 11: Arizona State Sun Devils mascot Sparky the Sun Devil stands on the court during a first-round game of the Pac-12 Basketball Tournament against the USC Trojans at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on March 11, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. USC won 67-64. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 11: Arizona State Sun Devils mascot Sparky the Sun Devil stands on the court during a first-round game of the Pac-12 Basketball Tournament against the USC Trojans at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on March 11, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. USC won 67-64. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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Following a first round win over Nebraska, ASU women’s basketball’s season came to an end Monday in an 85-65 loss to two-seed Texas.

Going into halftime, there was still promise for the Arizona State women’s basketball team. All hope, however, quickly dissipated in the first few minutes of the third quarter.

The score was a manageable 40-35 at the half, and ASU even scored the first three points of the third quarter. But Texas asserted its dominance quickly after and went on a 17-3 run.

“They just took advantage of their size and they just kept on taking it to us when we weren’t ready,” junior Kianna Ibis said. “They just took advantage of the mismatches, and we didn’t have help side today.”

In contrast to Saturday’s win over Nebraska, Arizona State struggled to get boards, for they were out-rebounded, 40-19.

“We just didn’t execute at all tonight, nothing,” ASU head coach Charli Turner Thorne said. “We knew from the first minute of the game, their whole game plan was just to rip and go on us.”

By the time it was the fourth quarter, Arizona State trailed by 15, and the lead seemed larger than that. The scoring margin would only increase as time ran off the clock.

Ibis was the scoring leader for either team with 27 points, but that was not near enough, as Texas defeated Arizona State by a score of 85-65.

“Obviously not the way we wanted to go out,” Turner Thorne said. “We just didn’t have it working on all cylinders on either end of the floor, which is kind of rare for us. But credit Texas, they played really well.”

Texas seemingly could not miss from the floor Monday. The Longhorns shot an incredible field goal percentage of 62, compared to Arizona State’s 39. ASU was also outscored 54-20 in the paint in the loss.

Although ASU does not have another game until November, the team has a lot to look forward to next season. The Sun Devils do not graduate any seniors, so it is likely every player from this year’s team will be back, plus the additions of the recruiting class.

“I think we’re very excited to be back up to like a Top 10 level next year,” Turner Thorne said. “We’re going to be the senior-junior team next year. It’s going to be exciting to have the depth and experience.”

Next: ASU Basketball: Sun Devils defeat Nebraska in first round

For Texas, on the other hand, the Longhorns have now advanced to the Sweet 16 and will face UCLA Friday.

All quotes in this article were obtained firsthand by Devils in Detail unless otherwise noted.