ASU Basketball: Sun Devils frustrated after another close loss

ASU basketball suffered their third loss versus a ranked opponent Friday night with each loss by single-digits as they struggle to finish off games.

Arizona State is tired of moral victories.

Yes, they lost by six to a Baylor team who just knocked off No. 1 Connecticut ending their 126-game regular season winning streak.

Yes, they lost by two to No. 2 Louisville, who just suffered their first loss Thursday night to No. 1 Notre Dame.

And tonight, Arizona State fell to No. 6 Stanford, a Final Four contender this season and primary challenger to dethrone Oregon in the Pac-12, by seven.

The frustration was evident from forward Courtney Ekmark, center Charnea Johnson-Chapman and head coach Charli Turner Thorne in their postgame press conference.

ASU is frustrated of losing close games to top-ranked opponents. They’ve been right there all season and they’ve just been unable to finish games.

“I think it’s frustrating because everyone on this team is competitive and we want to win,” Ekmark said. “It’s just going to take us getting together and just taking it because we’re sick of losing. We’re right there and it’s our time to take them.”

With the entire roster returning from last season’s team plus the influx of four talented freshmen, the Sun Devils have the pieces to contend in the Pac-12 and make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.

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That’s what making these losses tough to swallow for Arizona State.

“We just need to be consistent and, in certain situations, need to be a little more connected. I thought we’ve played a tough schedule,” Turner Thorne said. “Some of our wins were against good teams that are going to do well the rest of the season. To beat the top teams, you just got to be a little more consistent.

“One thing that would really help would be just a little more fluid with the offense because we can really shoot the ball well, but we’re so impatient with things,” Turner Thorne said. “Stanford played us exactly how we prepared and they did exactly what we prepared for on offense so the fact they executed against us but we didn’t execute against them is kind of a bummer. That’s why the team is taking it tough but that’s good.”

Arizona State beat Stanford in all areas but scoring. ASU outrebounded Stanford 40-32 including a whopping 22 offensive rebounds.

They forced 16 Cardinal turnovers resulting in 10 points.

What cost ASU the game was their inability to do even more damage considering their added opportunities. The Sun Devils put up 24 more shots than the Cardinal Friday night but was only able to score three more field goals than Stanford.

ASU was just 4-for-19 from 3-point range tonight while Stanford was a much more efficient 6-for-15 from behind the arc.

In the end, ASU spotted Stanford a 12-point lead as ASU shot 10-for-36 from the field in the first half. That just can’t happen against the top teams in the nation.

Fortunately for Arizona State, by being in the Pac-12, the toughest conference in the nation, there are plenty of more opportunities down the road.

It continues Sunday when they’ll host No. 24 California, who’s reeling having lost four of five games including a loss at Arizona, 60-55, on Friday.

That’s going to be a game with a massive implications considering ASU will head on their toughest road weekend of the season next week against the Oregon schools, who both sit in the top-10 of the AP poll.

It’s going to be an extra motivated Golden Bears team with their star player, Phoenix native Kristina Anigwe, having never won at Arizona State during her career.

Despite the frustrations, Turner Thorne remains fully confident in her team.

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“I do really believe in this team. I do think our best basketball is ahead of us. I was proud of how they fought and giving themselves a chance to win down the stretch. We’re right there.”

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