Fresno State offense slowed by No. 17/20 Arizona State in 68-52 defeat

Thursday, December 20

Tempe, Ariz.

1 p.m. PT

Fresno State

6-4

Arizona State

9-2

Fresno State

Arizona State

Photo by: Keith Kountz/Fresno St

Fresno State offense slowed by No. 17/20 Arizona State in 68-52 defeat

12/20/2018 4:20:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Bulldogs held to lowest scoring output of the season.

By: Josh Mitchell / Assistant Director of Communications

TEMPE, Ariz. – Facing its first ranked opponent in two years, Fresno State held tough throughout its contest at No. 17/20 Arizona State before ultimately falling 68-52 on Thursday afternoon at Wells Fargo Arena. The Bulldogs were held to their lowest point total of the season, their first game being held below 60 points.

Aly Gamez scored a team-high 16 points for the 'Dogs while Candice White just missed a double-double with 15 points and nine rebounds. Courtney Ekmark posted a game-high 17 points for ASU, with 15 coming from behind the 3-point line. Kianna Ibis added 15 points and five rebounds.

How It Happened
After allowing the opening four points to Ibis, Fresno State responded with a 7-0 run, with five points from White to grab the early lead three minutes into the game. ASU answered with five of their own before a 3 from Jordanna Porter gave the lead back to the 'Dogs at 10-9 with 4:14 on the clock. Jayde Van Hyfte answered with a layup for the Sun Devils as they held the lead for two minutes before the 'Dogs regained it under two minutes to play back-to-back buckets from White and Genna Ogier. ASU held a 17-16 advantage after one with a jumper from Kiara Russell with a minute left on the clock.

Fresno State remained close throughout much of the second quarter but was unable to regain the lead. Kristina Cavey leveled the game with a 3 with 3:22 on the clock but it was short-lived as Ekmark answered with one of her own. That started a 9-2 run the close the half for the Sun Devils as they took a 35-28 advantage at the break.

Arizona State built its lead up to 13, at 43-30, behind an 8-0 run after Maddi Utti opened the half with a layup. Despite the momentum being on the Sun Devils' side, the 'Dogs responded with an 8-0 spurt of their own with six points coming from Gamez. The sophomore added five more during the final minutes to keep ASU's lead in single digits at 53-45.

The Sun Devils opened the fourth with six unanswered to take a 14-point lead. Ekmark's second and third 3-pointers of the quarter gave ASU their largest lead of the game at 16, 65-49.

Team Notes
Fresno State was held to its lowest scoring output of the season at 52. The Bulldogs' previous low was 61 at USC on Nov. 28.
Thursday's contest was Fresno State's first of the season with only two players scoring in double digits.
Fresno State was outrebounded 36-28, allowing 11 more second-chance points.
The Bulldogs forced a season-low 17 turnovers and were outscored in points off turnovers, 24-17.

Player Notes
Candice White – 15 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists
Moved to No. 12 on the Fresno State scoring list at 1,281 points, passing Simone Srubek and Aritta Lane.
Grabbed a season-high nine rebounds.
Attempted a season-high 20 shots.

Aly Gamez – 16 points, 4 rebounds
Tied her season high in scoring with 16 points.
Scored 11 of her 16 points in the third quarter.
Shot 5-of-12 from floor.

Up Next
Fresno State will return to the Save Mart Center on Dec. 29 for its final nonconference game of the season, hosting Fresno Pacific at 2 p.m. PT. It is part of doubleheader with the men who will face Utah Valley following the women's game.

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