Tulsa Drops 70-52 Decision to #19 Arizona State in ASU Classic

Sunday, December 2

Tempe, Ariz.

3:00 pm

Tulsa

5-4

Arizona State

5-2

Tulsa

Arizona State

Tulsa Drops 70-52 Decision to #19 Arizona State in ASU Classic

12/2/2018 4:57:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Final Stats in PDF
Final Stats in HTML
Season Stats in PDF

The Tulsa women's basketball team dropped a 70-52 decision to #19 Arizona State on Sunday afternoon in the ASU Classic championship game at Wells Fargo Arena in Tempe, Ariz. The Golden Hurricane fell to 5-4 on the season, while the Sun Devils moved to 5-2 overall.

"ASU were taking a lot of things away from Crystal and Lex offensively, but Maddie stepped up and hit some three's and Desiree did a great job of defending, but we couldn't defend their duck-in and their on-ball screen. I thought we played with them for 32 minutes, but they ran away with it in the final eight minutes. I am proud of all of our players. They came in and were ready to compete, they played tough and I think they all deserve a lot of credit for coming in and fighting."

Crystal Polk had a team-best 14 points and seven rebounds, while Maddie Bittle added nine points, Alexis Gaulden and Rebecca Lescay both scored eight, and Morgan Brady posted seven.

For her efforts in both games, Polk was named to the ASU Classic all-tournament team. Polk averaged 14 points and 8.5 rebounds.

Tulsa had a 9-6 advantage in steals, while Arizona State had a 44-31 lead in rebounds, a 17-9 advantage in assists, and an 11-2 lead in blocks.

Tulsa shot 33-percent from the field, including 55-percent from three-point range and was 83-percent from the free throw line, while ASU shot 49-percent from the field, 35-percent from behind the arc and 60-percent from the free throw line.

The two teams battled to an 11-11 tie in the first five minutes of the game, with TU shooting 57-percent from the field and a perfect 2-of-2 from three-point range, while ASU shot 50-percent in the early going. They continued to match each other down the stretch, but the Sun Devils had a narrow 21-19 lead after the first frame.

Arizona State went on a 10-2 run to start the second quarter and took a 31-21 lead with 4:47 on the clock. TU battled back and pulled to within four, 33-29, but a layup and a free throw by Sophia Elenga gave ASU the seven-point lead (36-29) at halftime.

ASU scored the first eight points in the third quarter for their largest lead of the contest at that point, 44-29, with 6:15 on the clock. Polk ended TU's scoring drought with a layup at the 5:57 mark, but both teams scored six points in the rest of the frame as the Sun Devils had a 50-37 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

In the fourth quarter, Arizona State outscored Tulsa, 20-15 for the 18-point win.

ASU was led by Kianna Ibis with 14 points, while Robbi Ryan and Courtney Ekmark both had 12 points.

Tulsa will return to action on Sunday, December 9 at Arkansas State. Game time is set for 2:00 pm in Jonesboro, Ark.