WBB Unable to Complete Comeback Against Arkansas State

TEMPE – Despite five players scoring in double figures – Jalyn Brown (24 points), Nevaeh Parkinson (18 points), Tyi Skinner (16 points), Kennedy Basham (14 points), Kennedy Fauntleroy (13 points) – the Sun Devil women's basketball team was unable to keep up with Arkansas State in a 100-96 loss on Friday.
 
Both the Sun Devils (1-1) and the Red Wolves (1-1) held double-digit leads at some point in the game. Both teams – ASU (54.2 percent) and Arkansas State (51.4 percent) shot higher than 50 percent from the floor and made nearly the same amount and percentage of free throws: (ASU – 16-19/84.2 percent and Arkansas State – 15-20/75 percent). 
 
The biggest statistical difference between the two teams came from beyond the arc where the Red Wolves made 13 while shooting 43 percent and the Sun Devils could only get two of their 13 attempts to fall (15.4 percent).
 
With the Sun Devils down 74-69 after three quarters, the game was following a similar script to ASU's win over Jacksonville State on Monday. In that contest, ASU trailed by three entering the fourth quarter and went on to outscore the Gamecocks 17-6 over the final 10 minutes on their way to a 74-66 win.
 
ASU trailed by as many as 13, 90-77 with 6:15 remaining. Down 95-88, the Sun Devils set the stage for a potentially dramatic comeback after Parkinson scored on a layup to cut the lead to five with 2:37 remaining. Parkinson's score ignited an 8-0 run by the Sun Devils in the space of 1:26. Brown's layup gave the lead back to ASU, 96-95 with 1:01 remaining.
 
After the Red Wolves reclaimed the lead 98-96 following a 3-point play, ASU missed all three of its attempts on its next possession and the Red Wolves clinched the win with a pair of free throws on the opposite end.
 
The Sun Devils return to action on Thursday when they play in the Hall of Fame Series Phoenix at Footprint Center in Phoenix. The Sun Devils will play in the first game of a doubleheader matching the ASU and Grand Canyon basketball programs. The Sun Devil women's basketball team will play GCU at 4:30 p.m. The Sun Devil men will then face GCU at 7 p.m. Tickets for Thursday's doubleheader can be purchased by clicking here.