Jackson State opened the game with an 8-0 run and built a nine-point first-quarter lead, but Arizona State rallied to win 84-41 on Monday at Desert Financial Arena in Tempe, Arizona.
The Tigers held the Sun Devils scoreless for the first 3:45. Taler Thornton scored on a jumper assisted by Camryn O’Neil, Joi Johnson added a fast-break layup, Cassidy Gladney hit a 3-pointer and Ne’vaeh Buntley made a free throw during the opening run. Thornton’s 3-pointer later extended the lead to 11-2, Jackson State’s largest of the game.
Arizona State took the lead, but O’Neil’s jumper with 2:03 left in the first quarter cut the deficit to 15-13. Gladney’s free throw brought the Tigers within one early in the second, and baskets by Buntley and Madison Eddings made it 21-18 with 6:37 left in the half. The Sun Devils led 34-21 at halftime and extended their advantage after the break.
Buntley led Jackson State with 12 points, including two 3-pointers. She also had three rebounds, two assists and a steal without a turnover in 25 minutes. Johnson scored eight points on 4-of-5 shooting and grabbed three rebounds. O’Neil had six points, four assists and two steals.
Jackson State shot 29.1% from the field, making 16 of 55 attempts, and went 4-for-13 at the free-throw line. The Tigers grabbed 13 offensive rebounds and scored 13 second-chance points. They also recorded eight steals and assisted on 12 of their 16 field goals.
The Tigers were scheduled to face Grand Canyon in Phoenix on Wednesday, with tipoff listed for 7 p.m. CT.
