TEMPE, Ariz. -- Despite 21 points from Janae Fulcher and a near double-double from Promise Amukamara (11 points, nine rebounds), the Arizona State women's basketball team was defeated by Washington 74-61 on Sunday.
The Sun Devils (11-11, 3-7 Pac-12) entered Sunday's game without starting junior point guard Adrianne Thomas and freshman forward Haley Videckis, who were both injured earlier this weekend. Still, ASU gave the Huskies (16-5, 8-2) a tough battle, as it led Washington by eight points 71 seconds into the second half and was within four points with 10 minutes remaining. In the end, however, the short-handed Sun Devils were not able to keep up with Washington's perimeter attack, which produced 15 triples on Sunday (one short of tying the school record).
Talia Walton led Washington with a game-high 26 points while Jazmine Davis added 16. Also scoring in double figures for the Huskies, who had only four turnovers, were Kristi Kingma (14 points) and Mercedes Wetmore (11 points).
Like in their first meeting of the season, won by Washington 77-74 in Seattle on Jan. 4, the Sun Devils dominated the boards, as they outrebounded the Huskies 55-29, including a 23-8 advantage on the offensive end. Amukamara (career-best nine rebounds), Nisha Barrett (career-best seven rebounds) and Micaela Pickens (seven rebounds) led ASU's rebounding effort.
Walton (17 points) and Davis (13 points) proved to be the difference makers for the Huskies in the second half, as the two combined for 30 of Washington's 45 points while making 65 percent (11 for 17) of their field-goal attempts; the rest of the team went 4 for 15 in the second half.
The Sun Devils, who tied their season low with 12 turnovers, appeared to be on the verge of taking over the game after Fulcher scored on consecutive possessions to put ASU up 37-29 with 18:48 remaining. A little more than six minutes later, however, the Devils found themselves trailing 49-42 after a jumper by Walton capped a 20-5 Washington run. Walton scored 11 points during the Washington scoring burst, which included six baskets from beyond the arc.
A 3-point play by Amukamara and a basket by Barrett had ASU back within two points before Davis (two free throws) and Walton (3-pointer) answered to get the lead back up to seven at 54-47. Isidora Purkovic's 3-pointer with 10:08 left made it a four-point game, but Walton would reply with a 3-pointer to start an 8-0 Washington run that put the Huskies in command, 62-50 with 8:33 left. ASU could not get closer than seven points the rest of the game.
The Sun Devils, who have played 12 of their 22 games this season away from home, go back on the road next week when they travel to the Bay Area to take on No. 6 Cal on Friday and No. 4 Stanford on Sunday.
