GRAMBLING, La. | Miracle Saxon scored 12 points and snagged 12 rebounds for Grambling State as the Lady Tigers fell 62-49 at Arizona State on Friday afternoon at Desert Financial Arena.
GSU weathered nearly every punch the Sun Devils threw, keeping pace with ASU for much of the game. Saxon went 5-of-11 from the field, including 1-of-3 from behind the arc and 1-of-2 from the free-throw line.
The graduate student from Belflower, Calif. added one steal to her stat line.
Colbi Maples also scored in double-figures for the Lady Tigers, contributing 14 points, five rebounds, three assists and one block.
The most glaring difference on the stat sheet was the discrepancy in free-throw attempts between the two teams. While Arizona State reached the charity stripe 26 times, GSU attempted just four free throws during the course of the match.
Arizona State sprinted out to a quick 9-2 lead to start the game, but GSU kept pace with a 7-0 run of their own, highlighted by five points from freshman Jazmyne Jackson, tying the game at 9. The Sun Devils carried a 15-11 into the second quarter.
ASU seized control in the second period, building a 29-17 lead 4:54 to go until the half. Jackson splashed her second 3-pointer of the contest at the 2:42 mark, pulling the Lady Tigers within single digits, 31-22. However, Grambling would be held scoreless the rest of the half, as Arizona State led 35-22 at the break.
Trailing 42-26 midway through the third frame, back-to-back threes from Tiana Gardner and Saxon, trimmed the deficit to 10. ASU carried a 13-point lead, 46-33, heading into the final period.
After falling behind 60-40, Grambling State made one more late push, cutting Arizona State's advantage to 61-49 with 42 seconds to play, but couldn't complete the comeback effort
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- Grambling State shot 31.3 percent (20-of-64) from the field and 36.8 percent (7-of-19) from three-point line. The Lady Tigers went 2-of-4 (50.0 percent) from the charity stripe.
- Arizona State was 21-of-56 from the floor (38 percent), shooting 13 percent (2-of-16) from three-point range. The Sun Devils went 18-of-26 (69 percent) from the free throw line
- GSU out-rebounded ASU 45-39
- The Lady Tigers was outscored in the paint 36-18
- Grambling State scored 15 points off turnovers. Arizona State scored 19.
- The Lady Tiger's bench tallied 14 points. ASU's bench registered six.
UP NEXT
Grambling State heads over to Phoenix, Ariz. to square off against Grand Canyon University on Saturday night at the GCU Arena. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. CST.
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