Sun Devil women's basketball edged by No. 19 UCLA, 54-50

Nirra Fields scored 13 points, Thea Lemberger hit a go-ahead 3-pointer midway through the second half, and No. 19 UCLA held on to beat Arizona State 54-50. Jan. 27.

The Bruins (15-4, 6-2 Pac-10) took their first lead with 11:31 remaining in the first half and never trailed again. But the Sun Devils (11-9, 3-5) kept it close throughout and tied the game at 38 with 7:59 remaining. Lemberger then hit her 3-pointer to give UCLA the lead back and they held on tightly from there.

Jasmine Dixon, with 12 points, was the only other Bruin to score in double figures. UCLA held ASU to 36 percent shooting from the field. Janae Fulcherled the Sun Devils with 13 points.

ASU returns to action on Friday when it hosts Washington State at 7 p.m.

Notes

• Janae Fulcher led ASU with 13 points, Promise Amukamara had seven points andAdrianne Thomas, Arnecia Hawkins and Joy Burke all scored six points for the Sun Devils.

• Thomas also tied her career high with eight rebounds while Amukamara tied her career high in assists (4) and also had six rebounds (one short of tying her career high).

• Hawkins started in place of senior guard Micaela Pickens (injured).

• The Sun Devils held UCLA, which came into Sunday’s game ranked first in the Pac-12 in scoring offense (71.5 ppg), 17.5 points below its average.

• ASU connected on 77 percent of its free throws (10-13) on Sunday. In their last three games the Sun Devils have made 79.5 percent of their free throws, nearly 11 percentage points higher than their percentage coming into Sunday’s game (68.7).

• ASU allowed an average of only 53.5 points in two games this weekend.

• ASU led by as many as four points in the first half as the Bruins did not take their first lead until 11:31 remained in the first half.

• The Bruins led 23-21 at the half and took their largest lead, 36-28, with 11:14 remaining in the game. The Sun Devils countered with a 9-1 run to tie the score at 38-38 with 7:59 remaining.

• UCLA’s Thea Lemberger hit a 3-pointer to put UCLA back up 41-38. It was the first of three triples the Bruins made in the second half. Each one of the 3-pointers came at a significant moment in the game. With UCLA up 45-43 and 2:33 remaining, Kari Korver hit a three to give UCLA a five-point advantage. A little more than a minute later, Nirra Fields hit a three to give UCLA a 51-45 advantage with 1:20 left.

• Hawkins got ASU within two points, 52-50 with 29 seconds left, but the Bruins scored on their ensuing possession to put the game out of reach.