Sun Devils erase 18-point fourth quarter lead to defeat Utah in final seconds

By Scott Mammoser

TEMPE, Ariz. – Trailing the entire game, the No. 17 Arizona State women’s basketball team outscored Utah 22-3 in the fourth quarter, and Courtney Ekmark knocked down the first two of three free throws with 0.9 seconds remaining, en route to a 60-58 win on Sunday.

ASU comes from behind to win in the last second over Utah

The win was the fifth consecutive for ASU (18-6, 9-4 Pac-12), which surely scored points with the selection committee with the win, in regards to hosting first-and-second round NCAA Tournament games next month.

The heartbreaking loss for Utah (18-7, 7-7 Pac-12) was its sixth in a row. Utah began the season 12-0 before a 65-63 loss to the Sun Devils in Salt Lake City on Jan. 4. Following the two-point loss, the Utes went on to win six more, including one over Stanford, to improve to 18-1 and No. 14 in the nation, before their current slide. Senior forward Daneesha Provo, second on the team with 13.5 points per game, tore her ACL in the first matchup with ASU.

Kiana Moore scored eight of her 10 points for Utah, as it led ASU 17-11 after the first quarter. The Utes swelled the lead to 17 in the second, as Megan Huff scored 10 of her 15, and they posted a 34-20 advantage into halftime. Despite only dressing eight players and ASU’s bench outscoring theirs, the Utes held on to a double-digit lead, but the tide turned with eight minutes left, as the furious rally began. It became a one-possession game with a minute and a half to play. Utah held the ball, trying to wind down the clock, but two scoreless possessions in the waning minute gave the ball back to ASU. Robbi Ryan missed a tying three pointer with 26 seconds remaining. Erika Bean’s inbounds pass to Huff went for a backcourt violation, and the Sun Devils had another opportunity. Ekmark missed, but Ryan connected on her second chance to tie the game. Ekmark was fouled on another three-point attempt with 0.9 to play, and she converted the first two of three from the line for the miraculous win.

Ekmark led the Sun Devils with 15 points, while Kianna Ibis scored 10 with nine rebounds, Charnea Johnson-Chapman tallied seven points and nine rebounds, and Ryan scored 11. Huff added nine rebounds and seven assists for Utah.

The Sun Devils will be at California at 8 p.m. on Friday and Stanford at 2 p.m. on Feb. 24, before returning home to conclude the regular season with Oregon State and Oregon the following weekend. Utah will host Washington on Friday.