Turnovers, Arizona St. defense too much for UGA women

The team from the other side of the country sent home the team from just up the road.

Arizona State defeated Georgia 58-47 in a first-round game of the NCAA women’s basketball tournament at Gwinnett Arena on Saturday before a pro-Georgia crowd of 2,027.

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Rich Addicks/raddicks@ajc.com

Georgia coach Andy Landers shows his displeasure with Saturday’s loss to Arizona State.

• Photos: UGA eliminated from first round

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The Sun Devils will stick around to play Florida State, an 83-71 winner over North Carolina A&T in Saturday’s second game, on Monday night for a trip to the Sweet 16.

“I would just encourage those Georgia fans to come back [Monday],” Arizona State coach Charli Turner Thorne said. “If they need somebody to root for … consider rooting for the Sun Devils.”

The Lady Bulldogs, meanwhile, headed back to Athens profoundly disappointed by their performance. No match for Arizona State’s high-pressure defense, they had too many turnovers, too few rebounds and no double-figure scorer. They led only once (4-2), trailed by as many as 13 points in the first half and 16 in the second, and harshly rebuked themselves afterward.

“We didn’t step up to the challenge,” guard Angela Puleo said, “and I think that was apparent throughout the game.”

“We didn’t protect the ball,” forward Porsha Phillips said, “and we didn’t go out with a fight.”

Forward Angel Robinson said her team was “timid,” and point guard Ashley Houts said Arizona State “obviously wanted it more out there.”

Georgia coach Andy Landers didn’t disagree with any of that.

“This is about laying your ears back and bringing the fight to the big show,” he said, “and that’s where my disappointment is.”

Georgia got no closer than seven points in the game’s final 16 minutes, making Arizona State feel quite at home despite playing 2,000 miles from its campus and 45 miles from its opponent’s.

Arizona State was without its point guard and leading scorer, Dymond Simon, who was out with a knee injury sustained in the regular-season finale. Forward Kayli Murphy had 12 points and 11 rebounds for the Sun Devils, who credited their defense, particularly against Georgia’s inside game, for the victory.

Georgia, a No. 11 seed in the tournament, ends an inconsistent season with an 18-14 record. Arizona State, a No. 6 seed, will take a 24-8 record into Monday’s game against No. 3 seed Florida State (26-7).

Alysha Harvin led FSU with 18 points Saturday, while Tanae Davis-Cain — one of four Georgians on the FSU roster — had 16.