TEMPE, Ariz. - The UC Irvine women's basketball team fell to Pac-12 member Arizona State, 69-52, Tuesday afternoon at the Weatherup Center.
 
The game was originally scheduled to be played at Desert Financial Arena, but a power outage forced a last-minute venue change as the two teams made their way to ASU's practice gym.
 
The move appeared to affect both sides as they combined to go 0-for-7 over the first two-plus minutes. The Sun Devils then got going, building a 19-point lead early in the second quarter. Despite the adversity, the Anteaters never gave up, coming within single digits at halftime and cutting the deficit all the way down to two in the third period before Arizona State made the final push.
 
BY THE NUMBERS: Naomi Hunt finished with a team-high 14 points as she went 5-for-9 from the field and 4-for-6 from beyond the arc. Kayla Williams added 12 points, five rebounds, six assists and four steals, while Hunter Hernandez finished with a season-best 10 points.
 
The 'Eaters shot 35% from the field, 43% from 3-point range and 80% at the free throw line. They were outrebounded, 43-28, and committed 18 turnovers that led to 19 ASU points. Jade Loville paced the Sun Devils with a game-high 20 points, and Mael Gilles registered a double-double (11 points, 12 rebounds).
 
HOW IT HAPPENED: Arizona State (7-5) struck first and took advantage of UC Irvine's slow start, pulling ahead 11-5 at the 4:34 mark. The Sun Devils continued to build on their lead, going up 24-7 by the end of the first quarter.
 
Hernandez got the scoring started in the second period, but ASU used a couple threes to take a 19-point advantage. Williams then knocked down back-to-back triples and Locandro followed with a jumper to close the gap to 30-19 and force an Arizona State timeout with 4:05 to play. The Anteaters stayed hot from long distance as Hunt drained her second and third treys of the game to bring the visitors within seven. UCI kept it within single digits at the break, trailing 37-29.
 
The 'Eaters (5-5) used a 9-3 run, capped by a pair of free throws from Tara Dusharm, to cut the deficit to 40-38 at the 3:16 mark. The Sun Devils then got hot over the final few minutes, going back on top by double digits before a Hernandez putback in the final seconds made it 49-40.
 
ASU pulled away early in the fourth quarter as a 9-4 spurt gave the home team a 58-44 lead with 6:27 to go. A traditional three-point play from Chloe Webb and a triple from Williams brought it back within nine, but Arizona State made the final push for the 69-52 victory.
 
UP NEXT: UC Irvine is back in action on Thursday, Dec. 23, when it closes out its non-conference slate at Grand Canyon. Tip-off is set for 12 p.m. (MT)/11 a.m. (PT).
 
 
NOTES
• Sophia Locandro had two blocks, giving her 71 in her career and moving her up to No. 9 all-time at UCI.
• Kayla Williams recorded her eighth-straight double-figure scoring game.
• She has reached double digits in 27 of 33 career games played.
• Williams has also made at least one 3-pointer in 24 consecutive outings.
• Naomi Hunt tied her season high with four triples.
• It was her fifth outing with multiple threes, and her fourth double-figure scoring performance in the last five contests.
• Hunter Hernandez became the 10th different Anteater to score 10+ points in a game this season.
• Arizona State, a program known for its defense, held UC Irvine to a season-low 52 points.
• Since 2014-15, ASU has allowed an average of only 57.1 ppg.