SAN DIEGO – Returning back to the Jenny Craig Pavilion, the San Diego women's basketball team (1-3, 0-0 WCC) battled hard until the end in their matchup against the Arizona State Sun Devils (3-0, 0-0 Big 12) falling short by a 79-47 final score on Thursday.

Olivia Owens put together a strong evening in her return to the startling lineup, as she set a new career-high with 14 points to go along with four assists and a steal. USD was dead even on the boards against ASU at 36-all, out rebounding the Sun Devils 16-9 on the offensive glass, led by Malia Tharpe and Eva Ruse who each totaled six rebounds.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• After the Sun Devils started the night with a three second violation, Dresha Moore scored the first points of the game on a mid-range jumper.
• Early in the first quarter, Hallie Rhodes got the lead back as she made a smooth spin move in the paint for a layup to put the Toreros up 6-5.
• ASU found their groove from beyond the arc in the first quarter hitting four threes as USD continued to tack away by forcing turnovers and out rebounding the Sun Devils to keep the deficit at seven.
• After checking into the game, Lilly Amor drained the first three of the game for San Diego to make it a one possession game early in the second quarter.
• Arizona State went on a run before Tharpe put up her first points of the game driving to the basket and pulling up for a jumper then knocking down a corner three to cut the deficit to eight points.
• To start off the second half, Owens hit a corner three after a nice ball rotation that started with Helen Holley, who laid the ball off to H. Rhodes who got the assist on a cross court pass.
• Midway through the third quarter, the Toreros kept on battling after a Holley three to make it 50-35 and forcing back-to-back turnovers on a back court violation and forcing ASU to throw the ball away.
• San Diego scored their first points of the fourth quarter after a H. Rhodes steal from inside the arc, as she dribbled down the court through contact for a layup to make it 63-41.
• ASU took control of the rest of the game earning the victory on the road on Thursday evening.

TORERO TIDBITS

• Playing key minutes against her hometown squad, Owens set a new career-high in minutes and led the Toreros in scoring with 14 points, knocking down a pair of threes and shooting a perfect 4-of-4 from the free throw line.
• The gritty Torero defense forced 14 turnovers against the Sun Devils, as H. Rhodes led the team with a pair of steals.
• Competing against a tall opponent, San Diego battled hard on the boards as they matched ASU with 36 rebounds, and out rebounded the Sun Devils on the offensive glass for the game. 

POST GAME WITH THE TOREROS
To view tonight's post game media session with USD head coach Blanche Alverson, please click here. 

NEXT UP
USD now turns their attention to another road contest, as the Toreros will be traveling to Fort Collins to face off against Colorado State (3-0, 0-0 Mountain West) on Monday, November 17 for a 5:30 p.m. tip-off at Moby Arena. Live video and live statistics links for Monday's game against the Rams can be found on the team's website.