Knights knocked out in Round 1
Red-hot Sun Devils eliminate UCF despite 18 points from Wright
CORAL GABLES — Courtney Ekmark scored 15 of her game-high 20 points in the second half, and fifthseeded Arizona State beat 12th-seeded UCF 60-45 on Friday night in a Portland Region first-round game.
Ekmark opened the game with a 3-pointer, then opened the second half with a pair of 3s. Those two quickly turned what was a 10-point halftime lead to a 16-point edge, and Arizona State (21-10) wound up winning a first-round game for the sixth consecutive season.
Kianna Ibis added 12 for Arizona State, which will play either Miami or Florida Gulf Coast on Sunday. Ibis had six points in a 10-0 run late in the third quarter that put the Sun Devils up by 22.
Kay Kay Wright led UCF (26-7) with 18 points. It was the first NCAA Tournament appearance for the Knights since 2011, and they’re now 0-5 in their five trips to the tourney.
UCF got within 48-36 with 7:26 left on a short jumper by Diamond Battles, the end of an 8-0 run that started late in the third. But Ekmark helped get things back under control, driving in from the right side for a basket that put Arizona State up 51-36 with 5:56 left — and snapped an 0 for 7 drought from the floor.
Ekmark then got free for a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 3:19 left for a 57-41 lead, essentially ending the Knights’ hopes.
It was the first meeting between the schools, but Ekmark had seen UCF twice previously in her career.
Her first two collegiate seasons were at Connecticut, where she was part of two NCAA championship runs with the Huskies. She decided to leave after her sophomore season and head back to her native Arizona.
Tip-ins: The Knights missed 10 of their first 11 shots, and 17 of their first 20. UCF went with a starting lineup last used on Feb. 9, which was 10 games ago. Kayla Thigpen moved back into the starting lineup in place of Sydnee McDonald. The No. 12 seed was UCF’s highest of its five NCAA Tournament appearances. UCF shot 32 percent and was outrebounded 42-27.