In a game that felt like a broken record, the ASU women’s basketball team (11-10, 6-9 Pac-12) exited the Pac-12 tournament in the first round for the second year in a row with a 71-65 loss to USC at the Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas.

The No. 9 seed Sun Devils did what they have done many times this season. They started slow before picking it up toward the end. However, it was too late and the No. 8 seed Trojans came away with the victory.

ASU was just 8-28 (28.6 percent) from the field in the first half. The Sun Devils allowed 39 first-half points on USC’s 16-23 (69.6 percent) shooting. ASU scored only seven first quarter points en route to a measly 22-point first half. The Sun Devils trailed by as much as 21 points with 6:44 left in the second quarter.

The second half was an entirely different story. In the third quarter, ASU shot an improved 42.1 percent from the field and outscored the Trojans 19-17 in the period. In the fourth quarter, ASU’s eight free throws and 4-9 3-point shooting propelled the Sun Devils to a 24-point fourth quarter. They outscored USC 24-15 in the frame, losing by just six points.

“Just a tough game for our young team,” said ASU head coach Charli Turner Thorne. “We’ve had a tough time all year long sustaining ourselves. Like we’ll have a good win and then we’ll have a let up. Obviously big win last Sunday (over No. 9 Arizona). I did think we were ready and focused but we started super, super slow. Didn’t start punching really until the second quarter.”

ASU allowed four Trojans to score in double figures with Jordyn Jenkins leading the way. The forward had 16 points on 8-10 shooting.

ASU was led by the first career double-double from Maggie Besselink. The freshman forward had 13 points and 10 rebounds, seven of which were offensive.

After the game, Turner Thorne was asked if the Sun Devils would be making up any of their postponed Pac-12 contests this weekend in Las Vegas. She said they would not but said the WNIT is highly likely. She said it will be a “great opportunity” for her young team to play in a March tournament.

Besselink echoed her coach.

“We’re a team made for March,” Besselink stated. “And we want to keep playing in March. So I think it’s just more games, more experience and we can totally do well.”