Arizona State (11-11, 6-9 Pac-12) ended its run at a WNIT Championship with a poor showing in the fourth quarter, when they fell 48-36 to Rice (19-4, 12-2 C-USA).
In the first round matchup on Friday morning, the Owls outscored the Sun Devils 18-5 in the final period. ASU shot just 10 percent (2-20) from the field, while Rice only missed five shots in the closing 10 minutes.
“We always talk about who we are,” ASU head coach Charli Turner Thorne said. “We weren’t going to show up magically in the NIT and be this great and efficient offensive team.