Postseason WNIT | 3/20/2021 10:25:04 AM

ARIZONA STATE 50, MISSOURI 39

FORT WORTH, TX — After failing to reach 40 points in its Round 1 loss, Arizona State cranked up the defense in moving past Missouri in the consolation round of the 2021 Postseason WNIT.

The Sun Devils (12-11) were led by Jaddan Simmons, who had 18 points and seven rebounds. Taya Hanson had 12 points; ASU shot 35 percent from the field but had a 11-3 lead in made free throws.

Haley Troup scored 14 points for Missouri (9-13); Ladazhia Williams added nine points and Aisha Blackwell registers nine points and nine rebounds. The Tigers were 2-for-11 from 3-point range and had 16 turnovers.

Saturday's other consolation round game between Houston and New Mexico was declared a No Contest; Arizona State will play Houston in the consolation championship on Monday.

RICE 87, FRESNO STATE 73

Nancy Mulkey scored 28 points and added eight rebounds, and Lauren Schwartz came through with 20 points as Rice protected an early lead and prevailed over Fresno State to advance to the Fort Worth Regional final of the 2021 Postseason WNIT.

The Owls (20-4) will play California Baptist in the championship game on Monday at 7 p.m. CT. 

The Bulldogs got within 78-73 after a jumper from Haley Cavinder with 2:22 remaining. Jasmine Smith got her fourth steal of the game for Rice at 1:42, and Haylee Swayze nailed a 3-pointer to push the lead to 81-73 with 1:12 to go.

Rice also got 15 points and 10 assists from Smith and points from Swayze. The Owls shot 50 percent from the field and was 11-for-14 from the free-throw line.

Fresno State (17-11) got 22 points from Hanna Cavinder and 21 points from twin sister Haley Cavinder. Wytalla Motta added 10 points and Yanina Todorova had 10 points. The Bulldogs shot just 0-for-1 from the free-throw line.

CALIFORNIA BAPTIST 90, SAN FRANCISCO 82

California Baptist moved to 26-0 on the season, shooting 63 percent against San Francisco and advancing to the Fort Worth Regional championship game of the 2021 Postseason WNIT.

The Lancers will play Rice in the regional title game, with tipoff set for Monday at 7 p.m.CT. 

Britney Thomas had 26 points, Caitlyn Harper added 24 points and eight rebounds and Taylor Wu scored 12 points for the Lancers, who prevailed despite 22 turnovers. They also made 10 3-pointers and were 18-of-23 from the free-throw line.

San Francisco (16-11) shot 40 percent overall. Ioanna Krimili scored 30 points, Lucie Hoskova had 22 points and Amalie Langer closed with 10 points.