(Tempe, AZ) The Sun Devils returned home after two weeks away to open up the Big XII Conference play.
Coach Molly Miller’s team ran the table 13-0 in their non-conference slate which set a school record to start a season.
Penn State, Oregon State, Gonzaga and UNLV were all high level opponents in they could have stumbled, but this team comprised of just two returning players and a host of transfer portal players have gelled incredible fast and all eyes were on the Big XII play now.
Colorado came in at 9-3 but had lost 14-17 games to the Sun Devils.
ASU is one of 12 teams in the nation with an unbeaten record, joining fellow Big 12 mates Texas Tech (13-0) Iowa State (12-0), and TCU (11-0). The Big XII looks to be a very competitive conference nationally.
First Quarter
The ASU defense stymied the Buffaloes in the first two minutes of the game with two shot clock violations off stiff defense.
Neither team had a lot of offensive shot opportunities as there were turnovers and infractions.
The Devils led 15-2 at the 5:09 mark going 5-5 from the field and 3-3 from beyond the arc. Colorado was just 1-5 in field goals and 0-3 from three point territory.
The Buffaloes got only their second basket with 4:35 left and into double figures with 4:20 to go in the quarter, still not being able to run a productive offense.
Colorado gad a quick 7-0 run off a steal and an ASU turnover but the Sun Devils quickly recovered and ended the quarter up 26-15, shooting 77% (10-13) and the Buffaloes finally on track going 7-14 (50%).
Arizona State was perfect from the three going 4-4 and getting 15 points off turnovers. The Buffs main focus was in the paint with 10 points.
Second Quarter
ASU cooled off a bit from that torrid start going 2-8 from the field halfway through the quarter as the Buffaloes couldn’t cut into the deficit much with a 3-7 effort.
Devils led 33-21 with 4:55 left till halftime. ASU continued their strong defense causing 18 turnovers in that same time frame.
Out of the timeout, the Buffs went on a 6-0 run to cut the lead down to single digits 33-27 with ASU turnovers that allowed Colorado to get back into the game.
Even with their renewed energy, the Buffaloes still trailed 39-31 at the half.
Halftime
Gaby Elliott and Marley Washenitz each had 11 points for ASU. The Buffs came back in the second quarter, but only cut into the Devils’ lead by only 3 points.
Third Quarter
Colorado got the ASU lead down to 45-43 in the first five minutes of the third quarter due to some sloppy play and turnovers. The Buffs were killing Arizona State on the glass 21-14 midway through the quarter including a 9-1 offensive rebound advantage.
The Buffaloes bread and butter was high percentage shots in the key with 24 points to just 16 for ASU.
The Sun Devils woke up with only a one possession lead and out of the timeout, they went on a 6-0 run, with those points coming inside.
All in all, Miller’s team withstood the CU comeback and maintained a 56-49 lead and headed to the final quarter.
Fourth Quarter
Starting the final quarter, a suspect foul called on Washenitz that caught the ire of Molly Miller was her fourth personal foul and she was quickly replaced.
CU got the score down to 60-56 with 3:30 gone until Elliott canned a three pointer off a second chance opportunity to extend the lead back to seven. ASU wasn’t finished as they contained their hot shooting and ultimately a 10-2 run and a twelve point lead 70-58 causing the Buffs to call timeout with 4:24 left in the game.
Arizona State and Colorado both had 24 field goals but the 7-4 lead in three’s and a huge advantage in free throws 15-17 compared to 6-8 for the Buffs.
CU kept pounding the ball down inside but it was all about trading baskets with the Sun Devils with 2:56 left.
Now down by fourteen points, Colorado was forced to foul and that played right into the Devils’ strength.
Arizona State kept their undefeated season going by winning their conference opener 79-63 over a very physical Buffalo squad.
Wrap Up
The key to the win was the incredibly fast start. The Sun Devils only missed three shots in the entire quarter going 10-13 and 4-4 in three pointers.
Colorado won the middle two quarters 16-13 and 18-17. ASU had great bookend quarters in the first and fourth. They outscored the Buffs 26-15 and 23-14.
Four players scored in double figures led by McKinna Brackens with 18 points off the bench and 8-9 from the free throw line. Gabby Elliott and Heloisa Carrera both had 14 points apiece. Marley Washenitz was on fire from behind the arc going 3-4 and finishing with 13 points on 5-7 shooting.
With the students on semester break, Desert Financial Arena had a substantial crowd of 7,421 which is a testament to the entire ASU Athletics Program from the excitement of selling out every home football game and back to back Big XII Volleyball Titles. Athletics Director Graham Rossini has the Valley rocking!
Up Next
The team takes a ten day break for the Holidays and will hit the road on December 31st at Utah (9-3) and then January 3 at BYU (12-1). Both games start at 2 p.m. local time.
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