The Sun Devils (2-0), who led by as many as 20 early in the third quarter, were plus-12 in rebounding (49-37) and limited Montana State (0-2) to just 26 percent shooting for the game. ASU also converted 12 Bobcat turnovers into 19 points and doubled up Montana State in bench scoring (22-11). In addition to Thompson’s major contributions, Treasure Hunt provided ASU with nine additional point in bench scoring.
After Montana State came all the way back to get within four points with seven minutes remaining, Hunt immediately answered with a jumper at the opposite end to extend ASU’s lead back to 62-56. From that point, Toure and Simmons combined to score the game’s next eight points to go up 70-56 and make Montana State attempt at a comeback exponentially more difficult.
ASU’s defense stepped up and help the Bobcats to only six points in the final seven minutes of the game to clinch the win.
“We talked earlier in the day about creating an identity and that starts on the defensive end with our defensive energy,” ASU head coach Natasha Adair said. “I thought we came out a lot more ready today. We had a really good scout prep and the players were focused at shootaround. They are playing really hard right now.”
Toure (six points) and Brown (five points) teamed up to score ASU’s first 11 points of the game. Consecutive baskets from Simmons, including ASU’s first 3-pointer of the game, and a layup by Toure gave the Sun Devils an 18-9 lead with just under five minutes remaining in the opening stanza. Brown (10 points), Toure (eight points) and Simmons (seven points) went on to combine for 25 points for the Sun Devils, who led 30-19 after one quarter.
The 30 points in the first quarter represented the third time the Sun Devils have scored 30 or more points in a quarter under head coach Natasha Adair. Last season they scored a school record 35 points in the fourth quarter of ASU’s come-from-behind win at Grand Canyon. ASU also scored 30 points in the final frame of its win at Oregon State last February.
ASU scored 20 of its 30 points in the paint and shot 60 percent (12-20) in the first quarter.
As successful as ASU was at scoring the basketball in the first quarter, it was every bit as dominant on the defensive end in the second quarter. Montana State was held scoreless for nearly nine minutes over a stretch that spanned the first and second quarter. The Bobcats did not score in the second quarter until Madison Hall hit a pair of free throws with 3:14 remaining. In fact, their first four points of the quarter came from the line, and they were not able to hit a field goal until Taylor Janssen’s jumper with 2:25 left in the first half. It would be Montana State’s only field goal as it ended the quarter 1-of-14 from the floor.
Trayanna Crisp (eight points) and Thompson (six points) combined for 14 of ASU’s 15 points in the second quarter in helping the Sun Devils take a 45-27 lead into the locker room.
The Bobcats, who dropped their opener 68-60 to BYU, came out as the aggressors to start the second half. Down by as many as 20 twice in the opening minutes of the third quarter –the second time after a jumper by Simmons put ASU up 49-29 with 8:16 remaining – the Bobcats came roaring back as they scored 16 of the game’s next 18 points to cut ASU’s lead to six, 51-45, with 3:20 remaining.
Thompson scored four points during an 8-2 run by the Sun Devils that once again gave them a double digit lead, 59-47. The Bobcats answered with a 9-1 run that spanned four minutes of game time to get within four points, 60-56, after a pair of free throws by Katelynn Limardo with seven minutes left in the game.
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Press Release courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics – Steve Rodriguez
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