Trayanna Crisp added 12 points and a game-high four assists, while Journey Thompsonhad 11 points and matched Hunt for the team lead in rebounds. Jaddan Simmons provided the Sun Devils (6-2) with a solid all-around effort, scoring nine points (2-3 FGs, 5-6 FTs), grabbing six rebounds and dishing out three assists.
As a team, ASU shot 50 percent from the field, the first time it shot 50 percent or higher since a win at San Diego on Dec. 18, 2021.
The Sun Devils led by as many as 12 points in the first quarter, then spent the last 30 minutes trying to ward off the pesky Panthers (3-4), who got within a single possession a number of times, the last instance after High Point’s leading scorer and rebounder in the game, Anna Hager (16 points, six rebounds), scored on a layup to cut ASU’s lead to 55-52 with 8:18 remaining.
ASU countered with five straight points – a jumper by Brown and a 3-pointer by Hunt – and then answered another High Point bucket with Hunt’s second 3-pointer in 38 seconds to extend its lead to 63-54 with under five minutes remaining.
The Panthers got as close as five before Crisp, who had all eight of her fourth quarter points in the final 2:53, scored four consecutive points to put ASU back up by nine, 71-62. The Panthers would get no closer than six points the rest of the way.
The Sun Devils started the game with the hoop in focus as they connected on 50 percent of their shots in opening period. Brown (eight points, 3-4 FGs) and Hunt (seven points, 3-6 FGs) teamed up for 15 points and shot a combined 60 percent, while Sandra Magolico (four points, five rebounds in the game) scored four points. Simmons led ASU with four rebounds and also added two points.
The teams split the game’s first 18 points. ASU was the first squad to create some significant separation as it scored the last 10 points of the quarter to take a 23-11 lead.
High Point responded to the double-digit deficit with its best quarter of the game as it outscored the Sun Devils 24-16. Both teams had identical shooting numbers (7-15 FGs/47 percent in the quarter, but the Panthers were able to claw their way back into the game by scoring nine points at the line. Their last free throw of the half got them within two but Crisp came back and hit a pull-up jumper to give ASU a 39-35 lead at the half.
The Sun Devils return to action next weekend when they host the second annual Briann January Classic. Play will begin on Friday when the Sun Devils host Pacific at 7 p.m. MST. ASU’s contest will be preceded by Temple taking on Xavier at 4 p.m. MST. Then on Saturday, the Sun Devils will face Xavier at 4 p.m. MST. Pacific and Temple will play at 1 p.m. MST in the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader.
Press Release courtesy Sun Devil Athletics – Steve Rodriguez
Click on Logo
