(Tempe, AZ) A lot of hype and anticipation prior to this key matchup was present inside Wells Fargo Arena. Not only did Arizona State want revenge for the thumping they took last month in McKale, they wanted to make it an Sun Devil sweep of the week after the Men’s team had won last night in overtime.
Devils hit their first three point shot, but Arizona took a couple of minutes to get on the board on a side step jumper from Lucia Alonso.
Both teams were cold to start off as seen by he 5-2 ASU lead at the first media break at the 4:44 mark of the first quarter. Arizona was 1-5 shooting and the Devils not much better at 2-10. The Wildcats were losing on the boards as well 8-4.
Arizona was stressing the need for better rebounding the entire week but the more physical Sun Devils held a decisive edge.
With three minutes to go in the first quarter, Aari McDonald got on track with a three from the right wing. Devils 7-5 at that point.
Coach Adia Barnes inserted Samaj Smith into the lineup with two minutes to go in the quarter and quickly paid dividends as she blocked one shot off the left baseline in addition to making an immediate impact on the boards. Barnes has brought her along slowly along with Assistant Coach Morgan Valley.
Arizona rebounding deficit was only minus three at the end of the first quarter, 13-10 as the Cats were right there trailing only 9-7.
The second quarter began with an ASU 12-4 run to increase their lead 21-11 with under three and a half minutes gone on 5-5 shooting.
The Cats looked flustered and committed a couple of costly turnovers that led to ASU baskets.
Zona had difficulty finding the hole as they shot 3-10 in the second quarter and were at 25% for the half 5-20.
The Sun Devils cooled off in the last part of the half going 2-10 down he stretch. ASU shot 32.4% in the first half.
The rebounding total was misleading with the Devils holding a 21-17 lead, but were killing the Cats with seven offensive boards contributing to five second chance points.
Kiana Ibis started the scoring off in the third quarter with a sixteen foot jump shot off the right side. McDonald came right back with a drive to score, 28-15 ASU.
Sam Thomas missed two consecutive free throws at the 8:30 mark that could have built more confidence in the struggling Cats.
With 6:25 left in the third quarter, McDonald stole the ball amd scored on a breakaway layup to cut the lead to 28-17.
Out of the timeout, Tee Tee Starks was fouled on a strong drive off a McDonald pass that saw the Cats trying to force the action inside. She hit one of two freebies.
Arizona continued to give up second chance points as the Sun Devils scored off a missed free throw. 31-18 ASU.
With neither team shooting well, the ASU lead to this point was based off scoring off Wildcat turnovers.
The Cats cut the lead to seven 31-24, but ASU came back with a timely three pointer to extend the lead back to ten.
With a surge at the end of the Cats got within four points with a three pointer from Phoenix native Bryce Nixon at the buzzer. 39-35 Devils.
The final period was set up for a wild finish due to the Sun Devils letting Arizona hang around off a lackluster performance in the first three quarters.
ASU’s Ibis hit one of two free throws, but Thomas got caught pushing and the Devils retained possession. 48-39 ASU.
With 5:16 to go in the game, Thomas was fouled on a drive but only made one of two free throws.
The Sun Devils got the lead back to double digits at 53-40 with 4:05 left to go.
Down the stretch there was nothing the Cats could do to overcome bad shooting and no other weapons on offense. The final was 60-47 in a game that Barnes and her staff would like to forget.
The Cat’s issue was that McDonald had 28of Arizona’s 47 points and no one else had more than 3. Not a formula for success in the PAC-12.
After the game, Brarnes said, “ ASU came out and punched us in the face and we had nothing to give back.” That pretty much summed up the evening. Lackluster offense and lots to work on before they head up to the northwest for the Washington Schools next Thursday and Saturday. The positive, with only one game this week they have extra time to prepare.
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