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ASU Women’s Basketball: Looks to knock off second top-25 opponent this season

(Photo: Eliav Gabay/WCSN)

The No. 23 ranked Sun Devils prepare to battle against their third top-25 opponent this season, as travel to Lexington to play the No.15 Kentucky Wildcats.

ASU women’s basketball is 1-1 against ranked opponents this season, after falling to No. 4 Maryland in the South Point Thanksgiving Tournament in Las vegas.

Last weekend the Sun Devils, led by their seniors, put together a comeback defeating No.23 Florida to win the ASU Classic tournament. The upperclassmen put their stamp on this game, as they combined for 38 points and 26 rebounds. In addition, the team shot 93-percent and outscored the Gators 30-12 in the final quarter to erase a 12-point lead.

Named MVP for the third time of the ASU Classic, Senior forward Sophie Brunner, averaged 12 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.5 steals during the two-game tournament.

Earlier this week, Brunner was nominated for the 2017 Allstate WBCA Good Works team. The award honors an outstanding group of student-athletes who represent areas of community service and leadership among their peers.

ASU hoops has turned things around in a hurry, the team dropped two games in a row but won their last two since then. The team is 5-2 , however they have yet to win a true road contest.

This Sunday ASU will have to play in a tough Rupp Arena environment. The Sun Devils and Wildcats met last season in Tempe, Kentucky won 68-64.

ASU women’s Basketball is putting up 65.3 points per contest and causing its opponents to turn the ball over 20 times per game.

The Sun Devils will be led by Brunner, who is leading the team in scoring, averaging 10 points per game on 54-percent shooting. The senior center Quinn Dornstauder is not far behind, scoring 8 points per game on 52-percent shooting. Freshman Guard Robbi Ryan is third in scoring, averaging 7.6 per game.

The program has been struggling from behind the arch, as they are only making 29-percent of their three-pointers.

The Wildcats are 7-2 and coming off of a win against Middle Tennessee 61-48. Kentucky had its way in the paint and outscoring its opponent 34-20 while also out-rebounding the Blue Raiders, 44-22.

This season, the Wildcats is averaging 75.2 points per game and shooting 45.8 from the filed. They are undefeated at home this season.

Handling the bulk of scoring is senior guard Makayla Epps, averaging 18.7 points per game. The senior guard also pulls down 4.2 rebounds per contest. Senior Forward Evelyn Akhator is averaging double-double with 14.8 points and 10.3 rebound per game.

The Wildcats also have two other players those average double digits, Taylor Murray scoring 12.3 points per game and 5.2 rebounds and Maci Morris averaging 10.7 points.

This meeting will be the second time in program history between the two teams. Tip off will be at 1 p.m. ET at Rupp Arena in Lexington Kentucky.