(Photo: Haley M Sparacle/WCSN)
The Arizona State Sun Devils (3-1) put on a defensive clinic in a 66-41 victory over Cal Poly (1-4) in Tempe Sunday night. ASU forced 27 turnovers on the night, and the Mustangs only shot 37.5 percent from the field.
“In case anybody didn’t know, we worked on defense this week,” head coach Charlie Turner Thorne said.
The Sun Devils dominated as a team on the defensive end, but senior guard Reili Richardson led the charge with a career-high six steals.
“Last game we didn’t play how we wanted to, so we really came into this game focusing on our defense,” Richardson said.
ASU had its offensive struggles throughout the game, much like the problems that plagued the Devils in their 80-66 loss at Minnesota. The Sun Devils committed 15 turnovers and didn’t capitalize on a lot of open looks, as they shot just 35.9 percent from the field and 22.5 percent from 3-point range.
“We’re young, and it’s just going to take a lot of time for this team to iron out the kinks,” Turner Thorne said.
The Sun Devils’ rough night shooting was saved by Ja’Tavia Tapley, the senior transfer from USC, who dominated on the offensive end. Tapley finished the night with 23 points and eight rebounds.
“Even though I scored a lot, I made a couple mistakes,” Tapley said. “I just made sure I focused on the next play, and playing team ball.”
Tapley was just one part of ASU’s effort in the paint tonight. The Sun Devils finished with 21 offensive rebounds, which created 16 second chance points.
“We are getting better rebounding,” Turner Thorne said. “We’re going to be the smallest team in any game, so the fact that we are out-rebounding people and getting a little bit better every game is good.”
The Sun Devils were without senior forward Jamie Ruden for a second straight game as she continues to deal with a foot issue.
“We need to get Jamie Ruden back to anchor some things, take the load off others, and give us some girth and size,” Turner Thorne said.
Unfortunately for ASU, Turner Thorne said the Devils expect to be without Ruden for the upcoming road trip. However, the Sun Devils should get senior guard Kiara Russell back in the lineup after missing the game against Cal Poly due to an illness that she was battling throughout the week.
ASU will look to take their defensive output from this win and carry it over into the Gulf Coast Showcase in Estero, Florida. The Sun Devils’ first matchup of the tournament will be against Maine on Friday at 3 p.m. MT.
