(Photo: Brook Faber/WCSN)
On field trip day, Wells Fargo Arena was booming with the voices of more than 2800 children cheering on Arizona State, and the Sun Devils didn’t disappoint.
No. 10 Arizona State (14-3, 5-0 Pac-12) was able to use a 15-0 run in the opening quarter to break the game wide open, and the Sun Devils would never look back as they went on to defeat Colorado (5-11, 0-5 Pac-12) 64-37 in Tempe.
The win didn’t always look inevitable, though. The Buffaloes opened the game with two quick baskets to jump out to a 4-0 lead in the opening minutes, but that’s when the Sun Devils flipped the switch.
Freshman sensation Sabrina Haines got the scoring starting for ASU with an aggressive drive to the basket, but the play that really got the Sun Devils fired up was nice and-one basket from redshirt senior Eliza Normen off a pretty pass from Elisha Davis.
From then on, a blowout ensued. ASU was able to thoroughly dominate every aspect of the game, including forcing 21 turnovers en route to holding a Colorado team that averages about 67 points per game to just 37, their second lowest scoring total of the season.
“We had a week to prepare,” head coach Charli Turner Thorne said. “We knew the tendencies. That freshman backcourt they have is really talented but we kinda sat on their right hand and made them work for every bounce. I think the key defensively is that we’re really working hard.”
It was an impressive day from ASU’s posts, with junior forward Sophie Brunner logging eight points and six rebounds while shooting 4-for-4, and junior center Quinn Dornstauder notched a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
Brunner and Dornstauder were also able to absolutely shut down Colorado’s leading scorer and rebounder Jamee Swan, allowing her just two points and four rebounds
“It’s always a good feeling to contribute,” Dornstauder said. “Everybody focuses on scoring all the time but to have other aspects, like rebounding is super important. That’s honestly a bigger focus for me, I get more excited about the rebounds than the scoring.”
Davis was also able to score in double figures with 11 points, as well as two rebounds, five assists, and four steals.
The win moves ASU to 14-3 on the season as well as 5-0 in Pac-12 play. It’s the 11th straight victory for the Sun Devils, and they remain the only undefeated team in conference play this season as they head into their matchup with Utah on Sunday.
“I think we got a really great team win,” Turner Thorne said. “Our defense continues to kinda be pretty formidable and so I was really happy with that.”
For the Buffaloes, however, the loss drops them to an abysmal 5-11 and keeps them winless in Pac-12 play at 0-5.
Player of the Game: Quinn Dornstauder
Dornstauder was able to secure her first double-double this season with 15 points and 10 rebounds as well as a block, a steal and an assist. She was the game’s leading scorer and rebounder as well as playing a major role in shutting down Jamee Swan, Colorado’s top player. Her performance on both ends of the court was essential to the blow out win.
Stat of the Night: 37 points/25 percent
ASU’s defense was the highlight of the game, absolutely shutting down Colorado, a team that averages 67 points per game. The Buffaloes were able to score just 37 points, their second lowest total of the season (35 at Cal), while shooting 25 percent from the floor.
What’s Next:
The Sun Devils will face Utah this Sunday, January 17, in Tempe.
