(Photo: Tyler Rittenhouse/WCSN)
Arizona State was able to overcome another slow start with tough defense and timely runs to beat Colgate 65-54.
Coming off a game in which Arizona State dominated Sacramento State and was able to put up over 100 points for the first time in over a decade, the Sun Devils struggled for the first part of their matchup against Colgate.
“We came out really soft and not ready, it shouldn’t matter if we’re tired or not,” said sophomore guard Robbi Ryan. “We should always throw the first punch and be able to push through our fatigue.”
Arizona State has pushed their conditioning level as they finished their fourth game in the last eight days.
“We’ve had four games in eight days, we had one on the road and had to travel for two days,” said head coach Charli Turner Thorne. “We play hard and we don’t have that deep of a rotation even though I spread the minutes out.”
The Devils began with a slow start for the second straight game as Colgate came out hot with an early 11-2 lead, with three 3-point shots during the run.
Arizona State was able to battle back with a 13-2 run that nearly gave the Devils the lead until a three-point shot from Colgate’s Rachel Thompson put them up by one as time expired in the first 16-15.
The Sun Devils were led by Kianna Ibis who had eight of her 20 points on the night in the first period of play and by Robbi Ryan who provided 12 points, eight rebounds, and four assists off of the bench.
The second period of play featured tough defense and struggling offenses as both teams went on a three-minute stretch during the quarter where each team went without scoring. The hiatus was ended by Thompson for Colgate with a three-point shot.
Arizona State ended the first half on a layup from Sophia Elenga to put the team up 33-30 heading into the break. The Sun Devils finished the first half with two turnovers while Colgate finished with seven.
The maroon and gold jumped out of the half on a 6-0 run and was able to hold Colgate to one point during the first five minutes of the half.
Colgate ended the drought with a layup by Tori Pozsonyi and the team was able to rally during the latter part of the quarter for 11 points to put the margin to 50-42 in favor of Arizona State.
Arizona State was able to dominate Colgate with a six-minute run during the fourth period of play where the Devils went on a 12-0 while forcing both five second inbound violation and a ten second half court violation.
Colgate was able to draw the game closer with an 8-0 to close out the game with 2 three-point shots and a layup to beat the final buzzer, but were unable to outscore the Sun Devils.
ASU heads to Mexico for the Cancun Challenge starting Thursday, Nov. 23rd at 1:30pm vs. Mississippi State.
