(Photo: Scotty Bara/WCSN)
After finishing an impressive non-conference campaign, the Arizona State Sun Devils host the red-hot Washington Huskies on Saturday to open up Pac-12 conference play. Arizona State has looked great so far this year and aims to surpass its preseason Pac-12 media ranking of sixth in the conference.
In their most recent outing, the Sun Devils (11-1) closed out non-conference play on a high note, defeating the Yale Bulldogs by a score of 69-51. Promise Amukamara was the star of that one, leading the team with 15 points.
After dropping their opening game to Oklahoma, the Huskies have gone on a tear, winning 11 straight games heading into conference play. Washington was placed at fifth in the preseason Pac-12 media rankings.
Keys to the Game:
-Contain Kelsey Plum
Plum has been one of the most impressive players in the Pac-12 thus far this season, leading the conference in scoring at 26.6 points per game. As a freshman, Plum garnered First Team All-Pac-12 honors in addition to being named Pac-12 Freshman of the Year. Promise Amukamara will more than likely resume her duties of defending the premier wing scorer, and if she can contain Plum, Washington will be forced to lean on its other scorers to find points.
-Battle Of Strengths
With the help of the dynamic Kelsey Plum, the Huskies lead the Pac-12 in team scoring at 83.2 points per game. Washington has multiple double-digit scorers to go along with Plum, including Jazmine Davis (15.1 points per game) and Talia Walton (13.1 points per game). The ability to get consistent scoring from numerous players is what makes the Washington offense so potent. Arizona State is second in the conference in scoring defense (56.8 points per game), and will need to execute if they want to come out on top.
-Dominate Down Low
As of late, Arizona State’s post players have been great. Between Sophie Brunner, Kelsey Moos, Quinn Dornstauder and Eliza Normen, much of the Sun Devils’ production has come from the post. Redshirt Junior Talia Walton has proven she can score against ASU, scoring her career high of 26 back in a February 2013 matchup. If the Sun Devils can win the battle down low, it will shut down a big part of Washington’s game.
X-Factor:
The battle between Washington’s potent offense and Arizona State’s tough defense will be something to watch, but the X-factor in this one is the Arizona State offense. Perimeter players like Promise Amukamara and Katie Hempen will need to get into a groove if ASU wants to stay in this game.
Prediction:
Arizona State has shown great defensive prowess throughout the season thus far, imposing its will on lesser offenses, but Washington is an extremely talented team with a multitude of ways to score and will be very difficult to contain for four quarters. In a battle of 11-1 conference foes, the Washington Huskies should come into Tempe and hand the Sun Devils a tough, single-digit loss to open conference play.
The game will tip-off at 2:00 p.m. at Wells Fargo Arena in Tempe.
