(Photo: Travis David V Whittaker/WCSN)
Arizona State defeated Utah 60-58, after overcoming an 18-point deficit in the fourth quarter Sunday afternoon in Tempe. Throughout the season, Arizona State has struggled to close out close games, squandering leads late in games and struggling to close out top opponents. But Sunday afternoon in Tempe showed a shift in momentum.
With only four games left in conference play, Arizona State is now on a five-game winning streak since losing to an undermatched UCLA team on Jan. 25. During their recent streak, the Devils have climbed their way back up to No. 17 in the latest Associate Press Top 25. With the Pac-12 tournament looming, momentum is everything this time of year, and the Sun Devils captured it against Utah.
After trailing for the entire second half, Arizona State came alive, holding Utah to only three points in the fourth quarter and none inside the final eight minutes. The Sun Devils went on a 20-0 run to close out the game, as Robbi Ryan came alive, knocking down two clutch three pointers in the fourth quarter to lead Arizona State.
The game, much like this season, was a tale of two halves, as Arizona State shot only 26 percent from the field in the first half. Meanwhile, Utah guard and WNBA prospect Megan Huff put up 12 points to lead all scorers. Utah shot 38 percent from three and took the lead 34-17 going into the half.
In the second half, veteran guards Courtney Ekmark and Robbi Ryan combined for 19 of ASU’s 40 second half points.
“It just shows how coming together, having such great determination, feeling each, how far it can get you,” Ryan said.
Arizona State’s season has been based on momentum, as the Sun Devils have won and lost huge games. Their stellar defense this season has held opponents to only 56.8 points per game, ranking first in the conference and 29th in the nation.
Arizona State relied on their defense on Sunday. Utah committed 12 turnovers in the second half, and ASU capitalized, scoring 14 points off those turnovers. This season, Arizona State has become comfortable with being uncomfortable, winning five games by under ten points.
The Sun Devils have already faced five opponents ranked in the Top 25 on the season, with each game becoming more important than the next. Each time, the Sun Devils gained their momentum on the defensive end. Against Utah, Arizona State made big plays on the defensive end, causing Utah to commit three consecutive turnovers in the last two minutes.
“Every game is a challenge in the Pac-12,” Ryan said. “You have to bring your best. You could lose any game… We just really got to focus on doing our best.”
Arizona State once again rose to the challenge, despite Utah carrying all the momentum going into halftime. The sport is a game of hot and cold streaks and Arizona State recommitted in the second half.
“The fourth quarter was the power of a made-up mind,” head coach Charli Turner Thorne said. “This is going to be an amazing story. This is going to be an incredible comeback.”
On their way to making history, Arizona State began playing with a slower tempo, crashing the boards offensively and making huge defensive stops down the stretch. The Devils outrebounded Utah 40-30, with Charnea Johnson-Chapman getting the biggest offensive rebound the night.
With Arizona State down 58-55 and only 13 seconds to play, Johnson Chapman rebounded the ball kicking it back out to a wide open Robbi Ryan, who made a three-point swish to tie the ball game at 58. A tale of two halves, Arizona State is now on a five-game winning streak, playing the best defense in the conference and have momentum on their side at the right time.
“This is a veteran team,” Turner Thorne said. “We know how to take games and we are definitely the cardiac kids this year… They definitely have the confidence to take games.”
After one of the biggest fourth quarter comebacks in the program’s history, the Sun Devils will face three Top Ten opponents in their remaining four regular season games. That schedule includes No. 7 Stanford next week as well as No. 12 Oregon State and No. 2 Oregon the week after.
Arizona State is hungry and motivated to prove themselves among the conference’s most elite teams. The Sun Devils will travel to northern California to face California and No. 7 Stanford next weekend.
