(Photo: Marlee Smith/WCSN)
Arizona State opened up play in the 2019 Pac-12 Tournament on Thursday, defeating the Colorado Buffs 66-49 in a very tough opening-round match up. In the 12-5 matchup, Arizona State senior Courtney Ekmark came up big for the Sun Devils, scoring 18 points off 6 made 3-pointers.
The Sun Devils consistently go deep into their bench, using a 10 player rotation on any given night, oftentimes against Top-5 opponents. Today was no different, as head coach Charli Turner Thorne substituted for all five starters just three minutes into the game. Playing one game per day, Arizona State’s bench proves to be one of the Sun Devil’s greatest strengths come tournament time.
“I thought we did get some great minutes — Kiara Russell, one of our veteran guards, stepped up along with senior Sophia Elenga. So we did get some good benching scoring,” Turner Thorne said.
Solid bench play supported a Sun Devil team, who lost their star player, Kianna Ibis midway through the fourth quarter due to injury. The star forward crashed hard while trying to pull down an offensive rebound, irritating her knee. Ibis tore her ACL in high school and wears a knee brace during games for extra support. Ibis has been reported in good health and will play Friday against UCLA.
“I think I just fell on it,” Ibis said. “Before I couldn’t really bend because I have a lot of swelling in my knee and when I did, it just did not feel the greatest. It’s sore right now, but I am fine.”
The star forward was quiet on Thursday, only scoring six points to go along with five rebounds. Despite her lack of production, Turner Thorne is confident Ibis will be ready ahead of tomorrow’s match up against the Bruins despite the scare.
“She banged it really hard,” Turner Thorne said. “I think it scared her a little bit… she was available to go back in the game.”
In the absence of their star player, the Sun Devils stepped up big. They went 11/27 from beyond the arc, taking back control of the game despite a third quarter surge by Colorado.
No. 5 Arizona State will face off against No. 4 UCLA on Friday in the quarterfinals of the Pac-12 Tournament. Arizona State last played against the Bruins on Jan. 25 in Tempe.
UCLA junior point guard, Japreece Dean torched the Sun Devils in that game, leading the Bruins to a 61-59 victory on the road. Dean hit the game winner, catapulting UCLA into the national conversation.
Since their last meeting with ASU, UCLA has won 11 of their last 12 games, highlighted with a huge comeback victory over the Pac-12 regular season champion Oregon Ducks on the road in Eugene on Feb. 22.
“They got some — like us — some really veteran, tough, savvy upperclassmen and seniors,” Coach Turner Thorne said. “They’re playing their best basketball now.”
Tipoff between No. 5 ASU and No. 4 UCLA is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. on Friday in the quarterfinals of the 2019 Pac-12 Tournament.
