(Photo: Marlee Smith/WCSN)
Arizona State opened the second half of their Pac-12 slate on Friday against in state rival University of Arizona, defeating the Wildcats 60-47.
The No. 21 Sun Devils responded after losing 51-39 in Tucson on Dec. 30. The two games are reflective of an Arizona State team who has faced it’s ups and downs this season, while Friday’s game may be a turning point for a team looking to hit its stride with March looming.
In Tempe, the Sun Devils held the Arizona Wildcats to just 13 points in the first half, stifling the Wildcats to 17.8 percent shooting throughout the first 20 minutes.
Tough defense has been a recurring theme for the Sun Devils, as they have lost by single digits to now top-ranked Baylor, now third-ranked Louisville and now fourth-ranked Oregon.
In each game, the Sun Devils stayed within striking distance of the three powerhouse schools. Against No. 3 Louisville, Arizona State led going into the fourth quarter, but lost the game by two after Louisville All-American Asia Durr made a last second layup to give the Cardinals the victory.
Arizona sophomore Aari McDonald came into Friday averaging 25.2 points per game, second in the nation and first in the Pac-12. Arizona State point guards Rieli Richardson and Kiarra Russell hounded the Wildcat from the opening tip, forcing her to work everytime she put her hands on the ball. They held McDonald to just seven points in the first half. McDonald ended up with 28 points, but struggled from the field shooting just 36 percent while being double-teamed by Sun Devils who were several inches taller.
In November against Louisville, Arizona State also contained Louisville’s Asia Durr to only 14 points despite Durr averaging 29 points per game throughout her career.
“It is just that time of year where no one is going to be going in transition, the scores are going to be going down, rebounding and defense, they matter a lot, and I thought we really brought both of those today,” Arizona State Head Coach Charli Turner Thorne said.
The Arizona State versus Arizona rivalry dates all the way back to 1899, when the two school’s football teams played each other for the first time. Since then, the rivalry has divided the state of Arizona between the North and the South, Tucson and Tempe, coming to be known at the Territorial Cup.
Over the last three years, Arizona State seniors, Kianna Ibis and Courtney Ekmark have played against the Wildcats six times. Their first and only loss came last December in their squad’s worst offensive performance of the season.
On Friday night, the seniors bounced back, as Ekmark scored 20 points to go along with seven boards and Ibis scored 19 points. The tandem combined for nearly two-thirds of Arizona State’s 60 points.
The two veterans have become the heart and soul of this Arizona State squad. Ekmark and Ibis closed out their last regular season rivalry game in fashion, etching their names into the history books of the 120 year old rivalry.
With two consecutive trips to the NCAA tournament, the two have been through it all together. Now, they will look to continue that strong play in the second half of conference play. Arizona State will rely on the shooting of Ekmark and the post play of Ibis, as March toward the national championship the two seniors desperately crave.
Arizona State state has eight games remaining in their regular season and sit at 6-4 in Pac-12 play. The Devils still have a chance to meet up again with the Wildcats in the Pac-12 tournament this March, but for now the team is focusing on finishing the regular season strong.
Their mindset those last eight games, “Fierce Determination,” Charnea Johnson-Chapman said.
“Enough said,” Ekmark added.
Arizona State will travel up to Washington next week to play Washington State on Feb. 7 and the University of Washington on Feb. 9.
