(Photo by Travis Whittaker/ WCSN)
For the second consecutive year, the Arizona State Sun Devils (21-10) advanced out of the first round of the NCAA tournament, defeating the UCF Knights (26-7), 60-45, in Coral Gables, Florida.
In a game that featured the best defensive teams in the AAC and Pac-12, it was the Sun Devils who were able to dominate defensively. Arizona State was able to hold UCF to single-digits in both of the first two quarters, with the Knights shooting 20.8 percent from the field in the first half.
The Sun Devils were led offensively by senior guard Courtney Ekmark, who scored five points in the first half, but exploded for 15 second-half points to finish with a game-high 20 in the win. Ekmark came up one-point shy of her season-high, shooting 8-for-13 from the field and 4-for-7 from behind the 3-point line.
“Every game in the Pac-12 [Ekmark] was just blanketed,” Turner Thorne said. “So when she knew we were playing against a zone she was like ‘yes!’ We knew she would get some good looks, she’s just an amazing shooter and that’s what she’s capable of doing.”
Senior forward Kianna Ibis was the only other Sun Devil who scored in double-figures, adding a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, despite shooting 4-for-11 from the field. Four of Ibis’ 10 rebounds came on the offensive glass, helping the Sun Devils gain an advantage on second-chance points.
“That’s part of our best offense,” Ibis said. “It’s win or go home, so I was just trying to lock down and focus on rebounding.”
Arizona State’s win contributed to an opening day in the tournament that saw the Pac-12 go 2-0, with No. 2 Oregon defeating No. 15 Portland State, 78-40.
With the win, the Sun Devils advance to the second round to take on No. 4 Miami, who defeated No. 13 Florida Gulf Coast, 69-62 in the first round. ASU and Miami will tip-off at 4 p.m. on Sunday afternoon. Having lost in the second round in three straight years, Turner Thorne said getting over the hump is important.
“The mission is getting past the second round,” Turner Thorne said. “It’ll be a formidable challenge and we’ll play a very good team.
“We know if we do what we need to do, and a lot of it will be about rebounding… I know that this team is capable we just have to keep playing better.”
