ASU Women’s Basketball: Sun Devils fight but ultimately falter against No. 19 Arizona

(Photo via Janaé Bradford/WCSN)

In search of its first Pac-12 win, Arizona State Women’s Basketball hoped the energy from a rivalry matchup against No. 19 Arizona would provide a much-needed spark. Even with the high hopes, ASU couldn’t get it done, losing at home Sunday afternoon in a back-and-forth battle.

With the 80-67 loss to the Wildcats (15-4, 5-3 Pac-12), ASU (7-10, 0-8 Pac-12) has now dropped its eighth straight matchup and remains without a win in the Pac-12.

Despite the loss, head coach Natasha Adair had a positive outlook when speaking about what improvements her team made since the last time they faced the Wildcats.

“With a team like Arizona, you can’t give them 21 offensive rebounds,” Adair said. “Those second chance opportunities, in a lot of ways, were the difference, but where I am proud of our group, the first time they really exploited us inside and I thought we just dialed into the scouting, making it hard for them to score around the rim.”

Arizona outrebounded the Sun Devils 51-31, with 21 coming on the offensive end of the floor. Even with chances for the Sun Devils to stay within striking distance, second-chance opportunities allowed Arizona to stay in the lead for the entirety of the game.

The Wildcats’ win was highlighted by strong team defense, along with standout performances from senior forward Esmery Martinez, who recorded a 13-point and 15-rebound double-double, and a team-high 16-point showing from sophomore guard Madison Conner.

Arizona’s defense proved to be nearly impenetrable for the Sun Devils. Still, junior guard Treasure Hunt was able to work around the Wildcats’ scheme for a career-high 24 points.

“(Junior guard) Jaddan (Simmons) and Treasure really showed up offensively for us, but they set the tone,” Adair said. “I mean, they flew around, and their teammates fed off of their energy, and from tip to final buzzer, you saw them tight.”

In a departure from her typical style of play, junior guard Tyi Skinner only accounted for eight points. However, it was all the Delaware transfer needed to join the 1,000-point club at her new home in Tempe. Skinner also contributed six assists.

Prior to the opening tipoff, the Sun Devils were already at a disadvantage. ASU managed to dress only eight players for Sunday’s matchup. This comes just a week after the Sun Devils were unable to travel for road games against then-No. 10 Utah and Colorado. According to Sun Devil Athletics, the two games were forfeited due to “medical circumstances,” with the losses counting against ASU’s Pac-12 record and not their overall.

“We’re always going to play with who we have, so I don’t think that’s an excuse for us, but you know, you’re right at the end, we do kind of slip away,” Simmons said. “That’s why we’re learning. We’re young team players and all that, so I think we just have to figure out how to get over that hump.”

Still in search of their first Pac-12 victory, the Sun Devils will host the Washington schools at Desert Financial Arena next, playing Washington State on Friday and facing Washington on Sunday. In those matchups, Adair would like to see her team continue to improve as she believes they have all season.

“For us, it’s a measure of how we’re growing from game to game, and we’re trending this way,” Adair said. “It may not be in the win-loss column, but I see them every day, and I know that they are getting better, and so that’s what I’m proud of is our fight.”