(Photo: Dominic Cotroneo/WCSN)
The No. 14 Arizona State women’s basketball team captured its biggest win of the season in convincing fashion as they took care of No. 9 Stanford 49-31.
It was a historic win as the 31 points that the Cardinal (11-3, 1-1 Pac-12) mustered up were the lowest in program history. It was also the Sun Devils’ (11-3, 2-0 Pac-12) third straight win against Stanford.
In the first quarter the Sun Devils held Stanford to their lowest points allowed in a quarter this season — seven (previously was eight against Santa Clara).
Both of Stanford’s leading scorers Lili Thompson and Erica McCall were also held scoreless though out the first quarter and majority of the second.
However the Stanford defense was not allowing ASU to get easy buckets. The Cardinal were triple-teaming ASU senior forward Quinn Dornstauder making it challenging for her to get anything done of the offensive end.
In the second quarter ASU’s smothering defense held Stanford to only four points. They scored their first bucket of the second quarter with one minute remaining in the half.
In the second half ASU continued its dominating defensive performance. In the third quarter Stanford started to make a comeback, in part due to ASU’s five-minute scoring drought. Stanford managed to get good shots off, but they continued having trouble getting the ball to go in the basket.
Stanford’s shooting woe’s continued throughout the remainder of the game. They made just 11-of-43 shots from the field. Lili Thompson led her team in scoring with seven points.
The key for ASU staying in this game was their rebounding; they had the advantage 41-32 and managed a seven-rebound edge on the offensive glass. Sophie Brunner got her first double-double, and led her team with 12 points, 10 rebounds (five of those coming on the offensive end), two steals, one block, and one assist.
Next up the Sun Devils travel to Washington on Friday for their first conference road game of the season.
