ASU Women’s Basketball: Sun Devils offense struggles as they drop first game of the season

(Photo: Nicole Hernandez/WCSN)

The Sun Devils struggled to score, as they fall to Marquette 75-63, in their first road game of the year.

“I think we knew we were going to have some days like this, with this young team, ” head coach Charli Turner Thorne said. “I was very nervous about this game because I knew how good they are offensively. This was one of our big games we have in the preseason to help us learn what it takes.”

Marquette’s sophomore guard Natisha Heideman led all scorers with 23 points and went 5-8 from behind the arc.

The Golden Eagles had five players who scored in double-digits.

The first quarter was competitive between both teams, as Marquette had a slight edge 21- 18 after one quarter.

However, the Sun Devils struggled shooting, as they went 8-18 and shot 44 percent from the field in the first quarter. In contrast, the Golden Eagles went 9-12 and made 75 percent of their shots.

Sophomore guard Hiedeman dominated in the first quarter, leading all scorers with 11 points.

Freshman guard Robbi Ryan carried the scoring load for the Sun Devils with seven points. Sophomore guard Sabrina Haines also played well in the first and scored five points. ASU’s bench contributed solid minutes, scoring nine.

In the second half, Ryan continued to play well on the offensive end. The freshmen went 5-8 and led her team in scoring with 11 points.

With two minutes remaining in the second quarter Heidemam scored a left hand floater in transition that pushed the lead to five.

The Sun Devils offensive troubles continued, as they did not score a basket in the last five minutes of the second quarter.

Marquette closed the second quarter with a 6-0 run and led 33-28 at the half.

Both teams came out with intensity and scored the ball effectively in the third quarter.

The scoring drought was ended quickly in the third quarter, as Quinn Dornstauder scored from the post.

Ryan continued to score the ball well, as she made a two-point jumper, which cut the Marquette lead to four.

Late in the third quarter, The Golden Eagles went on another 6-0 run and bumped the lead to 48-40.

Sophomores guard Danielle King helped her team on that run and scored a basket in the lane, which pushed the lead to eight.

Senior Sophie Brunner ended Marquette’s 6-0 run with back-to-back buckets. Brunner has six points in the third quarter.

Early in the fourth quarter, freshmen Kiara Russell scored a lay-up cut the Sun Devils deficit 50-46.

Ryan made a timely three-pointer for the Sun Devils and cut the lead to one.

Then Marquette came storming down the floor, the ball was worked around and then Hiedeman answered back with a huge three, which pushed the lead back to four.

King made a huge three pointer from the corner and pushed the deficit back up to 61-52.

The Sun Devils struggled to make free throws, as Marquette went on the 11-2 run.

Wilborn stole the ball and scored a lay-up on the fast break, which pushed the lead to 70-53. The Sun Devils were out scored 20-9 late in the final quarter.

ASU women’s basketball missed a total of six of its free throws in the fourth quarter.

“We are very disconnected and have a long ways to go, as we knew,” Turner Thorne said. “We played soft and sideways on both sides of the floor.”

The Sun Devils will be back in action next week Friday, as they battle No. 6 Maryland in the South Point Thanksgiving Tournament.

Use Facebook to Comment on this Post