(Photo via Sam Volante/WCSN)
Arizona State Women’s Basketball nearly shocked the Pac-12 Conference Sunday afternoon when they almost defeated No. 4 Utah. Ultimately, the Utes were able to outlast the Sun Devils; however, ASU outscored Utah in the third quarter and kept it close until the final buzzer.
The Sun Devils (7-18, 0-16 Pac-12) have improved with every game of Pac-12 play but remain without a conference win with only two games left in the regular season. This weekend, the Sun Devils will travel north to the Beaver State to spar with Oregon State (11-16, 3-13) and Oregon (14-13, 5-11). Both Oregon schools have shared ASU’s disappointment this season. Oregon State sits at just 11th in the Pac-12, and Oregon, after being ranked to start the season, occupies the ninth spot.
ASU will begin their weekend in Corvallis against the Beavers Thursday night. The last time these two teams faced off, OSU got the better of ASU, with a final score of 69-59 in Tempe. The Beavers are led by sophomore guard Talia von Oelhoffen. Von Oelhoffen is the Beavers’ primary ball handler, scoring 13.2 points a game and shooting 36% from the field. Von Oelhoffen is backed up by freshman forward Regan Beers. The 6-foot-4-inch Beers does an excellent job on both ends of the floor, averaging 12.9 points on an efficient 52% shooting clip and snatching 8.7 rebounds per game.
Following the Beavers, ASU will face off against the Oregon Ducks Saturday. Like the Beavers, the Ducks took care of Business on their trip to Tempe this season, rolling over the Sun Devils 82-62.
The Ducks’ offense is led by senior guard Endyia Rogers. Rogers averages 16 points on a stellar 47%-43% split. Oregon, as a whole, shoots well from beyond the arc, with their team average sitting just above 35%. Another top player for the Ducks is freshman forward Grace VanSlooten, who averages 14 points and six rebounds on the season while shooting 47% from the floor.
The Sun Devils have been subpar this season but, recently, have been on a steady path toward growth. Look for ASU stars Jaddan Simmons and Tyi Skinner to get on that sheet early in scoring and rebounding for the Sun Devils. Last weekend, Skinner put up a game-high 27 against No. 21 Colorado. The pair now sits at second and third for most minutes played in the Pac-12, which is not expected to change this weekend.
ASU sits 2nd in the Pac-12 in fewest turnovers and 12th in the nation, and 2nd in free throws made and attempted in the Conference of Champions. The Sun Devils will need to rely on their free throw shooting and efficiency in transition if they want to come away with their first Pac-12 win this season.
