ASU Women’s Basketball: Sun Devils start first road trip of season against Utah and Colorado

(Photo: Tyler Rittenhouse/WCSN)

After having seven games in 19 days, the ASU women’s basketball team was finally able to get some rest this week before it goes on a two-game road trip to Utah and Colorado.

“It’s been the first week this season where we’ve been able to give them two days off,” head coach Charli Turner Thorne said in her weekly media availability Wednesday. “Every game for this young team is going to be challenging and we’re just working hard to get better every day.”

This will mark the Sun Devils’s first out-of-state road trip of the season. Due to the restrictions and challenges that COVID-19 presents, the team will have to make adjustments and roll with the punches.

“There’s definitely obstacles,” Turner Thorne said. “You can’t have meeting rooms in Colorado…you have to get up extra early to get your testing in. You can’t do your same road routines that you would normally do. Certainly for a team that’s as young as ours, it adds another layer for them in terms of being ready for a team on their home floor.

“It’s going to be exciting to have this first road trip, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say there’s a little bit of anxiety there because it’s just a crazy time.”

Utah, who the Sun Devils will be facing at 3 p.m MST on Friday, have had an up-and-down start to their season. The Utes have picked up quality wins against then No. 15 ranked Oregon State and a top Big Sky opponent in Montana State, but were blown out against Oregon and rival Colorado.

Turner Thorne pointed out sophomore guard and Utah’s leading scorer Brynna Maxwell, who is one of the best shooters in the conference. She scored a career-high 34 points in Utah’s upset win over Oregon State.

“[Utah] can flat out put the ball in the basket, just a really good offensive team that knows who they are,” Turner Thorne said. “We’re not taking anybody lightly, everybody in our conference is really good. Utah’s definitely a formidable team.”

As for Colorado, it has been shaky to start the season as well, sitting at 3-3 currently. Its top scorers are sophomore guard Jaylyn Sherrod (12.2 ppg) and senior forward Mya Hollingshed (14.8 ppg).

ASU improved its shooting in its last game vs San Diego and was dominant on the glass. However, the Sun Devils dug themselves out of an early hole in large part because of turnovers. 12 of the team’s 17 turnovers came in the first half.

“There’s a lot of things that we want to do better,” Turner Thorne said. “From just a pure basketball standpoint, just valuing every possession on offense. We still squander too many possessions and that’s hurting us, hurting our ability to put points on the board.”

Turner Thorne also emphasized the importance of rebounding in conference play, considering the increased intensity and physicality it presents.

However, perhaps the most interesting aspect to look out for is how this young team handles its first experience on the road.

“I really have no idea,” Turner Thorne said. “We haven’t done it.”

“It’s our turn to go on the road… Good that we’re going to get a road trip in and start to figure some things out with this young team. Then we can take a quick break, and come back and see where we’re at and keep improving.”