ASU Women’s Basketball: Sun Devils to be tested in Utah

(Photo: Eliav Gabay/WCSN)

The No.19 ranked Arizona State women’s basketball team is 10-3 and is headed to Utah for its first road game of Pac-12 conference play.

On Sunday, the Sun Devils came out victorious over Cal, after battling in two overtimes. ASU closed out the second overtime with a 10-0 run, clinging the 72-62 victory. The seniors in the frontcourt lead the way. Sophie Brunner posted 21 points, and 12 rebounds, while Quinn Dornstauder contributed 19 points and 10 rebounds. The game went an extra ten minutes and ASU held the Golden Bears 18.8 points below their scoring average.

The Sun Devils have won their last five games against Utah, including sweeping the Utes in 2014-2015. ASU has been extremely successful on the road during conference play, as they are 15-3 in the past two seasons.

The frontcourt has been the focal point of the scoring for the Sun Devils. Senior forward Brunner is leading the way averaging 12.6 points and 6.8 rebounds per contest. The seniors center Dornstauder, is scoring nine points per game and grabbing 5.5 rebounds per game. In addition, the seniors are both shooting over 50 percent from the floor. Freshman guard Reili Richardson, continues to perform well as a starter, as she averages just under nine points per game.

As conference play progresses, the Sun Devils may need to enhance their three-point shooting. ASU is currently only making 27 percent of their shots from beyond the arc.

Utah was undefeated at 12-0 before No.10 UCLA handed the Utes their first lost on the road. Utah is 1-1 in league play with only one blemish on its record.

The Utes lock down on defense, as they are third in the NCAA and first in the Pac-12 in field-goal percentage defense. Utah holds its opponents to 32.2 percent shooting from the floor. Also, they hold teams to 23.0 percent from three-point land, which is best in the Pac-12.

Junior forward Emily Potter will be a force and battle with ASU forwards. Potter leads the Pac-12 in blocked shots with 41. Potter is also one of three Utes scoring in double figures, averaging 17.4 points per game while shooting 61.6 percent from the floor.

Junior guard Malia Nawahine is the second leading scorer for Utah with 12 points per contest. Junior wing Tanaeya Boclair rounds out the Utes double figure scoring attack, averaging 10.8 points per game.

Tip off between ASU and Utah is 7 p.m. MST Friday.

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