Rebounding woes sink Sun Devils in loss to Mountaineers

(Photo credit: Maya Diaz/WCSN)

TEMPE — Following Arizona State women’s basketball’s win over Oregon State in November, Natasha Adair felt good about the identity her team was creating.

“When we talk about ASU women’s basketball, we want people to talk about defense,” Adair said after the 79-60 win on Nov. 17. “We want them to hear about us rebounding.”

This was far from the case, however, in Wednesday night’s clash between the Arizona State Sun Devils (8-12, 2-6 Big 12) and the No. 16-ranked West Virginia Mountaineers (16-3, 6-2 Big 12).

A glaring issue in the matchup was rebounding. West Virginia dominated the glass, finishing with 38 total rebounds to Arizona State’s 27. Even more glaring were the 31 defensive rebounds the Mountaineers pulled down, completely shutting down the Sun Devils’ ability to generate second-chance points. This rebounding dominance allowed West Virginia to maintain control of the game, neutralizing ASU’s efforts and leaving little opportunity for offensive momentum.

The dominance from West Virginia on the boards was particularly concerning given that Arizona State adjusted its starting lineup to address this very issue. Junior forward Kennedy Basham was inserted into the starting five with the hope that her size would help contain Mountaineer fifth-year forward Kylee Blacksten and give the Sun Devils control over the glass.

However, the adjustment fell short, as Blacksten dropped a career-high 24 points and the Mountaineers continued to assert themselves in the rebounding battle, exposing ASU’s struggles to match their physicality and intensity under the basket.

West Virginia head coach Mark Kellogg and his Mountaineers marched into Mullett Arena looking to secure a crucial road victory, and that’s exactly what they did, walking away with a commanding 30-point win over the Sun Devils, 89-59.

Coach Adair has emphasized time and time again that defense and rebounding are the backbone of her team and that consistency is a trait her squad needs to develop. Wednesday’s performance was a stark reminder of how crucial rebounding is in deciding the outcome of a game.

“We’ve seen us clicking on all cylinders, and we’ve seen us with slow starts,” Adair said. “So it’s the tale of two teams. Because there are moments where it looks really, really, really good, but it’s how do we sustain that for a full 40 minutes?”

With the Sun Devils well past the midpoint of the season and March looming, it’s crucial that they address these issues and flip the script in their upcoming test.

The Sun Devils’ next matchup will be against Cincinnati on Saturday, and it will be a crucial test for the team. With ASU now on a five-game losing streak, it will be important to see how they respond, both mentally and physically, in an effort to turn things around.

Saturday’s game presents an opportunity for the Sun Devils to refocus, correct their recent struggles, and demonstrate the resilience Coach Adair has emphasized throughout the season.