Rejuvenated offense lifts Sun Devils to win over Golden Bears

(Photo via Nick Karmia/WCSN)

TEMPE — The Sun Devils’ win over California on Sunday was the team’s best overall offensive performance of the season, as they defeated the Golden Bears 76-71 at home.

Shooting-wise, Arizona State finished the game with its best percentages of the entire season, scoring 55% from the field and a whopping 80% from the perimeter. Previously, the Sun Devils’ highest marks in field goal and 3-point percentage were 50% and 61.5%, respectively. ASU achieved this through exceptional ball movement and spacing, which freed up open shots for the entire offense.

This efficiency led to all five ASU starters scoring in double figures despite all of them playing over 37 minutes and battling fatigue.

Sophomore guard Jalyn Brown led the way with 21 points in 40 minutes, continuing her stretch of dominance through Pac-12 Conference play. The Louisville transfer turned up the heat in the second quarter after a slow start, picking up eight of her points in that quarter. Sunday’s performance is also Brown’s ninth 20-point game this season, which leads the team.

Graduate guard Isadora Sousa had a career afternoon, tying her career-high in points with 12, which she scored on four deep shots. The Brazilian native hit all of her 3-point shots, only missing a midrange shot during Sunday’s contest.

Sophomore guard Trayanna Crisp and sophomore forward Journey Thompson each added 13 more points and contributed to the win immensely. Crisp led the team in scoring in the first quarter and had a tone-setting steal and fast-break score in the game’s opening minutes. Thompson hauled in eight rebounds, helping to keep the Sun Devils on the attack.

After the game, Thompson credited the team’s chemistry as the primary reason for its offensive success.

“We’re starting to understand each other’s playing styles a lot better,” Thompson said. “So I think we’re able to play together better because we know how each other are gonna play. We’re talking to each other. We’re just getting along well on the court.”

The chemistry described was certainly noticeable, as the Sun Devils had 12 assists, but also through their body language and communication on the court. Teammates encouraged each other after missed shots, and there were no concerned faces, just players who were eager to win.

ASU’s offense involved each player on the floor, resulting in key contributions from everybody. That includes the efforts of senior guard Jaddan Simmons, who was initially held quiet in the contest but became clutch in the fourth quarter. The Sun Devils fed Simmons the ball in the final minutes of the game, and she put up three free throws to effectively close the game. Simmons finished with 15 points.

As Arizona State heads to Tucson for its next game, head coach Natasha Adair is encouraged by the team’s recent offensive prowess.

”It’s confidence from experience,” Adair said. “You know, when we talk about a new group, this is a group that’s just gelling, and I think that confidence going into our next game, regardless of who it is, is just based on where we are as a team.”