(Photo Credit: ASU Athletics)
The Arizona State women’s basketball team opened up their season with a bang today at Wells Fargo Arena against the University of Hawai’i Rainbow Wahine, cruising to an 84-44 victory.
ASU head coach Charli Turner Thorne was pleased to see redshirt senior guard Deja Mann, and transfer redshirt sophomore guard Katie Hempen immediately make their presence known, scoring the first two baskets of ASU’s season.
In the first half, Arizona State pulled away using a 16-4 run that stretched over five minutes and never looked back. UH’s ball handlers struggled against the Sun Devil full court press, committing 11 turnovers during the opening 20 minutes of play, and 26 for the game.
Mann in particular looked impressive after missing all of last year due to a knee injury. She had ten points in the first half, finishing with 14 points, four assists, and two steals.
“[Mann] has worked very hard. She’s a better shooter than she was before,” Turner Thorne said. “Deja has put a lot of time into her shot, and it shows.”
Hempen looked impressive and steady in her Sun Devil debut chipping in 12 points and three assists.
“Katie was Katie. That’s what she does. I mean she hits shots, she’s ready to score at all times, she takes charges,” Turner Thorne said. “She’s just tough as nails. She has great court awareness, and I know she was a little nervous, and she can be sharper a little bit in areas, but I thought she had a great first game and played as if it wasn’t her first game.”
Redshirt senior Joy Burke had strong showing as well. The 6’5” center made her presence known in the paint, scoring eight points, grabbing 10 rebounds and blocking a shot.
Freshman forward Kelsey Moos started in her first game, and grabbed eight rebounds, two of which came on the offensive end. Freshmen forward Sophie Brunner and center Quinn Dornstauder also made their collegiate debuts as well.
“I’m stoked for Kelsey and Sophie because we know we can throw them a pass and they’ll get anything,” Hempen said. “We know that they pretty much have magnets on their hands when it comes to the ball because any rebound that they’re going up for is coming down by them.”
ASU’s defense created plenty of offense for the Sun Devils as well, as they team scored 28 points off of the Rainbow Wahine’s turnovers, and Hawai’i never got into any sort of rhythm offensively.
“Our motto is we want to make the other team gag,” Hempen said. “That’s what we plan on doing.”
“We want people to have their ugliest game against us,” Mann said.
2012-2013 All-Big West first team senior forward Kamilah Jackson was limited due to foul trouble all game long. She was able to still get 11 points and six rebounds.
As a team, ASU shot 55.6 percent, including 39.1 percent from the three-point line. Last season, the Sun Devils shot 38.6 percent from the field, so the efficiency from the offense in the opener has to be pleasing for Turner Thorne.
“It feels good to hit shots, and as much as you don’t want your defense to rely on your offense, it feels good to hit shots,” Mann said.
“We haven’t been picked to do anything, so we’re going to ride that for all it’s worth,” Turner Thorne said. “We’re just going to go out and have fun and play our butts off and be fearless in every game that we’re in.”
The Sun Devils will look to continue the defensive pressure and offensive efficiency Wednesday, November 13th, when they hit the road to play the University of San Diego Toreros.
You can reach Zac Pacleb on Twitter @ZacPacleb or via email at zacpacleb@gmail.com
