Sun Devils demolished 98-62 by Utah at home

(Photo credit: Sierra Watson/WCSN)

TEMPE — Just two minutes into Saturday’s contest against Utah, Arizona State women’s basketball sophomore guard Jyah LoVett dribbled a crossover between her legs, pulled the ball up near the perimeter and fired what would ultimately be ruled a deep 2-point shot to cut the Sun Devils’ deficit to one.

That one-point margin ended up being the closest ASU came to taking a lead during Saturday’s late-season conference matchup with the Utes, the fourth time this season that Arizona State has not led at least once in a game.

The Sun Devils (8-18, 2-12 Big 12 Conference) dropped their 11th straight loss, 98-62, to a Utah Utes (20-5, 11-3 Big 12) squad that overwhelmed Arizona State with a potent offense that dominated beyond the arc.

“We knew this was a team that was going to attempt 33 threes,” ASU head coach Natasha Adair said. “The goal was [to] make sure we run them off the three, make them take tough twos, make it hard for them.”

Despite the Sun Devils’ preparations ahead of the game, Utah knocked down 18-of-32 from deep, the most Arizona State has allowed this season and the most the Utes have scored this season.

Junior guard Gianna Kneepkens and senior guard Kennady McQueen helmed the barrage of 3-pointers: Kneepkens connected on four-of-seven from range during her game-high 24-point performance, while McQueen went six-of-eight from three in her 20-point effort.

Part of Utah’s effectiveness on 3-point plays during Saturday’s contest came from its ability to move the ball. Of the Utes’ 32 baskets, 24 were assisted. Through effective passing, Utah spaced out Arizona State’s defense and created open looks at all three levels.

With the Sun Devils forced to focus on perimeter defense, the Utes capitalized on opportunities closer to the basket. Utah added 28 points in the paint, many of which came through backdoor cut opportunities, and it dominated ASU off the glass, out-rebounding its hosts 44-31.

Furthermore, the Utes drew 18 fouls from Arizona State and converted 16 points on 20 free throw attempts, rounding out an offense that cruised to a 36-point victory.

Meanwhile, the Sun Devils’ offense struggled to maintain consistency.

“I thought we took some good shots, and they did not fall, and we weren’t getting second-chance opportunities,” Adair said. “But then you got to knock down the wide-open shot when you get it and finish around the rim.”

Arizona State shot 34% from the field on 64 attempts against a Utah team that forced the Devils to attack the basket. Of those 64 total shots, 16 were from deep.

Graduate guard Tyi Skinner and junior guard Jalyn Brown combined for 35 of the Sun Devils’ 62 points, but both were forced to take 17 or more shots. No other scorer for ASU had more than eight points, exacerbating its lack of overall efficiency on offense.

Arizona State also had trouble in areas it normally excels at. Entering Saturday’s contest, the Sun Devils led the Big 12 in free throw percentage (76.8%). Even though Utah provided foul shot opportunities, ASU shot 13-of-19 (68.4%) on free throw attempts, 10 percentage points below its usual.

Despite one of the largest margins of defeat during her tenure, Adair looks to keep the Sun Devils ready to close out the regular season strong and start the postseason with a fresh slate.

“This is a season, and then [the] conference tournament is another season, right?” Adair said. “It’s not over for us, we’re not in the locker room saying, ‘We’re done.’”