(Photo credit: Aishling Cavanaugh/WCSN)
TEMPE — With just 33 seconds left in the second quarter, Arizona State junior guard Jalyn Brown swiped the ball from SMU’s point guard. Recovering the loose ball, Brown immediately launched a full-court pass to graduate guard Tyi Skinner.
Sprinting ahead of the pack, Skinner caught the ball in stride, absorbed the contact from a trailing defender, and watched her layup fall in as the whistle blew for a foul. The three-point play gave the Sun Devils a commanding 39-26 lead.
“I just had a hot hand in the second quarter,” Skinner said. “My teammates did a good job of giving me the ball.”
Arizona State (2-2) would head into halftime with a 12-point advantage, a cushion that proved crucial as the Sun Devils ultimately secured the 80-73 victory over Southern Methodist University (2-2). The second-quarter surge played a massive role in the win, setting the tone for the remainder of the game and giving ASU the momentum it needed to hold off SMU’s second-half push.
Skinner’s and-one finish was just one highlight of a dominant second quarter for Arizona State, where the Sun Devils erupted for 27 points. Skinner was instrumental in the offensive surge, contributing 12 points in the period through a mix of aggressive drives and clutch jump shots.
Offensively, the second quarter was a breakthrough for Arizona State, as they shot 54% from the field and hit 4-of-8 from beyond the arc. Both of these statistics were significant improvements, as the Sun Devils had struggled with consistency in both areas through early parts of the season.
“We just wanted to keep our foot on the gas in the second quarter,” ASU head coach Natasha Adair said. “We were just in rhythm and executed on offense.”
The shooting surge in the second quarter marked what felt like a coming-out party for ASU’s offense, as the Sun Devils found rhythm both inside and out, capitalizing on opportunities that had eluded them in their previous games. The balance of efficient field goals and timely three-pointers allowed the Sun Devils to assert themselves offensively, shifting the momentum in their favor and providing a much-needed spark as they built their lead going into the half.
The Sun Devils’ high-energy play extended beyond just scoring, as they disrupted SMU on defense.
Arizona State’s defense in the second quarter was a key factor in the surge, as it held the Mustangs to just 14 points, their lowest-scoring quarter of the season. However, the most crucial element of ASU’s defensive success came in its ability to contain SMU’s leading scorer, junior guard Nya Robertson.
Throughout the season, Robertson has been the focal point of the Mustangs’ offense, with most possessions running through her hands. However, in the second quarter, ASU’s defense stifled her, limiting her to just three points.
“She’s a catalyst, she’s what makes them go”, Adair said. “We put her in pockets and made her take tough shots. I thought we executed that beautifully.”
This was a significant achievement, as Robertson’s ability to stretch the floor and create scoring opportunities for her team had been a major threat. By neutralizing her impact, the Sun Devils were able to disrupt SMU’s offensive flow and force them to rely on other players, which limited the Mustangs’ scoring output and allowed ASU to build a commanding lead.
With a dominant second quarter leading the way, Arizona State showcased its offensive and defensive potential in its win over SMU. The Sun Devils’ ability to score efficiently while limiting SMU’s top scorer highlighted their growth and resilience early in the season. As they head into Sunday’s matchup against the Oregon State Beavers, ASU will look to build on this impressive performance, hoping to carry over the momentum and continue its upward trajectory.
