Sun Devils resume Pac-12 play against pair of top-15 opponents

(Photo via Marina Williams/WCSN)

Arizona State women’s basketball (8-5, 0-1 Pac-12 Conference) will kick off the new year by hosting a pair of Pac-12 games against No. 15 Utah (10-3, 0-1) on Friday and No. 5 Colorado (11-1, 1-0) on Sunday. This will be the last time the Sun Devils face both juggernauts as Pac-12 opponents, but they will meet again as members of the Big-12 Conference beginning next academic year.

The Sun Devils lost their last outing against Santa Clara on Dec. 30, when they were defeated 65-55. Despite missing senior forward Maggie Besselink and senior guard Treasure Hunt, Arizona State nearly completed a double-digit comeback before ultimately falling behind once more.

In the loss to Santa Clara, sophomore guard Trayanna Crisp led the team in points with 12, followed closely by senior guard Jaddan Simmons, who had 11 of her own. Once again, the Sun Devils’ guards did the bulk of the offensive work, as they have all season. Simmons is second on the team in points per game, averaging 12.9, and Crisp is right behind her at third with 12.4.

Arizona State’s guard-centric play style could prove problematic against Utah, whose leading scorer, senior forward Alissa Pili, is averaging 24 points per game. Pili is scoring from all levels of the court, shooting 68.2% from the field and a ridiculous 51.9% from deep, but she is especially dominant in the interior, where the Sun Devils have been weak all season.

As a team, the Utes are averaging 91.2 points per game and have three players averaging double figures in points. Utah is only allowing 57.7 points per game. Its defense will prove tough against a Sun Devil squad averaging just 66.8 points per game. Additionally, Utah holds a key advantage in the rebounding department, averaging 41.5 boards per game. Arizona State has struggled on the glass this season, pulling down just 35.5 rebounds per game.

A healthy Besselink would be a big boost for the Sun Devils, as she leads the team in rebounds with 4.9 per game and provides good interior defense. The senior has now missed the last two games after starting in ASU’s first 11 contests. Even if Besselink plays, Friday’s contest is sure to be an uphill battle for Arizona State, but head coach Natasha Adair will plan to have her team prepared for the test.

Utah is coming off a loss at Colorado, in which they were defeated 76-65. During that game, the Utes shot 45.6% from the field and 25% from 3-point range, down from their season field goal and 3-point percentages of 53.3% and 41.7%, respectively. They will look to bounce back against a solid Arizona State defense that is limiting opponents to 39.8% from the field and 34.4% from deep.

As for the Buffaloes, they are on a five-game winning streak following their lone loss of the season to North Carolina State in the Paradise Jam on Nov. 25. The Buffaloes started their season hot as well, beating then top-ranked LSU in their second game of the season as part of their seven-game winning streak to begin the season.

Colorado is averaging 83.3 points per game as a team that primarily scores from inside and the mid-range. The Buffaloes shoot 49% from the field and 33.2% from beyond the arc. Their leading scorer, junior center Aaronette Vonleh, is dominant down low, averaging 15.4 points per game, and will create a tough matchup for the Sun Devils’ post players.

Behind Vonleh is reigning Pac-12 Player of the Week and graduate guard Jaylyn Sherrod. The Buffaloes floor general is averaging 14.8 points this season and 5.8 assists. To earn conference player of the week, Sherrod scored a career-high 34 points and recorded six steals against the Utes.

Defensively, Colorado has limited opposing offenses to just 63.3 points per game while forcing 19.8 turnovers per game. The Buffaloes also score 24 points per game off turnovers, a stat to watch against the Sun Devils who are averaging 13.7 turnovers per game.

Colorado will play Arizona on Friday before heading north to play the Sun Devils on Sunday, Jan. 7, in what will be another tough contest for Arizona State.

Last season, ASU fared poorly against ranked teams but took games against then-No. 4 Utah and then-No. 19 UCLA down to the wire. The Sun Devils will look to channel and expand on those performances in hopes of opening the new year with a pair of wins.