(Photo: Connor Gleason/WCSN)
TEMPE— The ball rarely escaped fourth-year guard Ruby Whitehorn on Thursday night. When it left Whitehorn’s hands, it usually found the bottom of the net. When it bounced off the rim, Whitehorn was there to claim it.
The Arizona State Sun Devils (2-0) took care of the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks (0-1), 79-52, in a Thursday night bout. The win was more of the same for ASU, still undefeated against non-conference opponents under Molly Miller. Whitehorn’s performance was not
After posting eight points and three rebounds in ASU’s season opener, Whitehorn put up 25 points and 10 rebounds. She shot 84.6 percent from the field. Lumberjack defenders could only sit and watch.
“Any given night, it can be any player who steps up, and if it’s not your turn to score night one. It might be your turn to score night two,” head coach Molly Miller said
Three days from the season opener, Whitehorn tripled her prior points production. Yet, five points shy of a career high, she had different things in mind. Scoring? She had something else in mind.
“I still had eight rebounds at the time, and I wanted those two boards more than I wanted those four points,” Whitehorn said
Every athlete will tell you there is no better feeling than entering that flow state. Early on the game, Whitehorn had reached her flow state.
She dazzled the Desert Financial Arena crowd with moves straight off of a mixtape. Behind-the-back. Cross. Tween. Elbow jumpers and getting to the paint at will.
“It’s no better feeling; honestly, I just think that once I see one go in, it gives me confidence to keep going,” Whitehorn said
Despite her crazy numbers on offense, Whitehorn’s defense was another major factor that propelled the Sun Devils to their second win of the season.
“She’s the all-around player,” Miller said. “She can rebound, defend, distribute, score, post up little guards, rip and get to the rim.”
Whitehorn recorded three blocks and consistently showed effort by hustling down the court, getting a hand up on every shot, and maintaining a positive attitude.
Despite Whitehorn’s stellar night, the Sun Devils have been vocal about letting the game come to you instead of chasing.
Playing basketball comes with a lot of responsibilities; learning to be unselfish is by far the biggest. Scoring a lot can feel good, but if it comes at the expense of your team’s success, it’s no win at all.
“The biggest thing is that we’re selfless,” Whitehorn said. “We have a lot of weapons on this team. I say it all the time. It could be anybody’s night. That’s something that you don’t find everywhere.”
For Whitehorn, this was definitely her night. The Sun Devils know the next game it could be fourth-year forward McKinna Brackens’ night, or first-year guard Averie Lower’s night.
“Let it come to you; if you want to score, let it happen off your defense,” Miller said. “If you want to get the lid off the rim, then get to the free throw line. I think she really leaned into that, and I’m really proud of her because of that.”
The Sun Devils move to 2-0 on the season and stay undefeated. The team will now head to UNLV, where they will face a familiar face in fifth-year guard Marley Washentiz.
“She’s a hustler. She’s competitive. She’s gritty on defense, but I hate to break it to you, but she chose the wrong school to go back to.” Whitehorn said
There’s no love lost between former teammates, even if they didn’t share the court. Whitehorn spent quite a bit of time with former Sun Devil guard Washentiz.
“See you on Tuesday,” Whitehorn said.
