ASU senior Promise Amukamara looks around the Colorado defender to make the pass during the last game of regular season play. The Sun Devils would go on to their 26th game of the season with today's win over Colorado on March 1, 2015, at the Wells Fargo Arena in Tempe. (J. Bauer-Leffler/The State Press)The NCAA women’s basketball tournament runs through the desert, where No. 9 ASU will host the opening rounds of the Greensboro Regional.
After going 27-5 and losing in the semifinals of the Pac-12 tournament, No. 9 ASU was selected at the third seed for the first time since 2007. This is the first time it will host the opening round since 1983.
Senior guard Promise Amukamara said she was thankful that the University administration was able to alter the athletics schedule and allow the tournament to come to Wells Fargo Arena. She was also excited to have the support of fans.
“They’re great, and we’re going to need that,” she said.
The sub-regional consists of third seed ASU, 14-seed Ohio, 6-seed Texas A&M and 11-seed University of Arkansas, Little Rock.
A scouting report of the teams visiting Tempe:
Ohio
Player to watch for: Junior guard Kiyana Black
Black leads the team in points with 16.1 per game and a large part comes from her 3-point shooting. She took a whopping 271 during the regular season (for a reference point, ASU sharpshooting redshirt junior guard Katie Hempen took “only” 183). Black shoots 36 percent from behind the ark.
“My job is to deny her the ball,” Amukamara said. “If she beats me taking me to the rack, I know my teammates are going be there for my help side defense.”
How the Bobcats play
Ohio went 27-4, winning the MAC conference. Ohio is led by Black and sophomore guard Quiera Lampkins, the second-leading scorer and top rebounder on the team. What stands out is the 3-point ability.
“They can shoot. They are exceptional,” ASU coach Charli Turner Thorne said. “Everybody who steps on the floor for them can shoot a 3.”
The team shoots 35.2 percent from the 3-point line. Though it’s cause for concern, ASU had the fifth-best 3-point field goal defense in the nation during the season.
Turner Thorne also talked about Ohio’s defense, noting the Bobcats' 19 takeaways per contest and that they allow just 55.9 points per game.
“They really kind of dare you to beat them from outside,” she said. “(We need to) take our time with the ball … (and) have a good, balanced attack.”
Texas A&M
Player to watch for: Junior forward Courtney Williams
The All-American candidate averages 14.5 points and 5.8 rebounds per game while getting to the line often and dishing 2.5 assists per contest.
“She’s their go-to player,” Turner Thorne said.
How the Aggies play
Texas A&M lost starting junior guard Jordan Jones to injury in late February and have muddled through the rest of the season with a 5-4 record without her. The two Courtneys, Williams and junior guard Courtney Walker, have taken on the heap of the scoring since.
Neither of the two shoot well; they shoot roughly 41 percent from the field. Additionally, the two only attempted a combined 60 3-pointers. Jones carried the brunt of that load before falling to injury.
Despite the low shooting, Texas A&M is one of the premier teams in the league and has been to the last 10 NCAA tournaments. The Aggies do this through interior play and rebounding.
“They’re a great rebounding team, transition team,” Turner Thorne said.
The team averages 40.7 rebounds per game and Turner Thorne seemed concerned about this. She has expressed discontent with her team’s rebounding efforts throughout the season, and it could be the death of the Sun Devils in the tournament.
UALR
Player to watch for: Junior forward Shanity James
While ASU’s interior defense is strong, this 5-11 forward can match them. She shoots 51 percent from the field and is the second-leading scorer. She also leads the team in rebounds with 7.1.
How the Trojans play
UALR has a good record and some strong wins. For them to defeat Texas A&M, the Trojans need to take advantage of Jones’ injury and make their shots.
Their highlight games are uber efficient. Against Oklahoma at the beginning of the season, the Trojans shot 76 percent from the first half, making 19 of their 25 shots. In the conference semifinals against Texas State, they shot 54 percent from the field and 57 from the 3-point line overall.
“Little Rock has to be that efficient to win,” Turner Thorne said.
They lack depth, though; four of their players play at least 30 minutes per game. Nobody else on the team averages more than seven points per game.
“They don’t have great depth, so if they were able to beat A&M, that would kind of be in our favor,” Turner Thorne said.
Reach the reporter at logan.newman@asu.edu or follow @Logan_Newsman on Twitter.
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