The ASU women's basketball team will put its perfect conference record on the line this week when it faces No. 9 California tonight and No. 6 Stanford on Sunday afternoon.
First place in the Pac-10 will be up for grabs tonight when the No. 25 Sun Devils (11-5, 5-0 Pac-10) and No. 9 Golden Bears (15-2, 6-0 Pac-10) square off as the only remaining undefeated teams in the conference.
"Obviously, we're going to find out where we're at this week," ASU coach Charli Turner Thorne said. "We're going to find out how good we are."
The Golden Bears are currently on a seven-game win streak and hold the highest ranking in program history (No. 8 in the Associated Press' poll, No. 9 in ESPN/USA Today poll).
The game features a key matchup in the low post with Cal's two preseason All-Pac-10 selections in junior forward Ashley Walker and center Devanei Hampton going up against ASU junior forward Lauren Lacey and junior center Sybil Dosty.
Walker is third in the conference in scoring and first in rebounding, averaging 17.2 points and 10 rebounds a game. She is also the reigning Pac-10 Player of the Week for her performances against Oregon and Oregon State last week.
"I'm just thinking defense and rebounding," said Lacey, who will be guarding Walker. "Obviously, I know I need to put the ball in for my team as well."
Lacey leads the Sun Devils in scoring and rebounding, averaging 12.8 points per game and 6.6 rebounds per game.
Hampton, who was named Pac-10 Player of the Year a year ago, has missed much of this season because of injury. Since her return, she has averaged 12 points and about seven rebounds a game.
"I'm sure [Hampton's] not where she'll be in a month or two, but she's starting and already playing a lot of minutes," Dosty said. "We're just going to play her like she's completely healthy and that she's ready to go."
Because of Cal's threat near the basket, Turner Thorne said that rebounding and team defense would be vital in order for the Sun Devils to secure a victory.
However, Turner Thorne said that the Sun Devils cannot just focus on the players inside because Cal boasts great outside shooters as well.
"They've pretty much got five threats on the floor at all times," she said. "This year, they're shooting it so well, and they're moving the ball better than they have in the past."
Cal's junior guard Alexis Gray-Lawson and sophomore guard Lauren Greif rank second and third, respectively, in three-point shooting for the conference.
ASU and Cal have different philosophies in terms of the depth of their bench. The Sun Devils like to play 10 to 12 players a game, while the Golden Bears usually play six to eight players a game.
"[Cal's] had a lot of success doing what they do," Turner Thorne said. "Those kids are used to playing [a lot of] minutes. They're a team that does not play a deep rotation, but stays aggressive."
Cal coach Joanne Boyle said her biggest concern with the Sun Devils is their style of play, as well as the way they pressure their opponent on both ends of the court.
"[The Sun Devils] attack really well, so you can get in foul trouble," Boyle said. "We don't go 12 [players] deep, so we better be able to take our time and make free-throws."
ASU currently has a four-game winning streak against Cal and has not lost to the Golden Bears at home since the 1998-99 season. The Sun Devils came out victorious in all three matchups last season against Cal, including a 60-53 win in the semifinals of the Pac-10 tournament.
Reach the reporter at: gina.mizell@asu.edu.
