The ASU women’s basketball team’s game against the University of Oregon was very different from its game against Oregon State.
Against the Beavers, offenses exploded and ASU lost the close battle in the end.
It was the exact opposite situation against the Ducks. ASU beat UO 53-49 with a defensive struggle to get another conference win.
The Ducks took it down the floor and had to use almost the entire shot clock to shoot on nearly every possession.
UO finished the game shooting 30.4 and only scored 49 points for the entire game.
ASU coach Joseph Anders gave credit to his team and praised assistant coach Amy Wright for scouting the Ducks and preparing ASU for the game.
“I am just so proud of our team for the way in which they competed today,” Anders said. “The team in terms of their discipline to follow the game plan and just be willing to empty out every single possession. It was a great Sun Devil victory.”
Since coach Paul Westhead arrived at UO, it has been the Ducks prerogative to get the ball out and run in transition. The Ducks did not want to be stuck in their half-court offense.
However, the Sun Devils limited the Ducks to just 10 fast break points, a key component to the victory.
Senior guard Olivia Major said it was key for her and the guards to deny the long transition pass that often starts a fast break.
“(We were) just trying to make their point guard make a decision (by) our point guard getting up and stopping the ball, and our two and our three guards taking away that kick-up,” Major said.
Before the game, the radio broadcast said Major could be the impact player of the game because of her 3-point shooting abilities.
ASU was presented with a zone defense and outside shooting by Major, and other Sun Devils contributed to the win.
Major only had two 3-point field goals, but they sparked the Sun Devil offense in the second half. Major said she did not lose confidence late in the game after going 0-3 in the first half.
Major also gave credit to the forwards for rebounding the ball. The Sun Devils out rebounded the Ducks 52-38.
Both senior forwards Kimberly Brandon and Kali Bennett put up double-doubles.
Freshman forward Jada Blackwell, who had two rebounds, said the post players are always looking at the boards.
“As a post, it is always important to get the offensive rebounds and boards,” Blackwell said. “That was basically our focus and just where our energy comes from: offensive boards and defensive boards. So that’s basically what won the game for us.”
In the closing seconds of the game, ASU had a small lead, but the clutch free-throw shooting sealed the deal.
ASU returns home next weekend, and Anders is hoping this victory will spark more wins in the Pac-12.
“We need to get home and carry this effort, carry this intensity home with us and give our fans the opportunity to see us really get after it,” Anders said.
Reach the reporter at ehubbard@asu.edu
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