Sophomore guard Isidora Purkovic takes a shot at a home game in Tempe. ASU's next game will be at home when they host Providence. (Photo by State Press Staff)
The ASU women’s basketball team is certainly pleased after it went into Lubbock and scored 85 points to defeat Texas Tech.
But the Sun Devils (2-1) would like to add another victory to their nonconference résumé before embarking internationally for the Cancun Challenge in Riviera Maya, México.
In their way is a Providence team (4-1) that scored in triple digits in its first two games against University of Massachusetts Lowell and Bryant University.
The Friars, however, have averaged 71 points in their most recent three games against better competition.
Providence, which ASU coach Charli Turner Thorne described as having “typical East Coast savvy,” will also be playing on much shorter rest, having played two midweek games. ASU, on the other hand, hasn’t played since Sunday.
Turner Thorne said the Friars aren’t overly big, but that what they lack in size, they make up for in athletic ability.
“They're a team that's just going to run every possession,” Turner Thorne said. “They can shoot the three. They can hit the pull up. They're going to go to the rim.”
In Providence’s only loss, Drexel held the Friars to just 52 points, their lowest scoring total all season. Turner Thorne said Drexel likely slowed the pace of the game, something ASU doesn’t necessarily like to do.
“We don't necessarily want to slow the game down but a huge key is taking away their transition,” Turner Thorne said. “We just got to keep getting better at every facet of our game.”
ASU freshman forward Sophie Brunner also emphasized focusing on the Sun Devils, not the Friars.
“(I am) just focusing on what I need to do to help the team win,” Brunner said. “Making sure I don’t miss my box outs, making sure I’m there for help side for my teammates if they get beat.”
Last year, the Sun Devils defeated Providence in Rhode Island 67-58 behind double-digits from three different ASU players that didn’t return this season. Sophomore guard Arnecia Hawkins led all current Sun Devils in that game with seven points. Turner Thorne said ASU will have to prepare for uncharacteristic defense from Providence after the Sun Devils were caught off guard last season.
“They had barely played any zone and then they came out and zoned us almost the entire game last year,” Turner Thorne said. “We're ready for them to kind of mix it up. I think we got to just be ready for what they throw at us.”
Redshirt senior center Joy Burke, listed at 6-foot-5, stands three inches above the next closest Providence player. ASU will likely look to her size in the paint for consistent offense. In last year’s game, she contributed two points and four rebounds in 18 minutes.
Turner Thorne said ASU plans to stay true to what it knows best.
“I think we're going to kind of stay true to just getting more consistent in what we do in both the half court and the full court games,” Turner Thorne said.
ASU squares off against Providence Saturday at 4 p.m. at Wells Fargo Arena.
Reach the reporter at bmargiot@asu.edu or follow him on Twitter @BenMargiott
