Arizona State (6-2) once again relied on their defense to spark a third-quarter run that would lead to its eventual 76-66 victory over the Pacific Tigers (4-2).
In a competitive first half, both teams got out to a hot start and then cooled off to go into the half, tied at 28.
However, in the third quarter, ASU mixed in a press that would create a flurry of problems for the Tigers.
The Sun Devils forced a total of 20 turnovers in the game, which not only resulted in stops on defense but also led to easy transition points.
“We came out with a 27-point third off of our defense,” said head coach Natasha Adair. “Being able to get turnovers and get transition points off turnovers, that’s how we’re activated.”
Arizona State scored nine points off of turnovers in the third quarter alone and was fueled by the energy generated on the defensive end of the floor. This theme continued throughout the rest of the game as the Sun Devils finished with a total of 21 points off turnovers.
Senior guard Jaddan Simmons was especially effective in the fastbreak, as she led all Sun Devil scorers, finishing with 26 points.
Arizona State went on to outscore Pacific 27-13 in the quarter and jump out to a 55-41 lead going into the final ten minutes of play.
Even after a late push from Pacific that would lead to a tight finish, it was the Sun Devils who came out victorious because of their timely defensive stops in the clutch.
“We knew we were going to with this game on our defense,” said Adair. “We grinded it out, and we did what we had to do.”
Coach Adair has made it clear that the identity of the ASU squad lies on the defensive end of the floor and that it will remain the catalyst for the team’s success going forward.
Among all the stats for Arizona State on the defensive end of the court this season, one in particular stands out. In games where Arizona State holds their opponent under 70 points, they are 7-0. Conversely, in games where their opponent scored 70 or more, they are 0-2.
To maintain success this season, the Sun Devils must remain committed on the defensive end of the floor and create turnovers to help generate offense.
Leave a Reply