TEMPE — In Arizona State’s second game at Desert Financial Arena this season, coach Molly Miller’s signature aggressive defense was once again key in a 78-53 victory over Eastern Washington.
At the end of the first quarter, the Sun Devils only allowed seven points, holding the Eagles to just 22% shooting from the field. While ASU’s fiery coach brought energy from the sideline, her team matched her passion with its defensive effort on the court.
“Just coming out with that pep in your step,” junior guard Jyah LoVett said about the key to starting strong defensively. “Just the high intensity, you know, have them on their heels first, and punch them first.”
“The strategic defense is actually the same,” fifth-year guard Gabby Elliot said. “That’s one of the things I love about how we are working. We are prepping for us. Our defensive principles will be the same throughout the whole season. It is not about the other team or the other opponent, no. Our defense principles are going to be that, and we are trying to execute every night.”
The Sun Devils stayed in control of the lead the entire game, in large part due to their full-court press. The pressure forced the Eagles into a whopping 19 turnovers, which led to 22 Sun Devils points off the giveaways. Miller instituted man-to-man defense for the entire afternoon, which the squad has run in both of its games this season.
“I’m always convicted to (run) high-pressure man-to-man defense,” Miller said. “We always have something in our back pocket as a switch-up, and I’m like, alright, we’re gonna practice it, and then we end up never using it in the game.”
No matter what the Sun Devils decide to run on defense, it will almost always be fueled by an aggressive mindset.
“Whether it’s a zone press or a matchup zone, we’re never just going to sit back and let the defense get comfortable, so whether it’s man or zone, the pressure is going to be an underlying factor for our defense”.
Behind its noteworthy defensive performance, the Sun Devils managed secure a 78-53 victory over the Eagles.
Now, as the Maroon and Gold head away from home for the first time this season, they will look to take their dominant defense on the road, as they head west to play the San Diego Toreros at 7 p.m. MST.
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