ASU women’s basketball downs Southern Utah in non-conference addition

Arizona State women’s basketball returned to non-conference play Monday for the first time since Dec. 13 and played a game remarkably similar to its four early-season wins.
Like against Stephen F. Austin, VCU, Saint Mary’s and San Diego, ASU played closer than necessary for three quarters against Southern Utah before pulling away in the fourth quarter for a 55-44 win at Desert Financial Arena.
But for the Sun Devils, who had games postponed last week against the Oregon schools and have missed seven Pac-12 games total due to COVID protocol, playing is essential to have a chance of extending their NCAA Tournament streak to seven and for improving a still hard-to-watch offense.
“Thanks to our administration for letting us pick up this game,” ASU coach Charli Turner Thorne said. “Every game we get in with this young team makes a difference. We’re trying to get better and not where we need to be offensively in any realm.”
Late schedule add important ASU (9-6) led from start to finish after scoring the first eight points but only 12-8 after the first quarter, 24-17 at halftime and 36-30 through three quarters.
The Sun Devils shot just 27% (7-of-26) in the first half but stayed ahead by making of 9-of-11 free throws and forcing 10 turnovers.
Southern Utah (8-5) from the Big Sky Conference was within five (43-38) with 6:25 remaining before a 12-3 ASU run to 55-41, the largest lead of the game, with less than a minute left.
The Sun Devils ended their their three-game losing streak and Southern Utah’s five-game win streak in advance of two Pac-12 home games later this week.
“Going two weeks without a game is really hard in any situation,” Turner Thorne said. “We need game experience you can’t simulate in practice.
“As soon as we found out about Oregon State (postponement Sunday), we immediately thought can we pick up a game. We exhausted a lot of schools trying to find someone relatively close who could bus in and keep the cost down. Southern Utah has lost a lot of games as well and they were willing. It worked out perfect. They’re a good team with a level of skill and toughness that challenged us and made us better.”
ASU clawed its way to 35.8% shooting by the end and finished 5-of-14 from 3-point range.
Hanson, Simmons again lead scoring Like the majority of the season, ASU was led by guards Taya Hanson and Jaddan Simmons with 15 and 13 points.
Hanson hit three 3-pointers in the third and early fourth quarters, the last barely beating the shot clock.
Jamie Loera, whose older sister Jordan is a graduate manager for Southern Utah, made an important trey and scored in transition off a steal in the game-deciding run.
“We’re trying to continue to get better,” Hanson said. “We’re hard on ourselves. We know what we’re capable of and show it in practice every day. It’s tough when that’s not coming back on the court when you play. We’re just going to try to get better.”
ASU G/F Iris Mbulito sat out due to injury, missing her seventh game. The junior has started six of the eight games she’s been able to play. Loera moved back into the starting lineup to replace Mbulito.
The Sun Devils had a 14-5 advantage in steals, and Southern Utah’s 19 turnovers led to 18 Sun Devil points. ASU outrebounded the Thunderbirds 36-32 with Eboni Walker pulling seven boards in 17 minutes off the bench.
Darri Frandsen led Southern Utah with 13 points and seven rebounds. Madelyn Eaton added 11 points and Cherita Daugherty 10. The Thunderbirds earlier played BYU, losing 84-74.
Caldwell celebrates her father’s Super Bowl win ASU sophomore guard Sydnei Caldwell is the daughter of Mike Caldwell, inside linebacker coach of the now Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
She watched the game with her roommate Walker while doing Facetime with her mom then talked to her dad after the Bucs’ 31-9 dominance over Kansas City.
“It was very exciting watching the game, a once in a lifetime opportunity,” she said. “I was so proud and happy for my dad. He called me right after the game. To see his emotions meant the world to me.”
Up next ASU will host Washington (4-10, 1-10 Pac-12) at 5 p.m. Friday. The Huskies are on an eight-game losing streak and their only conference win was against California on Dec. 4.
Reach the reporter at [email protected] or 602-444-8053. Follow him on Twitter @jeffmetcalfe.
Support local journalism: Subscribe to azcentral.com today.