EUGENE, Ore. – Promise Amukamara scored 16 points, Katie Hempen had 13 and Elisha Davis added 10 as No. 12 Arizona State defeated Oregon State 72-52.
Sophie Brunner came two points short of a double-double (eight points and 10 rebounds) for the Sun Devils (22-4, 11-3 Pac-12), who snapped a two-game losing streak.
Combined with Cal’s loss vs. USC and Stanford’s win over UCLA, ASU is now in a three-way tie for second place in the Pac-12 with the Bears (19-6, 11-3) and Cardinal (19-7, 11-3). All three teams trail first-place Oregon State (23-2, 13-1) by two games.
ASU shot 44 percent (7-16) from beyond the arc on Sunday as three Sun Devils – Hempen (3-6), Davis (2-3) and Arnecia Hawkins (2-3) – connected on multiple triples. In contrast to ASU’s accuracy from 3-point range, the Ducks struggled as they were 1-of-12. Oregon’s lack of perimeter success offset its overall advantage in field goal percentage as it knocked down 46 percent of its shots while ASU hit 39.1.
The Devils were plus-four in turnovers as they converted Oregon’s 13 miscues into 15 points.
The Sun Devils were also solid on the boards on Sunday as they outrebounded the Ducks 42-29. Eliza Normen grabbed eight rebounds, which was one short of matching her career high. Both Normen (4-7 FTs) and Quinn Dornstauder (six rebounds, 7-8 FTs) worked hard in the trenches as the duo drew several fouls and combined for 15 free throw attempts.
Jillian Alleyene (19 points, 10 rebounds) and Lexi Petersen (12 points, six rebounds) combined for 31 points to lead the Ducks (12-13, 5-9).
The two teams went back and forth for the better part of the first 10 minutes of the game. The Devils would take control thereafter as they methodically built their lead up to 14 points in the span of more than six minutes. Six different players scored for ASU during the 18-5 run as the Sun Devils would eventually take a 39-25 lead into the locker room.
Oregon was able to cut ASU’s lead in half after a jumper by Petersen capped a 6-0 run and brought the Ducks to within seven, 44-37 with 12:36 remaining.
The teams would exchange baskets over the next two minutes before the Devils went on a 9-0 run to once again take a double-digit lead. Amukamara, Normen and Dornstauder each contributed on the scoring spree, which left ASU with a 57-41 lead with 6:57 remaining.
The Ducks would get no closer than 13 points as the Devils eventually pushed their lead to 23 after a 14-4 run.
Two days after having a season-low seven turnovers, ASU once again took excellent care of the basketball as it had only nine turnovers. The Devils also came through with another strong effort from the free throw line as they connected on 75 percent of their chances (15-20).
The Sun Devils will remain on the road next week as they travel to Los Angeles for games at UCLA (Friday at 7 p.m. PT/8 p.m. MT) and at USC (Sunday at 3 p.m. PT/4 p.m. MT). Sunday’s game vs. USC will be broadcast by Pac-12 Networks.