TEMPE, Ariz. – Four Sun Devils scored in double figures and the No. 10 Arizona State women’s basketball team used a strong second-half performance to defeat the visiting Utah Utes 80-60 on Sunday afternoon at Wells Fargo Arena.
The Sun Devils outscored the Utes 44-28 over the final 20 minutes to turn what was a four-point game at the half into a convincing win.
Coming off her first double-double of the season in Friday’s win over Colorado, junior center Quinn Dornstauder led ASU in scoring for the second consecutive game with 14 points to go with six rebounds. Also coming through with a second consecutive outstanding effort was senior guard Elisha Davis, who had 13 points, six assists and zero turnovers (had 11 points, five assists and zero turnovers on Friday).
Junior forward Kelsey Moos (12 points and nine rebounds) and senior guard Arnecia Hawkins (12 points, five rebounds) also posted double-digit scoring totals for the Sun Devils (15-3, 6-0 Pac-12), who won their 12th straight game.
Hawkins, senior guard Peace Amukamara (seven points) and freshman guard Sabrina Haines (six points) combined to score 25 points off the bench for ASU, which had an overwhelming 29-0 advantage in bench points for the game.
Paige Crozon led Utah (12-5, 4-2 Pac-12), with 20 points and 16 rebounds, while Danielle Rodriguez finished with 18 points, four rebounds and four assists for the Utes.
The first half was a tale of two quarters. The Sun Devils shot 53 percent in the first quarter while limiting Utah to 36 percent and forcing five turnovers on their way to a 25-12 lead. Moos (seven points) and Hawkins (six points) combined for 13 points during the first 10 minutes.
Utah, which came into Sunday’s game having won nine of its last 11, proved its mettle in the second quarter as it connected on 78 percent of its shots to get within four points at the half, 36-32.
After a layup by Rodriguez brought the Utes within two, 38-36, with 7:42 left in the third quarter, ASU went on a 12-2 run to take a 50-38 lead just over four minutes later. Four different players – Dornstauder (two points), Haines (three points), senior guard Katie Hempen (three points) and Moos (four points) – knocked down shots during the game-changing scoring run as the Utes would not get within single digits the rest of the way.
The Sun Devils took great care of the basketball on Sunday, turning the ball over only 11 times, their lowest turnover total in conference play this season. Utah turned the ball over 22 times; the ninth time this season ASU has forced its opponent into 20 or more turnovers.
Up next for ASU is a home matchup against Arizona on Friday at 7 p.m. Tickets for the Territorial Cup Series game are on sale now and can be purchased by clicking on this link.