TEMPE, Ariz. – Jamie Ruden scored a game-high 15 points and made all but one of her shots (6-7 FGs) to help lead the No. 23 Arizona State women's basketball team to an 81-43 win over Incarnate Word in the 2018-19 season opener for both teams.
Ruden was one of four Sun Devils who scored in double figures as she was joined by Taya Hanson (14 points), Courtney Ekmark (12 points) and Kianna Ibis (11 points).
Reili Richardson had nine of ASU's 23 assists while Sophia Elenga led the Sun Devils with nine rebounds. Also turning in strong efforts on the glass were Ibis (seven rebounds) and Jayde Van Hyfte (seven rebounds), who led ASU with six offensive boards. As a team, ASU collected 19 offensive rebounds and redeemed them for 23 second-chance points.
ASU made half of its shots (24-48) over the last 30 minutes of the game after shooting only 30 percent in the first quarter. The Sun Devils hit 10 shots from downtown with Hanson (four), Ruden (three) and Ekmark (three) accounting for all of ASU's long-range points.
ASU locked down Incarnate Word on the defensive end as the Cardinals managed to shoot just 26 percent while hitting only 18 percent of their 3-point attempts.
Nine Sun Devils scored in the first half as ASU shook off the early season rust in the second quarter to the tune of 53 percent (10-19 FGs), including 44 percent from behind the arc (4-9). Ibis and Hanson scored seven points each to lead the way in the first half as the Sun Devils used a 21-5 run in the second frame to break open what was a four-point game.
Ruden (10 points/4-4 FGs, 2-2 3FGs), Ekmark (eight points/3-5 FGs, 2-4 3FGs) and Hanson (seven points/2-4 FGs, 2-4 3FGs) accounted for 25 of ASU's 41 second-half points, while combining to make 69 percent of their field goal attempts (9-13) and 60 percent of their 3-pointers.
The Sun Devils return to action on Sunday (5:30 p.m. MT) when they travel north to Fort Defiance, Ariz., to take on fourth-ranked Baylor in 'Showdown on the Rez.'The game can be seen on ESPN2 and heard on NBC Sports Radio AM 1060.
Ruden was one of four Sun Devils who scored in double figures as she was joined by Taya Hanson (14 points), Courtney Ekmark (12 points) and Kianna Ibis (11 points).
Reili Richardson had nine of ASU's 23 assists while Sophia Elenga led the Sun Devils with nine rebounds. Also turning in strong efforts on the glass were Ibis (seven rebounds) and Jayde Van Hyfte (seven rebounds), who led ASU with six offensive boards. As a team, ASU collected 19 offensive rebounds and redeemed them for 23 second-chance points.
ASU made half of its shots (24-48) over the last 30 minutes of the game after shooting only 30 percent in the first quarter. The Sun Devils hit 10 shots from downtown with Hanson (four), Ruden (three) and Ekmark (three) accounting for all of ASU's long-range points.
ASU locked down Incarnate Word on the defensive end as the Cardinals managed to shoot just 26 percent while hitting only 18 percent of their 3-point attempts.
Nine Sun Devils scored in the first half as ASU shook off the early season rust in the second quarter to the tune of 53 percent (10-19 FGs), including 44 percent from behind the arc (4-9). Ibis and Hanson scored seven points each to lead the way in the first half as the Sun Devils used a 21-5 run in the second frame to break open what was a four-point game.
Ruden (10 points/4-4 FGs, 2-2 3FGs), Ekmark (eight points/3-5 FGs, 2-4 3FGs) and Hanson (seven points/2-4 FGs, 2-4 3FGs) accounted for 25 of ASU's 41 second-half points, while combining to make 69 percent of their field goal attempts (9-13) and 60 percent of their 3-pointers.
The Sun Devils return to action on Sunday (5:30 p.m. MT) when they travel north to Fort Defiance, Ariz., to take on fourth-ranked Baylor in 'Showdown on the Rez.'The game can be seen on ESPN2 and heard on NBC Sports Radio AM 1060.