FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Kianna Ibis scored 20 points (9-13 FGs) and Sophia Elenga (11 points, career-high 12 rebounds) posted her first career double-double to help lead the No. 22 Arizona State women's basketball team to an 88-85 win at Arkansas on Sunday night.
Iris Mbulito (13 points, 4-6 FGs, four assists and three rebounds) and Robbi Ryan (13 points, 3-6 FGs/5-6 FTs, three rebounds) also scored in double figures for the Sun Devils (2-1), who shot 49 percent for the game.
The Sun Devil bench was outstanding as it outscored Arkansas' reserves 42-11 and accounted for nearly half of ASU's points. In addition to the production from Elenga and Mbulito, Jamie Loera (eight points) and Taya Hanson (five points) combined for 13 points. Loera, who was 3-3 from behind the arc in her Sun Devil debut last Sunday, hit her first two attempts from long range at Arkansas before finally missing for the first time.
ASU was plus-8 on the boards (43-35). Eight Sun Devils had three or more rebounds with Elenga (12), Charnea Johnson-Chapman (seven) and Ibis (five) leading the way.
Reili Richardson continued her outstanding play at the point as she dished out five assists with only one turnover now giving her a near 4:1 assist-to-turnover ratio for the season (19-5).
The Sun Devils outscored Arkansas 52-45 in the first and third quarters. They shot an identical 8-16 (50 percent) in both frames. A 15-6 run in the third quarter gave ASU its largest lead after Ibis (layup), Johnson-Chapman (layup) and Mbulito (free throw) scored on consecutive trips to put ASU up 65-55 with 2:05 remaining.
Arkansas used a 6-1 scoring burst to get within four points early in the fourth quarter however the Razorbacks were not able to make it a one-possession game – in the traditional sense – until right before the final horn.
Playing a big role in helping keep Arkansas at a safe distance was Ryan, who scored eight points – a 3-pointer, a jumper and 2-3 FTs – in the game's final five minutes to help the Sun Devils secure the win.
The Razorbacks (2-1) also placed four players in double figures with Alexis Tolefree leading the way with a game-high 22 points.
Although neither team was outstanding at the line, the Razorbacks were able to stay in the game with their 68-percent (15-22) performance at the free throw line compared to ASU's 64-percent (21-33) effort.
The Sun Devils will next travel to Las Vegas for the South Point Thanksgiving Shootout. ASU will face No. 5 Louisville on Friday (2:30 p.m. PT/3:30 p.m. MT) and Southern Illinois on Saturday (2:30 p.m. PT/3:30 p.m. MT). Live streaming of the games can be seen at this site. Both games can be heard on NBC Sports Radio AM 1060.
Iris Mbulito (13 points, 4-6 FGs, four assists and three rebounds) and Robbi Ryan (13 points, 3-6 FGs/5-6 FTs, three rebounds) also scored in double figures for the Sun Devils (2-1), who shot 49 percent for the game.
The Sun Devil bench was outstanding as it outscored Arkansas' reserves 42-11 and accounted for nearly half of ASU's points. In addition to the production from Elenga and Mbulito, Jamie Loera (eight points) and Taya Hanson (five points) combined for 13 points. Loera, who was 3-3 from behind the arc in her Sun Devil debut last Sunday, hit her first two attempts from long range at Arkansas before finally missing for the first time.
ASU was plus-8 on the boards (43-35). Eight Sun Devils had three or more rebounds with Elenga (12), Charnea Johnson-Chapman (seven) and Ibis (five) leading the way.
Reili Richardson continued her outstanding play at the point as she dished out five assists with only one turnover now giving her a near 4:1 assist-to-turnover ratio for the season (19-5).
The Sun Devils outscored Arkansas 52-45 in the first and third quarters. They shot an identical 8-16 (50 percent) in both frames. A 15-6 run in the third quarter gave ASU its largest lead after Ibis (layup), Johnson-Chapman (layup) and Mbulito (free throw) scored on consecutive trips to put ASU up 65-55 with 2:05 remaining.
Arkansas used a 6-1 scoring burst to get within four points early in the fourth quarter however the Razorbacks were not able to make it a one-possession game – in the traditional sense – until right before the final horn.
Playing a big role in helping keep Arkansas at a safe distance was Ryan, who scored eight points – a 3-pointer, a jumper and 2-3 FTs – in the game's final five minutes to help the Sun Devils secure the win.
The Razorbacks (2-1) also placed four players in double figures with Alexis Tolefree leading the way with a game-high 22 points.
Although neither team was outstanding at the line, the Razorbacks were able to stay in the game with their 68-percent (15-22) performance at the free throw line compared to ASU's 64-percent (21-33) effort.
The Sun Devils will next travel to Las Vegas for the South Point Thanksgiving Shootout. ASU will face No. 5 Louisville on Friday (2:30 p.m. PT/3:30 p.m. MT) and Southern Illinois on Saturday (2:30 p.m. PT/3:30 p.m. MT). Live streaming of the games can be seen at this site. Both games can be heard on NBC Sports Radio AM 1060.