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ASU women get to 20 wins faster than ever before
SALT LAKE CITY -- Promise Amukamara and Katie Hempen scored 11 points each to lead the No. 11 Arizona State women's basketball team to a 58-48 win over Utah on Sunday.
With the win, the Sun Devils (20-2, 9-1 Pac-12) reached 20 wins in 22 games, which is the fastest of any team in program history (the 2006-07 and 2013-14 teams both won 20 in 23 games).
Utah (7-14, 1-9) was led by the tandem of Tanaeya Boclair (15 points) and Danielle Rodriguez (13 points), who accounted for 28 points.
After trailing for most of the first half, the Sun Devils used an 11-0 run to take a 26-20 lead at the half and would not trail the rest of the game.
Utah (7-14, 1-9) would get within two points two times in the second half, but the Sun Devils would use a 12-4 run late to pull away.
The Utes were in control for much of the first half as they came out and made nine of their first 14 shots (64 percent) to take a 20-15 lead. While the Utes were slowly building up their advantage the Devils were struggling to get the ball in the net as they made six of their first 18 shots (33 percent).
ASU would use a strong defense and improved shooting to swing the momentum in their favor over the last five minutes of the first half as they scored the last 11 points to take a 26-20 lead into the locker room. Elisha Davis and Arnecia Hawkins each knocked down triples during the scoring run while Quinn Dornstauder had four points. ASU's defense held the Utes without a field goal over the last six-plus minutes of the first half.
ASU would extend its lead to eight after a jumper by Brunner put the Devils up 30-22 1:38 into the second half.
The Sun Devils would lead by as many as 10 after Eliza Normen connected on a jumper to give ASU a 40-30 lead midway through the second half.
The Utes would bounce back as they scored the next eight points over the ensuing four minutes to cut ASU's lead to only two points.
Leading 45-41 with five minutes remaining, the Sun Devils would respond as Hempen and Kelsey Moos connected on consecutive baskets. Utah would score to get back within four points, but Moos and Amukamara would both sink two free throws to extend ASU's advantage to 53-45 with 2:26 left. The Utes would get no closer than seven points the rest of the way.
