Arizona State stops Techsters

TEMPE, Arizona – Freshman Keiunna Walker scored a careerhigh 12 points and Kierra Anthony added 11 points as Louisiana Tech fell 80-44 to No. 19/23 Arizona State Saturday afternoon at Wells Fargo Arena.

Arizona State (4-2), which took No. 4 Baylor and No. 5 Louisville down to the wire in close losses this year, hit eight three-pointers in the first half and connected on 11 of its first 14 field goal attempts to build a big lead early in the victory.

“We knew we were in for a challenge today,” said head coach Brooke Stoehr, who played without guards Kierra Lang and Amber Dixon (suspended for violation of team rules). “After watching Arizona State on film, I told my staff if there are 18 better teams in the country then I want to see them. They are a legitimate Top 10 team.

“I was disappointed with us early. One of our keys was transition defense. And I didn’t think we were very good in that area of the game, especially in the first half.”

UConn transfer Courtney Ekmark hit three of her four three-pointers in the first quarter and the Sun Devils shot 60 percent from the field in the opening 10 minutes in building a 29-11 lead. ASU was 5-of-7 from the three-point line in the first stanza.

“We didn’t do a good job of guarding the threepoint line, and part of that was getting back in transition defense,” said Stoehr. “We left too many shooters open in the first half and they made us pay.”

Arizona State shot 55 percent from the field in the first half.