ASU misses first 10 shots in loss
STANFORD, Calif. – Unable to play at home for the first two months of the season, Kiana Williams and No. 6 Stanford are feeling much better now that they’re back at Maples Pavilion.
Williams scored 18 points and had three steals to lead a Stanford defense that held Arizona State without a basket for the first nine minutes of the game and the sixth-ranked Cardinal throttled the Sun Devils 80-41 on Friday night.
“I think for Ki getting back in our gym and having opportunities to get shots up (is big),” Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer said. “She’s staying late after practice, taking advantage of this and that is making a big difference for her. She’s playing at a really, really high level.”
Hannah Jump added a season-high 17 points for Stanford (20-2, 17-2 Pac-12). Lexie Hull had 12 points and seven rebounds, and Haley Jones scored 11.
Stanford never trailed, led by 41 and dominated in the paint on both ends of the floor while winning its ninth straight.
Stanford’s defense made the biggest impact, tipping passes and converting the deflections into turnovers and easy buckets. The Cardinal allowed seven points in the first quarter, 11 in the second and seven in the third.
“Our defense played really well,” VanDerveer said. “I like how consistent our team was. I like how hard they played. Everyone stepped up and tried to do what we asked them to do. Arizona State is difficult to play against because they’re super aggressive.”
The Cardinal made sure the Sun Devils never got going offensively.
Arizona State (10-8, 5-8) missed its first 10 shots and was on the brink of not making a basket at all in the first quarter until Taya Hanson’s 3-pointer with 4.6 seconds remaining. Prior to Hanson’s bucket, the Sun Devils only points came on four free throws.
Eboni Walker scored 11 points for Arizona State. Hanson had 10.
Williams, who had 13 points in the first half, scored five as part of an 12-0 run that put Stanford ahead 58-23 in the third including a fadeaway shot as she was falling out of bounds at the baseline. Williams was held out of the fourth quarter when VanDerveer pulled her starters.
“We’ve been working really hard to play four quarters,” VanDerveer said. “Not have one good quarter then get bored and go to sleep or lose focus.”
Before the game players from both teams formed a huge oval around the court in a symbol of unity in the fight to end racial injustices. A moment of silence was held as coaches from both teams and the referees stood by.
Up next
Arizona State at California, 2 p.m. Sunday, Haas Pavilion, Berkeley, California, KDUS (1060 AM) — After a blowout 80-41 loss to Pac 12-leading/No. 6 Stanford on Friday, ASU (10-8, 5-8 Pac-12) plays winless California (0-14, 0-11) for the second time. The Sun Devils won the first meeting 56-53 on Jan. 1 after trailing 28-19 at halftime. Taya Hanson had 21 points, all on a school record-tying seven 3-pointers, against the Bears. Cal lost 59-50 Friday to No. 10 Arizona led by double-doubles from G Dalayah Daniels (24/10) and F Ugonne Onyiah (13/10). ASU is 9-3 vs. Cal since the 2015-16 season.