ASU defeats American University

The Arizona State women’s basketball team overcame American University 70-61 at the Goombay Splash in Bimini, Bahamas on Friday. ASU is undefeated thus far in the 2022-23 season, improving to 5-0 for the first time since 2002.

Junior Tyi Skinner led the Sun Devils in points in the fourth quarter. Skinner, along with fellow guard Jaddan Simmons, sank two free throws each in the final minutes to hold on for the victory.

ASU outscored the Eagles 17-13 in the second quarter and 22-13 in the fourth. Skinner scored 14 of the 22 points.

“We had 23 offensive rebounds, 23 second-chance points, 26 bench points,” head coach Natasha Adair said after the game. “That means we’re growing and we’re getting deeper and deeper as a team. … Our group was poised all the way through. We made free throws down the stretch, – 14-for-20 – we made all the plays that we needed to win.”

Skinner entered the game as the team’s leading scorer at 19 points per game and has now scored 24 points in three consecutive matchups.

“Tyi’s a champion,” Adair said. “She knows what it takes. But, she feeds off her teammates. She knows she didn’t do it by herself. It took everyone else’s effort, but in the moments where she had the ball in her hand and she had to make the gutsy play, the winning play, she was confident enough to do so. I’m proud of her.”

Next, the Sun Devils will face No. 7 Notre Dame on Saturday, Nov. 26 to continue Goombay Splash play. Tip-off is set for 2:15 p.m. MST.