Sun Devils wrap up Creighton to conclude non-conference schedule

December 20, 2019

By Scott Mammoser

TEMPE, Ariz. – The Arizona State women’s basketball team entered its Christmas break on a high note, taking down the Creighton Bluejays, 70-55, on Friday afternoon. It was the sixth-consecutive win for the Sun Devils, who improved to 10-2, with its next game hosting No. 18 Arizona at noon on Sunday, Dec. 29.

“That’s a really good team,” ASU coach Charli Turner Thorne said of Creighton, which fell to 8-3. “They came in here with the No. 7 RPI, so I’m proud of my team. I thought it was a great team win. They really can shoot the ball, and that was the difference in the game. This was the first day, since we started this new season, that we had every single player practice and play. I’m excited to stay at full strength and make a good run.”

The Sun Devils held the Bluejays to a single field goal for the first eight minutes of the game, and after a Robbi Ryan buzzer beater, ASU held a 15-8 lead after one quarter. The team kept the pace en route to a 30-22 halftime edge.

ASU wins 6 in a row, defeating Creighton 70-55

Ryan converted the rare four-point play, being fouled on a three from the corner in the early third quarter. Two minutes later, Jayde Van Hyfte (11 points on the day) executed a three that opened a 15-point margin, and ASU cruised to the finish.

“We can always do better,” said Ryan, who finished with 12 points. “We were inconsistent at times on defense. Those are shots I practice every day. Creighton’s a great team, so this win was really important. This was a huge win, and we need to keep building off it.”

Olivia Elger led Creighton with 24 points, 14 above her average. Jaylyn Agnew, scoring 18.5 points per game, was limited to 12, and she was one of three Bluejays to grab five rebounds.

“I thought Reili Richardson and Taya Hanson tag teamed on one of the best scorers in the country,” Turner Thorne said of defending Agnew. “We limited her touches and did a great job on her.”

Creighton will now enter the Big East season with games at Georgetown and Villanova on Dec. 29 and 31. The Bluejays, who were selected to finish fourth in the league preseason, own wins over Nebraska, West Virginia and Temple, while their two prior losses were to Drake and South Dakota.

The Sun Devils’ matchup with the Wildcats will be a change of pace, as ASU is typically favorited.

“Even if we don’t have a number, it’s a huge game for us,” Ryan added. “We’re learning and growing, we are young, but we have a really high ceiling.”