WSU women beat ASU in Tempe
TEMPE, Ariz. – Freshman guard Lia Galdeira scored a game-high 20 points and Washington State turned in a dominating defensive performance to post a 54-43 victory over Arizona State University at Wells Fargo Arena Friday.
The Cougars (7-13, 3-6 Pac-12) held Arizona State (11-10, 3-6) to its lowest point total in series history and posted its first season sweep of the Sun Devils since the 1996-97 season. Washington State held ASU to 18.8 percent shooting in the second half and 25.9 percent for the game. WSU made a season-high 16 steals and scored 21 points off of 22 ASU turnovers.
Galdeira added a team-high eight rebounds and a career-high seven steals while senior center Carly Noyes chipped in with eight points. Freshman guard Dawnyelle Awa finished with six points, four assists and two steals.
“We played with great energy, good confidence and executed well on both ends of the floor, WSU head coach June Daugherty stated. “We moved the ball well against ASU’s zone and Lia got some open looks and knocked down some shots. Our whole team has stepped up after losing Tia (Presley) last week and we got a little bit from everybody tonight to come away with a big road win against a tough Sun Devil team.”
Washington State was off and running early on, using an 11-0 run to build a double-digit lead midway through the first half. Galdeira started the run with a three, sophomore forward Shalie Dheensaw followed with a rebound putback before freshman forward Mariah Cooks and junior forward Sage Romberg each knocked down threes to give WSU a 17-7 advantage at the 13:25 mark.
ASU answered with a pair of buckets but the Cougars defense settled in, allowing just one field goal over the final 6:20 of the first half. WSU continued to hit shots on the offensive end as Galdeira hit a three with two minutes to go that kept the Cougars lead at double-digits.
Washington State finished the half with nine steals and scored 11 points off of 12 ASU turnovers. Galdeira led all players with 12 points through the first 20 minutes.
The Cougars received jumpers from Noyes and Galdeira to open the second half and later saw its defense stifle the Sun Devils for much of the second half and cruise to its second straight conference win.
Galdeira’s layup at the 7:28 mark gave WSU a 20-point cushion before a jumper from Noyes gave WSU its largest lead of the game, 50-26, with 4:08 remaining.
Washington State shot 41.1 percent from the floor and posted a 46-35 rebound advantage. Dheensaw finished with four points, five rebounds, two blocks and three steals.
