At halftime in Pullman on Sunday, No. 14 ASU women's basketball was deadlocked in a low-scoring affair with unranked Washington State.
The score was tied at 24.
The Sun Devils (13-3, 4-0 Pac-12) opened up a 21-7 run to begin the half and put the Cougars (11-5, 2-3 Pac-12) on their heels. ASU went on to win 63-45.
It was the second consecutive game that ASU's offense didn't play to form — until the second half, that is.
Freshman guard Sabrina Haines catalyzed the Sun Devils' scoring run, pouring in a career-high 19 points on 5-of-7 from the field and 7-of-9 from the free throw line.
Additionally, junior forwards Sophie Brunner and Kelsey Moos combined to score 16 points and grab 17 rebounds for the Sun Devils. ASU out-rebounded Washington State 45-29 in the game.
Freshman forward Borislava Hristova led the Cougars with 10 points, but a poor team shooting percentage (32.2 percent) and a subpar effort on the glass led to a dominant Sun Devil victory.
Haines and Brunner began the final frame with a jumper and layup to put the Sun Devils up 53-33, shutting the door on any possible fourth-quarter Cougar comeback.
NASTY with the stepback crossover Sabrina Haines gets the @SunDevilWBB #12Best Moment! https://t.co/IxKEDmJCAD
— Pac-12 Networks (@Pac12Networks) January 10, 2016
As the fourth pressed on, ASU utilized its defensive discipline to keep WSU from getting back in the game with the outside shot. The Cougars were 2-of-16 from behind the arc on Sunday.
Head coach Charli Turner Thorne gave her starters some much-needed rest in the fourth with the game in hand, allowing freshmen Armani Hawkins and Charnea Johnson-Chapman to get some equally much-needed playing experience.
Nobody on ASU played more than 28 minutes.
Turner Thorne's team is now in full health. Winners of 10 straight, it's undoubtedly playing its best basketball of the season.
After knocking off No. 9 Stanford last Monday and sweeping the Washington schools over the weekend, ASU now sits atop the Pac-12 standings entering a three-game home stand. The Sun Devils will look to take care of business against Colorado, Utah and rival Arizona.
Before making the trip up to Oregon to take on the Ducks and No. 11 Beavers, a trip to Tucson awaits ASU after its home stand. The Sun Devils will more than likely come into the Oregon trip as the highest ranked team in the conference, cracking the top 10 for the first time this season.
Related Links:
No. 14 ASU women's basketball scores 26 in fourth-quarter comeback
No. 14 ASU women's basketball holds No. 9 Stanford to fewest points ever
Reach the reporter at rclarke6@asu.edu or follow @RClarkeASU on Twitter.
Like State Press Sports on Facebook and follow @statepresssport on Twitter.
