ASU WBB: No. 23 Sun Devils escape Pullman with 61-58 win

Despite trailing for the entire first half and into the fourth quarter, the Arizona State Sun Devils rallied with a late string of near-perfect execution to escape with a 61-58 victory at Washington State. Sabrina Haines led all scorers with 17 points while Quinn Dornstauder and Robbi Rein chipped in 12 and 10 points each for the Sun Devils, but it was Sophie Brunner’s layup off an offensive rebound that asserted ASU into the lead for good late in the fourth.

The win marks Arizona State’s second Pac-12 victory in a row after dropping four consecutive conference matchups.

Trailing 43-38 at the 3:02 mark of the third quarter, Haines’ free throws tied the game at 43 following Sydney Goodson’s layup. A Haines bucket on the Sun Devils next possession then pulled ASU ahead.

Playing from a 45-45 deadlock to open the fourth quarter, the Sun Devils and Cougars traded buckets until Haines drained a three-pointer to break a 50-all tie, and Sophie Brunner’s layup pushed the Sun Devils to a 55-52 lead at the six-minute mark. That was when a series of missed defensive opportunities for the Sun Devils handed Washington State the lead right back, as Alexys Swedlund drained a two-pointer to give the Cougars what would result as their last lead of the night.

Trailing 56-55, Ryan came up long on a three-point attempt, but Sophie Brunner collected the rebound and spun her way free for a bucket to put her team back in front. Haines followed with a jumper and a pair of free throws to push the lead to three, and the Cougars came up short on each of their three-point attempts to hand the Sun Devils the road win.

At 16-8 overall with a 7-6 conference record, the next task for the Sun Devils will be a nationally-televised challenge as they face No. 10 Washington in Seattle on Sunday.