Devils in Detail
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ASU Basketball: Pac-12 Women’s Tournament Roundtable

By Sam Ficarro

Mar 23, 2015; Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils head coach Charli Turner Thorne talks to her players during the first half against the UALR Trojans in the second round of the women's NCAA Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 23, 2015; Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils head coach Charli Turner Thorne talks to her players during the first half against the UALR Trojans in the second round of the women's NCAA Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports /
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With the Pac-12 Women’s Basketball Tournament beginning Thursday, our coverage team previews ASU basketball women’s team’s key to succeeding in Seattle.

ASU basketball women’s team opens up play in the Pac-12 Women’s Basketball Tournament Thursday versus Utah.

The Sun Devils will aim to have to a deep run in Seattle for the senior group of Sophie Brunner, Quinn Dornstauder and Kelsey Moos.

Our beat writers of Sam Ficarro, Jordan Kaye, Gigi Micketti and Leah Soto discuss which player needs to step up, key to success and a prediction for Arizona State in Seattle.

1. We know that Arizona State heavily rely on Sophie Brunner and Quinn Dornstauder to carry the Sun Devils. Which player needs to step up in Seattle?

Gigi: Freshman Robbi Ryan really needs to step-up for the team again if they wish to find success in Seattle. She was hot midseason but then dropped off again as of late. Ryan is an impact player, much like Kelsey Moos, she not only is an aggressive player on the court but she can also sink her shots on a good day. I believe fatigue has gotten the best of her as of late, but if she can be the player everyone saw in ASU’s first matchup against UCLA this season, she could be a key player for the team.

Jordan: It has to be one of the guards either Reili Richardson or Sabrina Haines needs to take control and become a key offensive contributor to take the load off with two forwards. They will nude need to shoot high percentage shots by getting the ball down low and limiting their turnovers

Leah: Kelsey Moos needs to step-up her offensive game. She hasn’t been contributing much on that front this season and the Devils have been lacking in that area. If she can step-up her offense the team will benefit greatly from it.

Sam: Guard Reili Richardson needs to have a good tournament. Arizona State needs her to be a playmaker during the Pac-12 Tournament. What made her so effective in the early part of the season was her driving inside and either drawing contact at the rim or passing it out to an open shooter. If Richardson can find her perimeter game, the Sun Devils could be hard to stop.

2. What’s the biggest key for the Sun Devils to have success at the Pac-12 Women’s Basketball Tournament?

Gigi: Consistency is key for the Devils and has been so their whole season. There needs to be consistency both offensively and defensively for the team. Offensively they need to stay solid in their field goals to keep getting easy points on the board. Defensively they need to stay strong the entire game and be able to box out girls to get those defensive rebounds and not give away points.

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Jordan: The key is the play of the bench the better they play the more of a load it takes off the two forwards and lets the guards be interchangeable. Turner Thorne won’t have to worry as much when she’s taking out the starters.

Leah: The biggest key for the Sun Devils is to stay consistent. They can’t be getting tired in the second, third or fourth quarters. They need to play just as hard offensively as they do defensively and never falter.

Sam: ASU’s perimeter shooting will be key. Arizona State sometimes will pass the ball around the perimeter trying to find Brunner and Dornstauder inside the paint. If the Sun Devils can gain confidence and make some early perimeter jumpers, it will take the pressure off the Brunner and Dornstauder. It’s important for ASU to be efficient from the field and not get stagnant on offense by burning the shot clock just passing it around the 3-point line and then getting off a poor shot.

3. What is your prediction for Arizona State in Seattle?

Jordan: I see ASU beating Utah by 15+ and then winning a close game against UCLA in their third meeting this season, but losing to Oregon State in the third round

Leah: I think they’ll beat Utah to move to the second round. Then they’ll have a tough game against UCLA but considering how close they got in the last match-up, I think they have a chance to win that. I’m not sure how the rest of the tournament will go if they win that round.

Gigi: ASU has a solid chance of beating Utah, but following with UCLA might be a tough one for them. They will really have to push to beat the Bruins and even if they do they are very unlikely to make it past the third round.

Sam: I think Arizona State has the potential to have a deep run. They should beat Utah, but it will get tough versus UCLA. The Sun Devils played well versus the Bruins and just fell short because of UCLA’s 3-pointers. I think ASU can get to the semifinals versus potentially Oregon State, who ASU played well for three quarters before falling apart in the fourth. The Sun Devils will be a tough out this week, and with the seniors motivated to perform well, they could surprise people.

Next: ASU Basketball: Why Women Playing Thursday is Beneficial

Arizona State will begin play Thursday versus Utah at 3 p.m. MST and can be seen on Pac-12 Network.