Devils in Detail
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ASU Women’s Basketball: Sun Devils play first of back-to-back games vs. Sacramento State

By Sam Ficarro

TEMPE, AZ - OCTOBER 10: Arizona State Sun Devils mascot Sparky performs on the field during the fourth quarter of the college football game against the Colorado Buffaloes at Sun Devil Stadium on October 10, 2015 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
TEMPE, AZ - OCTOBER 10: Arizona State Sun Devils mascot Sparky performs on the field during the fourth quarter of the college football game against the Colorado Buffaloes at Sun Devil Stadium on October 10, 2015 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) /
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After a pair of 32-point wins to begin the season, ASU women’s basketball hosts Sacramento State for their third game in seven days.

ASU women’s basketball have not lost a beat this season after one of the most successful senior classes graduated.

The Sun Devils are 2-0 to open up this season with 32-point wins over UTSA and Fresno State.

Arizona State defeated the Bulldogs 81-49 Wednesday behind a career-high 16 points from center Charnea Johnson-Chapman and 14 points from forward Courtney Ekmark.

In total, five Sun Devils scored in double-figures with guard Robbi Ryan and forwards Kianna Ibis and Jamie Ruden chipping in 10 points.

After a slow start, Arizona State dominated the final three quarters outscoring the Bulldogs 63-37 as ASU shot 55 percent from the field.

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Arizona State faced numerous defensive looks from Fresno State as the Bulldogs alternated between man-to-man defense and a 2-3 zone defense.

When Fresno State was in a 2-3 zone, Arizona State were able to find pockets of space and the Sun Devils were converting their perimeter shots.

Arizona State played suffocating defense as the Bulldogs didn’t handle ASU’s pressure defense well as they were held 28 percent shooting.

The Sun Devils also forced 15 turnovers leading to 17 points as six players recorded at least one steal.

With all the questions coming into this season of whether Arizona State can fill the void left by their senior-laden frontcourt, the returnees have exceeded expectations.

Ibis and Johnson-Chapman have played at a high level through the first two games with Ekmark looking more composed in Wednesday’s game.

Ruden’s return from a back problem makes this frontcourt even more dangerous with her capability of making perimeter shots.

Tasked to stopping this frontcourt is the Sacramento State Hornets, who are 0-3 this season with losses against Kentucky, Morehead State and No. 12 West Virginia.

The Hornets fell in Lexington against the Wildcats 101-70 with four finishing in double-figures as guard Hannah Friend led the team with 19 points.

Despite the balanced output from Sacramento State, they only shot 36 percent from the field while Kentucky shot 50 percent from the field.

After a 75-71 loss to Morehead State last Saturday, the Hornets are coming off a 101-47 loss Tuesday versus the 12th-ranked West Virginia Mountaineers.

The Hornets struggled mightily from the field shooting just 24 percent from the field as guard Maranne Johnson led the team with 20 points on 8-of-28 shooting.

Look for head coach Charli Turner Thorne to rotate her players early and often Saturday as the Sun Devils are playing two games in two days this weekend.

Next: ASU Women’s Basketball: Sun Devils rout Fresno State in first road test

Tip off of Arizona State-Sacramento State is set for 2 p.m. MT and the game will be streamed on the ASU Live Stream.