ASU Basketball: Lethal three-point shooting leads Sun Devils’ rout of Arkansas
By Sam Ficarro
![TEMPE, AZ - OCTOBER 10: Arizona State Sun Devils mascot Sparky spikes the pitchfork at center field after the college football game against the Colorado Buffaloes at Sun Devil Stadium on October 10, 2015 in Tempe, Arizona. The Arizona State Sun Devils beat the Colorado Buffaloes 48-23. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) TEMPE, AZ - OCTOBER 10: Arizona State Sun Devils mascot Sparky spikes the pitchfork at center field after the college football game against the Colorado Buffaloes at Sun Devil Stadium on October 10, 2015 in Tempe, Arizona. The Arizona State Sun Devils beat the Colorado Buffaloes 48-23. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/9dbc248df403c676e51e9eade9edc980e4a9769cdf486a5900f7d34b58928721.jpg)
ASU women’s basketball shot lights out making 12 three pointers as the Sun Devils wrap up non-conference play with an 89-43 rout of Arkansas to improve to 9-3.
Forward Courtney Ekmark, the UConn transfer and local product, has struggled shooting from the field.
Ekmark, who entered the game shooting 33 percent from the field and 22 percent from 3-point range, had the best game of her career Thursday.
The junior forward scored a career-high 23 points shooting 7-of-10 from behind the arc as the Sun Devils defeated Arkansas 89-43 in their final non-conference game of the season.
Ekmark’s seven 3-pointers matched a school record.
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It was a remarkable offensive display from Arizona State, who scored at will against a young Razorbacks team, who had no answer in stopping the Sun Devils offense.
As is the case with every Charli Turner Thorne-coached team, the team’s suffocating defense led to offense for Arizona State.
The Sun Devils forced 23 Razorback turnovers resulting in 31 points for Arizona State.
It was an unbelievable team effort as ASU had four finish in double-digits with Arizona State scoring 46 points in the paint, 34 bench points and dished out 27 assists.
Along with Ekmark in double-figures was forward Jamie Ruden with 14 points on a career-high four 3-pointers and forward Kianna Ibis and center Charnea Johnson-Chapman with 13 points each.
Arizona State shot 51 percent from the field while limiting Arkansas to 30 percent shooting.
The Sun Devils got out to an early lead thanks to Ekmark’s hot start shooting as they led the Hogs 26-8 after the first quarter as Arkansas recorded 12 turnovers and 14 fewer field goal attempts.
ASU didn’t take their foot off the gas as Arizona State outscored Arkansas 26-6 in the second quarter, including ending the quarter on a 20-0 run, to take a commanding 52-14 halftime lead.
The Sun Devils outscored Arkansas 37-29 in the second half to cruise to their ninth victory of the season.
Every Sun Devil scored Thursday with freshman forward Bre’yanna Sanders scoring a career-high seven points on 3-of-5 shooting on what was a big day for Arizona State.
Next: ASU Basketball: Sun Devils dominate Vandals to improve to 8-3
ASU ends non-conference play at 9-3, with the three losses coming against ranked teams in Mississippi State, Green Bay and Florida State, and will open up Pac-12 play next Friday at Colorado.