Devils in Detail
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ASU Basketball: Sun Devils’ dominant victory in Seattle just the start?

By Scotty Gange

TEMPE, AZ - NOVEMBER 14: Arizona State Sun Devils mascot, 'Sparky' following the college football game against the Washington Huskies at Sun Devil Stadium on November 14, 2015 in Tempe, Arizona. The Sun Devils defeated the Huskies 27-17. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
TEMPE, AZ - NOVEMBER 14: Arizona State Sun Devils mascot, 'Sparky' following the college football game against the Washington Huskies at Sun Devil Stadium on November 14, 2015 in Tempe, Arizona. The Sun Devils defeated the Huskies 27-17. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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ASU women’s basketball began the Pac-12 Tournament with a dominant win over in-state rival Arizona. Is this the start of a deep run in Seattle?

Arizona State came into the 2018 Pac-12 Tournament in a great spot.

Holding the six seed, they were unable to grab a first-round bye. But, it may have been for the best.

The Sun Devils dismantled their rival Arizona 76-47 for their third Territorial Cup victory of the season.

The first quarter was their best of the season. They rocketed ahead to a 13-0 start, and finished the quarter up 17-2.

“We were very locked in,” said head coach Charli Turner Thorne.

The rest of the night was cruise-control.

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They drilled shots from beyond the arc, sank their mid-range jumpers, and tortured the Wildcats in the paint. They balled, and it was easy. Junior forward Kianna Ibis spoke on the mindset heading into tonight.

“We knew we had to jump on them first,” Ibis said.

The question now is if this win will be just the first chapter of  a postseason to remember for the Devils, or just a solid win and nothing more.

Arizona’s two first-quarter points was the least the Sun Devils have given up all season long. Before that was a three-point fourth quarter for Idaho back in December. That win over Idaho was the start of a six-game winning streak.

There is no room for error for ASU, but then again, there was no error. They shot nearly 60 percent from the field, forced 17 turnovers and 10 players scored.

Now is of course the right time for the Sun Devils to turn up the heat, as they have a legitimate chance to run the table in Seattle.

They will need to continue their winning ways, as they will play Marie Gulich Oregon State Friday night.

The Sun Devils played arguably their best game of the season top-to-bottom, highlighted by that first quarter.

Many of their losses are due to one bad quarter. Tonight, they had four strong, successful periods.

If they want to celebrate with their trophy Sunday night, they don’t just have to play three solid games, they have to perform at their best in 12 full quarters.

Next: ASU Basketball: Sun Devils coast past Arizona in first round of Pac-12 Tournament

There is no better time to play your best when it truly counts, March.

Four down, 12 to go. Full steam ahead.