ASU WBB: Sun Devils roll in their season opener over Incarnate Word

ASU women’s basketball started the season with a dominating win on their home court against Incarnate Word on Tuesday night.

Arizona State women’s basketball started their season on Tuesday by hosting Incarnate Word. After both teams started out slow, the Sun Devils picked it up and never looked back, finishing the game with a victory by the score of 81-43.

Even though the team blew the Cardinals out of the gym, they felt as if they could do better.

The 23rd-ranked Sun Devils started the game out with some nerves and it showed in their play. The team shot 29.4 percent from the field and were 0-for-7 from behind the 3-point line.

In the second quarter, it was freshman Taya Hanson that was able to take the lid off the basket and make the first three of the game for the Sun Devils. Hanson left her mark on both the offensive and defensive side of the floor in her first career game.

She had 14 points on 4-for-9 shooting, and every one of her shots were 3-pointers. She also got to the free throw line, hitting two of four from there. She also brought down three rebounds and dished one assist.

Hanson was not only a factor on the attack, but also disrupted the opposing team with her tenacious defense the whole game. She picked her defender up full-court and would be on the ball handlers’ hip the entire time.

Hanson also switched every screen, so she would often end up guarding a bigger player, but she still fought and was able to break up plays.

It was a very successful debut for the freshman from Canada, and she felt good about it.

“First game playing D-1 for ASU, it is such an amazing opportunity- I am so thankful to be here,” said Hanson as a smile grew across her face. “It’s overwhelming and nerve racking of course at the start and I did have some nerves, but just having a game under my belt I definitely feel more confident going into this season.”

Hanson was very happy to be able to get out on the court and play, but she also feels like her team has more to improve on.

Another player that shined for the Sun Devils tonight was Jamie Ruden. After recently recovering from a back injury, she was still able to come off the bench and instantly make an impact.

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She was 6-for-7 from the field and 3-for-3 from the 3-point line to tally a team-leading 15 points. She stuffed the stat sheet adding four rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block.

Ruden wants to come into this season prioritizing team success over her own.

“My only goal this year is to serve my team and just bring them energy in any way I can,” said Ruden. “I am trying to make the most of the time I do have on the court and the time on the bench, and just try and help my team.”

ASU is focusing on being a very assertive and dominant team this season. Even after winning this game by 38 points, the team felt they could’ve dominated more.

Coach Charli Turner Thorne has very high expectations for her team this year. She sees that her team is very talented and believes that they can take the program to the next level.

“We want to be an elite team,” Coach Turner Thorne said. “We are training to be an elite team.”

This upcoming challenge for the Sun Devils will really put them to the test and see if they can be that elite team they want to be.

ASU will travel down to Fort Defiance in Arizona on Friday as they will take on the 4th-ranked team in the nation, the Baylor Bears.

That won’t be the only test for the Sun Devil’s as they play the No. 5 team in the country, Louisville, just 12 days after playing Baylor.

These next two weeks will put the Devils to the test and won’t be easy. Regardless of the outcome, ASU should benefit from these experiences and it will only build them into a greater team.

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“With Baylor it’s a completely different game,” coach Turner Thorne said. “And we’ll be ready.”

All quotes in this article were obtained firsthand by Devils in Detail unless otherwise noted.