Devils in Detail
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ASU Basketball: Sun Devils battle Baylor in “Showdown on the Rez”

By Sam Ficarro

LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 07: Arizona State Sun Devils mascot Sparky the Sun Devil stands on the court during the team's first-round game of the Pac-12 basketball tournament against the Colorado Buffaloes at T-Mobile Arena on March 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Buffaloes won 97-85. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 07: Arizona State Sun Devils mascot Sparky the Sun Devil stands on the court during the team's first-round game of the Pac-12 basketball tournament against the Colorado Buffaloes at T-Mobile Arena on March 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Buffaloes won 97-85. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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ASU basketball faces fourth-ranked Baylor in a battle of ranked teams as the game will take place on the Navajo Reservation to honor Native Americans.

The first of two challenging non-conference tests for Arizona State is Sunday against the fourth-ranked Baylor Lady Bears.

No. 23 Arizona State is coming off a season-opening win over Incarnate Word on Tuesday in which guard Jamie Ruden led the Sun Devils with 15 points on 6-for-7 shooting.

Freshman Taya Hanson scored 14 points on 4-of-9 shots, all 3-pointers,  in her first collegiate game.

In total, Arizona State finished with four players scoring in double-figures as the team shot 44.6 percent from the field.

The Sun Devils dominated the glass against Incarnate Word outrebounding the Cardinals 58-34.

That brings us to Sunday’s game against Baylor. The Lady Bears enter the matchup with a 2-0 record with dominant wins against Nicholls State and St. Francis.

In their opener against Nicholls State, Baylor won 100-39 as the team shot 61 percent from the field with seven players scoring in double-figures.

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On Thursday, Baylor defeated St. Francis 116-58 shooting 66 percent from the field as Baylor tallied 62 rebounds compared to (St. Francis nickname) 23 rebounds.

All-American center Kalani Brown scored a game-high 23 points to go with six rebounds in just 18 minutes of game action. Through two games, Brown has averaged 18.0 points per game in 18 minutes per game of action.

She is paired with All-Big-12 performer Lauren Cox in the frontcourt. Cox, this season, is averaging 9.0 points per game and 7.5 rebounds per game after averaging 15.3 points per game and 9.7 rebounds per game.

This will be the key of the game as Arizona State’s forwards, primarily Charnea Johnson-Chapman, Kianna Ibis and Sophia Elenga, will be tasked to limited the powerful Lady Bears duo.

Alongside Brown and Cox, Baylor features five freshmen, all five-star prospects, representing the nation’s best freshmen class and the best recruiting class in program history.

If there’s a weakness for Baylor, it’s their point guard. Last season’s starter, Kristy Wallace, graduated so right now Baylor is relying on LSU transfer Chloe Jackson.

Jackson is averaging 13.5 points per game this season and is second on the team with 11 assists.

Another key for Arizona State will be their ability to knock down 3-pointers.

Baylor allowed 17 3-pointers to St. Francis Thursday, the most 3-pointers allowed in a game in program history.

The Sun Devils shot 10-for-28 from downtown against Incarnate Word and they’ll need to be more efficient Sunday.

It will also be crucial for Arizona State to win the battle on the glass. Baylor is one of the best rebounding teams in the nation and with a duo as deadly as Brown and Cox, it’s essential they hold Baylor to one-and-done opportunities.

Sunday’s “Showdown on the Rez” is being played at Window Rock High School on the Navajo Reservation to celebrate the Native American community and culture.

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

Head coach Charli Turner Thorne said it will be a challenge for ASU and it’s a sizable test to see where they stand among the nation’s best. Tip off is at 5:30 p.m. MT and it will be televised on ESPN2.