Arizona upsets No. 17 ASU to open Pac-12 play

Aari McDonald burst past a sea of Sun Devils, laid the ball in, stole the ensuing inbounds pass, and promptly knocked down a mid-range jumper before flexing and shouting.

She means business. So do these Wildcats.

McDonald, the nation’s third leading scorer, dropped 24 points and Arizona used a stellar defensive effort to beat the No. 17 Arizona State Sun Devils 51-39 on Sunday in Tucson to open Pac-12 play.

It’s the first time Arizona has won its conference opener since 2012-13, and its first time beating a ranked team since the 2015-16 season, the strongest proof yet that Adia Barnes is lifting the UA program out of a decade-long abyss.

The Wildcats held a usually-potent ASU team to 23 percent shooting, their defensive effort never wavering. Arizona, which forced 17 turnovers, was tough, quick, and willing to battle for every loose ball.

It was the Wildcats’ first game against a major-conference opponent, leading some to question if they were ready to play a Top-20 team like the Sun Devils.

They were. The Wildcats were the aggressors early, jumping out to a 9-2 lead, thanks to seven quick points by McDonald.

ASU clawed back to tie the game at 11 then 13, but McDonald scored, stole the inbounds pass and scored again to push UA’s lead to 17-13 at the end of the first.

Tee Tee Starks made a similar play late in the second quarter, extending the Wildcats’ lead to nine with 31 seconds left in the first half. ASU’s Kiara Russell knocked down two free throws to cut the deficit to 27-20 heading into the locker room.

3-point shooting was at a premium, with both teams going a combined 5 for 31, but Sam Thomas made UA’s first triple with 5:34 left in the third to put the Wildcats up 30-23.

Thomas, who finished with 11 points, scored again to make it 34-25, then Destiny Graham notched her first points to extend the lead to 11 with 3:28 left in the third.

ASU whittled the deficit to seven a few times in the fourth, but Arizona always responded. McDonald blew past a defender for an uncontested layup to put Arizona up nine with 3:08 left.

Dominique McBryde, who poured in six points, drained a mid-range jumper to put Arizona up 11 in the final two minutes. Thomas converted a breakaway layup to make it a 15-point game in the final moment.

This story will be updated.

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