Arizona women’s basketball sweeps ASU for first time since 2000

Photo by Jacob Snow/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Arizona coach Adia Barnes expected the second rendition of the Duel in the Desert to be similar to the first, saying it would be “super physical”, a “really good game” and probably low-scoring since “we’re really good defensive teams.”

All that turned out to be true. The final score was almost the same, too.

Fueled by nine 3-pointers—including a pair of buzzer-beaters—and a swarming defense, No. 18 Arizona staved off No. 16 Arizona State 59-53 on Friday in McKale Center in front of 10,160 raucous fans.

It’s UA’s first sweep of the Sun Devils since 2000, no small feat since Friday’s game marked the first time both teams were ranked inside the Top 25. The Wildcats won the first matchup in Tempe on Dec. 29, 58-53.

The Wildcats only shot 33 percent in the rematch, but made big shots in big moments.

Amari Carter, who made three 3s and finished with a season-high 11 points, drilled a corner trey as the final seconds ticked away in the third, increasing Arizona’s lead to 39-33. It capped a critical quarter for the Wildcats, who outscored the Sun Devils 19-10 to erase a three-point halftime deficit.

It would have been a six-point deficit if not for Aari McDonald. The UA guard caught an inbounds pass and took a few dribbles before pulling up near midcourt, banking in a long 3 at the buzzer to pull Arizona within 23-20 heading into the second half.

McDonald had 24 points, 11 rebounds and four steals in 39 minutes, her exhaustive effort earning her the right to bang the drum 16 times after the Wildcats improved to 16-3 overall and 5-3 in the Pac-12.

AARI MCDONALD BEATS THE BUZZER pic.twitter.com/4bHnB8nWSb

— Ryan Kelapire (@RKelapire) January 25, 2020

Dominique McBryde’s corner 3 stretched UA’s lead to a 48-42 lead, which eventually ballooned to 52-42 with 1:36 left after McDonald and Sam Thomas swished two free throws apiece.

The Sun Devils missed seven of their first eight shots in the fourth, then made four of their next five to make it 56-52 with 43.5 seconds to play.

They would get no closer, with the Wildcats hitting just enough free throws down the stretch to ice the game. McDonald scored 10 points in the fourth quarter, eight coming from the free throw line.

The game was officiated loosely, putting points at a premium and making physicality a must. The Wildcats outmuscled their rivals, outrebounding ASU 38-35 and holding them to 36 percent shooting.

UA sophomore Cate Reese did not score her first points until laying in a rebound to tie it at 29-all with 3:34 left in the third. Before that, she missed her first five shots, including a couple bunnies around the rim.

Reese later hit two free throws to put UA ahead 41-33 with 9:33 left in the fourth. The Sun Devil reeled off six straight points, before McDonald knifed to the cup for an and-one, pushing the lead to 44-39 with 5:35 left.

Robbi Ryan had 25 points for the Sun Devils, their only player in double figures, an oddity for a team that is usually balanced.

Arizona hosts UCLA and USC next weekend, a good opportunity to build on its three-game winning streak.

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