Jan. 4, 2007
TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) - Dymond Simon scored 15 of her career-high 24 points in the first half to help No. 13 Arizona State beat Washington State 89-44 on Thursday night.
The Sun Devils (13-2, 3-1 Pac-10) used a 14-0 run to take a 23-9 lead midway through the first half, and were ahead 46-18 at the break.
Katie Appleton led Washington State (5-10, 1-4) with nine points.
Emily Westerberg scored 12 of her 19 in the first 20 minutes for the Sun Devils, who have won nine of 10. Simon had the highest point total by a Sun Devils player this season, making nine of 11 shots, including 4-of-5 from beyond the 3-point arc, and adding five assists.
Arizona State's pressure defense forced the Cougars into 15 first-half turnovers that were converted into 23 points. Washington State, the worst shooting team in the Pac-10 at 38 percent, also missed 16 of its 22 shots (27 percent) in the first half. The Cougars were 17-of-56 (30 percent) for the game.
The Sun Devils also held leading scorer Marisa Stotler to two points in the first half and two-time conference rebounding champ Kate Benz to no points and four rebounds in that period. Stotler had six points and Benz four on the night.
Arizona State led by as much as 45 in the second half.
Washington State hasn't beaten Arizona State since Feb. 28, 2004, and has not won at the Sun Devils' gym since Jan. 30, 1997.