Nov. 4, 2012
TEMPE, Ariz. - Promise Amukamara scored a game-high 20 points and Micaela Pickens added 14 as the Arizona State women's basketball team defeated Alaska Anchorage 72-42 in exhibition play on Sunday.
Amukamara (9-9 FGs, 2-2 3ptrs) did not miss a shot as she and Pickens (5-7 FGs) combined to make nearly 88 percent of their field goal attempts while also tying for the team lead in assists (5).
The Sun Devils shot 46 percent from the field and outrebounded the Seawolves 49-28. A plus-11 advantage on the offensive glass allowed ASU to score 10 second-chance points. In addition, the Sun Devils scored 21 points off 26 UAA turnovers.
"It was a good first game to get under our belts," Sun Devil head coach Charli Turner Thorne said. "I really like the way we evaluated and adjusted in the second half. I thought we did a great job of coming out and controlling the boards, creating some offense with our defense and taking care of the basketball."
A local product out of Glendale's Apollo High School, Amukamara also added six rebounds, four steals and one block.
"I'm really proud of Promise," Turner Thorne said. "Today's game showed all the different ways she can help us. She knocked down open shots, got out in transition and finished and ignited our defense by creating turnovers. That's exactly what we are looking for her to do."
The Sun Devils led 30-15 at the half and would extend their lead to 23 in the first 76 seconds of the second half as Amukakara and Pickens alternated scoring the first four field goals of the half.
ASU would lead by as many as 32 after Elisha Davis' layup with 6:28 left capped a 22-5.
ASU's bench, which produced 21 points, was led by Isidora Purkovic (5 points), Jada Blackwell (4 points) and Haley Videckis (4 points), who combined for 13 points. Eliza Normen came off the bench to lead ASU with eight rebounds while Blackwell added seven boards.
Jenna Buchanan scored 12 points to lead UAA, which was voted 22nd in the USA Today/ESPN Division II Top 25 preseason coaches poll.
The Sun Devils officially open the 2012-13 season next Sunday when they host Texas Tech at 2 p.m. In addition to it being the season opener, Sunday's game will also be a day of celebration as the Sun Devil women's basketball program recognizes the 40th anniversary of Title IX. Tickets for the game are on sale and can be purchased by calling the Sun Devil ticket office at 480-727-0000.