(Photo: Tyler Rittenhouse/WCSN)
After starting the season 4-0, the Arizona State Sun Devils dropped their first two games of the season as they went 1-2 in the Cancun Challenge over Thanksgiving weekend.
Arizona State started the tournament against their most difficult opponent in seventh-ranked Mississippi State. The Sun Devils began the game slowly, a problem that has plagued the team early on in the year.
ASU was able to battle back from the slow start late in the second quarter with a 13-1 run that put the team ahead 29-28 at the half.
The game remained tight throughout the second half as Arizona State was led by Kianna Ibis and Sabrina Haines as they combined for 17 points in the half. Mississippi State was able to close the game out in the latter part of the fourth and went on to win 65-57.
The second game of the tournament ASU played the Green Bay Phoenix. Despite a career high tying night from Jamie Ruden with 12 points and 13 from Robbi Ryan, the Sun Devils were unable to slow Green Bay as they shot at 51 percent to lead their attack as they downed ASU 61-48. Green Bay used hot shooting along with rebounding in order to lead the way as they outscored ASU.
Arizona State began the game on a high mark behind a pair of Courtney Ekmark threes but was unable to keep the momentum going as both teams leveled out into an even deadlock. The Green Bay Phoenix were able to break a 10-10 tie at the end of the first with a 7-0 run.
The Phoenix used another run in the second quarter, this one 10-4 to be able to take a lead of 29-21 into the closing minutes of the half.
After trailing by six at the half, Arizona State fell behind and were outscored 29-19 in the third quarter. ASU was able to limit Green Bay to only 2 points for the first half of the final quarter but was unable to make up enough ground during the run.
The Sun Devils were once again plagued by slow starts, this time at the beginning of both halves as they were outscored 36-19 in the first and third quarters.
Arizona State was able to close out the classic on a winning note as they beat Columbia 72-48 as Robbi Ryan led the Sun Devils with 12 points, and finished the Cancun Challenge with 9.7 points per game and a selection to the All-Tournament team.
The Devils used a balanced attack as they had four players in double digits and poured in an extra 20 points from the free throw line.
Arizona State, who has been prone to slow starts on the year, once again started slow but was able to break a 17-17 tie early in the second behind an 8-0 run. Another small run at the end of the half concluded by a layup from Sophia Elenga gave the Devils their first double-digit lead of the game.
The maroon and gold had several more timely runs including a 14-6 run to end the third quarter with a 16-point lead. ASU outscored Columbia 17-9 in the final period to hold on for their first win of the tournament.
The Sun Devils will resume action next week as they host the annual ASU Classic. ASU will open the weekend on Saturday when they take on Buffalo at 2:30 p.m at Wells Fargo Arena.
