No. 6 Arizona Routs Arizona State 65-37
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TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Aari McDonald had 22 points and made five 3-pointers and No. 6 Arizona quickly turned its rivalry game against Arizona State into a rout in a 65-37 victory Thursday night.
The Wildcats (4-0, 3-0 Pac-12) had to eke out a win over Southern California on Sunday, but were control from the start against Arizona State (4-2, 1-2).
Arizona shut down the Sun Devils in the first half to lead by 16 and picked apart their zone defense with crisp passing to win its third straight in the series. The Wildcats have started conference play 3-0 for the first time since 2003-04.
McDonald, an Associated Press preseason All-American, shot 5 for 11 from 3, had seven rebounds and three assists.
Arizona State struggled against Arizona's aggressive man defense without assists leader Iris Mbulito, who injured her left shoulder against No. 11 UCLA on Sunday. The Sun Devils shot 27%, went 3 of 12 from the 3-point arc and had 23 turnovers that led to 24 Arizona points.
Taya Hanson led Arizona State with 14 points.
Arizona rose to its highest ranking at No. 6 in this week's AP Top 25 after beating UCLA and holding off USC.
FOR THE GAME
• The Wildcats' 28-point win on Thursday marked its largest margin of victory over Arizona State since downing the Sun Devils by 35 on February 14, 1998.
• Thursday afternoon's victory over the Sun Devils marked Arizona's third consecutive win over its in-state rivals. UArizona last won three straight over Arizona State in the 1998-99 and 1999-2000 seasons.
• Aari McDonald matched her career high for a fifth time with a quintet of made three-pointers versus the Arizona State.
• Aari McDonald and her 22 points on the night extended her NCAA-leading double-figure scoring streak to 70 consecutive games.
• The 37 points allowed to the Sun Devils were the fewest by an Arizona team since allowing just 37 points on Jan. 17, 1976.
FIRST HALF
• The Wildcats' defense held the Sun Devils to 25 percent shooting in the quarter en route to nine points while forcing six turnovers.
• After scoring a total of eight points in her first three games of the season, Helena Pueyo tallied six points on a pair of made three-pointers in the first half against Arizona State.
• Arizona's offense pick up an assist on eight of their first ten made baskets of the game.
• The Cats held Arizona State to 18 points in the first half after surrendering an average of 33.0 points in the first half in their first three games of the season.