Cougars look to make it four-in-a-row in Tempe

Enjoying a three-game winning streak featuring an 82-73 upset of No. 9 UCLA on Friday, the WSU women’s basketball team looks to knock off another ranked foe in the desert against No. 19 Arizona State.

The Cougars’ 74-57 win over USC on Sunday marked the program’s first sweep of the Southern California schools since the 1994-1995 season. This win over the Sun Devils puts the Cougars in a tie for fourth place in the Pac-12 standings.

“Every defensive stop and every basket we made gave us adrenaline to keep playing,” WSU freshman guard Chanelle Molina said in a news conference Friday regarding the team’s revamped energy level.

WSU (8-8, 3-2) currently ranks fourth in steals per game (10.38) and second in offensive rebounds per game (15.44) in the Pac-12. In comparison, ASU (12-3, 3-1) enters the game ranked first in the conference in offensive rebounds per game (16.07).

The Sun Devils also have the stingiest defense in the conference, allowing just 53.8 points per game. ASU will look to bottle up Molina and limit the Cougars’ open looks from the three point range. ASU also rebounds the ball well on the offensive glass and is led by senior forward Sophie Brunner, who averages 3.53 offensive rebounds per game.

After receiving Pac-12 Freshman of the Week honors for the second-consecutive week, Molina currently leads her team in points per game (12.8), field goal percentage (.529), three-point percentage (.438), and assists per game (3.8).

“She is blessed with so much athleticism and talent,” WSU Head Coach June Daugherty said of Molina. “She is such a competitor, such a winner.”

Molina is the first five-star recruit in program history and torched the Bruins last weekend with 33 points and seven assists. Molina scored 49 combined points against UCLA and USC.

The Cougars take on the Sun Devils at 10 a.m. Friday in Tempe. The game will air on ASU Live Stream at thesundevils.com.