Sun Devils crush Cougs

Lewis and Clark High School grad Briann January scored 12 points in a reserve role to lead No. 11 Arizona State to its ninth straight win, 72-47 over Washington State on Saturday.

The winning streak is the longest for Arizona State (12-1, 3-0 Pac-10) in 10 years under coach Charlie Turner Thorne.

Keisha Moore had 20 points and eight rebounds for the Cougars (6-6, 0-4), who have lost five in a row.

Arizona State held Katie Appleton, the Cougars’ top scorer, to five points on 1-for-4 shooting. Emily Westerberg (Central Valley), Aubree Johnson (Post Falls) and Kirsten Thompson each scored nine points for the Sun Devils.

Arizona State scored 28 points off 29 Washington State turnovers and outrebounded the Cougars 41-29, adding to its best start since opening 14-1 in 1982-83.

The Sun Devils began the second half with a 15-3 run, opening a 44-22 lead with 15:18 left.

Washington State never got closer than 17 points the rest of the way.

Washington 66, Arizona 54

Andrea Plouffe had 14 points and eight rebounds, and Breanne Watson scored a season-high 13 points, powering the Huskies (10-3, 3-1) over the Wildcats (5-7, 1-2) in a Pac-10 game at Tucson, Ariz.

The Huskies frequently broke Arizona’s press, leading to inside scoring by Plouffe and Watson, who made 9 of 10 free throws.

Arizona got 14 points from Joy Hollingsworth, while Ashley Whisonant scored 10.

Washington took advantage of its size to go on a 10-2 run after the Wildcats closed to within 51-47 on an offensive putback by Hollingsworth. Plouffe made two baskets and two free throws, Cameo Hicks added a layin and Kristin O’Neill hit a short jumper and had an offensive rebound putback to send the Huskies to a 61-49 lead with 3:30 left in the game.