Wildcats striving for improved post play as they head to Tempe

But despite the disparity in records - the Wildcats stand at 10-3 overall and a league-best 4-1 in the Pacific 10 Conference and Arizona State is in fifth place at 6-7, 2-2 - UA head coach Joan Bonvicini predicts Saturday's 2 p.m. game in Tempe will be a formidable test for her ninth-ranked Wildcats.

"It's going to be a very, very physical game," she said. "ASU is going to be really fired up."

The game will be televised nationally on Fox Sports Net and broadcast on KFFN (1490 AM).

UA has won the last eight contests but Bonvicini is quick to point out the Sun Devils' sweep of the Washington schools last weekend as proof of ASU's ability to play with some of the Pac-10's strongest teams.

ASU was the first team to beat then-10-0 Washington last week. And days after the Cougars stole one from UA at McKale Center, the Sun Devils blew out Washington State by 20 points.

"You've got to be ready for each game," Bonvicini said. "They want to get respect."

In order to do so, they are going to have to handle an Arizona offense that has averaged 92 points in its last two contests.

Much of ASU's pressure will land on junior center Rachel Holt's shoulders, who, at 6-foot-3, has to handle Marte Alexander, UA's 6-foot-4 center.

Bonvicini said she's looking for stronger play from Alexander after her dismal outing against the Cardinal. In just six attempts, the senior netted five points to go along with four rebounds - both far below her season averages of 14.9 points and 6.8 rebounds per game.

Acknowledging that Alexander's skills have improved drastically over her career - she leads the Pac-10 in field goal percentage at almost 65 percent - Bonvicini said Alexander needs to establish a more dominant mentality in the post.

"Marte has to be more physical," she said. "We need to get her the ball more. I think she could also call for the ball more. It's a two-way street."

Bonvicini said she expects ASU to front Alexander and senior forward Adia Barnes while their guards try to prevent UA's perimeter players from feeding the ball into the post.

She added that the Wildcats will counter by going to their inside-outside game, a far cry from their game plan against Stanford when UA set team records for both three-pointers made (13) and attempted (29).

"We are really going to have to attack," she said. "I think our posts are better than theirs. We have to go out there and prove it."