UA women focused on making their slow starts a thing of the past

The slow starts, the turnovers, the lack of intensity to the point where it looks like all is lost, then they wake up and go on a double digit run in the second half to put it out of reach.

The men did it Wednesday against ASU, but the women don't want it to happen tomorrow at 7 p.m. when they play the Sun Devils in Tempe.

"I think our team has learned a lot from the guys," UA coach Joan Bonvicini said. "You can't wait until the middle of the half, you have to get after it right way."

The women are guilty of slow starts, too. In their last game against Washington State they were losing for the first eight minutes until they went on a 37-17 run to put it out of reach.

"We are focused right now on getting out quick, because we can't keep coming from behind or one of these time it will be too late," sophomore guard Amber Phoenix said.

Arizona (16-4, 6-3 in Pacific 10 Conference) might be slow starters, but that has not hurt them of late. Last week was their first conference sweep of the season and they are averaging over 72 points per game.

"We are playing extremely confident basketball right now. This team is focused and hungry," Bonvicini said.

The Sun Devils (7-12, 1-8) are struggling. With a revamped coaching staff and a new philosophy in works, time is the only antidote.

"We have competed well, but the wins are obviously not coming like we would like," ASU assistant coach Mark Lewis said. "We are doing a lot of things right, though. This team wants to work hard and that is the first key to turning things around."

Senior forward Molly Tutor leads ASU and is seventh in the conference in scoring with a 16.2 average. ASU senior forward Christine Garner left the team at semester to pursue a career with a pro beach volleyball team.

"You can throw the records out. ASU will be fired up and ready to play," Bonvicini said. "Last time we played it was a sloppy and extremely physical game and now we are in Tempe."

The Wildcats ran their win streak to seven games over ASU in the Jan. 10 game when they won, 72-66. The two teams traded baskets until the Wildcats took the lead for good off a Marte Alexander layup with just over two minutes to go. ASU's hacking defense forced a season-high 32 turnovers in the game.