Defense, depth and determination are common denominators for the best Arizona State women's basketball teams.
All were central to No. 22 ASU reaching the NCAA Sweet 16, where it will face No. 4 Mississippi State in Portland on Friday. The Sun Devils' bench outscored their starters 29-28 and more importantly Miami's bench 29-7 in a 57-55 second-round win that reinforced a key area of improvement this season.
"Last year, we didn't have much depth," coach Charli Turner Thorne said. "This year, we've got different options and in a tough NCAA road game where we're not getting things going and you put Jamie Ruden in and she drains shots or Iris (Mbulito) getting tip-ins.