TEMPE — Adia Barnes got exactly what she expected—a low-scoring defensive battle between two bitter rivals.
And it was her defense that continues to prevail.
No. 18 Arizona staved off Arizona State 58-53 on Sunday to open the Pac-12 season. The Wildcats held the Sun Devils to 30 percent shooting, including a 22-percent mark in the second half, as they captured their first win in Tempe since the 1998-99 campaign.
Arizona improves to 12-0, continuing the best start in program history, and has won 18 straight games. ASU drops to 10-3.
UA star guard Aari McDonald sat for a large portion of the first half due to foul trouble, but finished still managed to finish with a game-high 20 points.