Arizona coach Adia Barnes expected the second rendition of the Duel in the Desert to be similar to the first, saying it would be “super physical”, a “really good game” and probably low-scoring since “we’re really good defensive teams.”
All that turned out to be true. The final score was almost the same, too.
Fueled by nine 3-pointers, including a pair of buzzer-beaters, No. 18 Arizona staved off No. 16 Arizona State 59-53 on Friday in McKale Center in front of 10,160 raucous fans.
It’s UA’s first sweep of the Sun Devils since 2000, no small feat since Friday’s game marked the first time both teams were ranked inside the Top 25.