Sun Devils take ASU Classic championship game

December 05, 2009

Danielle Orsillo scored 13 points and sparked a key first-half run that lifted No. 15 Arizona State to a 62-52 victory over Pepperdine in the final of the ASU Classic on Saturday.<separator></separator>Orsillo hit her second 3-pointer to start a 16-2 run over the final five minutes of the first half and give the Sun Devils (6-1) a 36-19 lead at the break.<separator></separator>Miranda Ayim scored 15 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and blocked three shots to lead the Waves (5-4), who had won three straight. Lauren Bell added 12 points, six rebounds and five assists.<separator></separator>Pepperdine missed 12 of its last 15 shots of the first half after getting within 17-15 with 7:06 to play. <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/w-baskbl/mtt/earl_alex00.html">Alex Earl</a>, Orsillo and <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/w-baskbl/mtt/watson_tenaya00.html">… Watson</a> all hit 3s and the Sun Devils went on a 19-4 run over the final 5:24 of the half. The Waves did not get closer than nine in the second half.<separator></separator><a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/w-baskbl/mtt/tobin_becca00.html">Be… Tobin</a> added 12 points, eight rebounds and a blocked shot for Arizona State.<separator></separator>The Sun Devils, winners of four straight, have won their tournament eight of the last nine years and are 30-4 at home against non-Pac-10 teams since 2004.<separator></separator>After missing 13 of its first 19 shots against Idaho State on Friday, Arizona State got out to a much better start against Pepperdine, hitting 14-of-23 shots (61 percent) in the first half. The Sun Devils finished the night 23-of-48 (48 percent).<separator></separator>Jazmine Jackson added 11 points and four steals for Pepperdine, who shot just 30 percent from the field (20-of-65).<separator></separator>The Waves trailed 17-9 halfway through the first half before getting baskets from Ayim and Bell to get within 17-15 with 7:06 left.<separator></separator>Orsillo, who had 18 points in the tournament opening win over Idaho State, was selected the tournament most valuable playe