With six wins in its last seven games, Arizona State women’s basketball is oh-so close to hosting an NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2016.

The Sun Devils (18-6, 9-4 in the Pac-12) still have work to do to be among the top 16 national seeds on March 18 when the 64-team NCAA field is announced. But with all four of their remaining regular-season games against teams expected to make the postseason, Arizona State will have ample opportunity to elevate itself above its current No. 5 seed projection.

ASU was not among the top 16 seeds in an early reveal by the NCAA selection committee on Feb. 11. Another peak at the top 16 is coming March 4. 

“It’s right there for us to have,” ASU coach Charli Turner Thorne said. “If we’re going to last at all in March, this is the caliber of team we have to beat.

“What we talked about is OK, go ahead and try it (postseason) on. Win or go home. Every game is going to be that caliber. So it’s going to be great for us.”

2-2 finish minimum for host chance

Through Wednesday, ASU is currently No. 14 nationally in the ratings percentage index and No. 11 in strength of schedule. 

The Sun Devils’ next four opponents are:

  • at California (14-11, 5-9), Friday: No. 47 RPI, No. 13 SOS.
  • at No. 7 Stanford (21-4, 11-3), Sunday: No. 5 RPI, No. 2 SOS.
  • No. 12 Oregon State (21-5, 11-3), March 1: No. 22 RPI, No. 55 SOS.
  • No. 2 Oregon (24-2, 13-1), March 3: No. 4 RPI, No. 12 SOS.

ASU went 2-2 the first time around against those opponents, beating California and Oregon State by a combined four points (the latter game going into double overtime) while losing to Stanford and Oregon by a combined 13 points. 

All four could be toss-ups again and certainly the challenge of playing Oregon will be different if forward Ruthy Hebard is out with a knee injury suffered Monday. Hebard is questionable for this week against the Los Angeles schools.

Going 2-2 again likely is the minimum requirement for ASU to remain in the hunt for a top-16 NCAA seed going into the Pac-12 Tournament, March 7-10 in Las Vegas. The Sun Devils also are trying to hold off UCLA (16-10, 9-5) for fourth place in the Pac-12 and a first-round bye in the Pac-12 tourney. 

A second win over Oregon State, currently projected as a No. 3 seed by ESPN, would be significant although no less so than upsetting Stanford on the road or beating Oregon. 

Seeking sixth straight win vs. Cal

One thing is virtually certain, ASU has won five straight against California and needs to make it six to realize its Pac-12 and NCAA seeding goals.

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The Golden Bears have not won since a 81-80 victory over Stanford on Jan. 31, losing their rivalry rematch to the Cardinal and to both Oregon and LA schools. But senior forward Kristine Anigwe of Phoenix continues to pile up double doubles (25) and is in the top-5 in Pac-12 career scoring and rebounding. 

“We’ve had knock down, drag out one-possession games,” Turner Thorne said. “We’re a little more balanced, but the thing that makes them a tough guard is their perimeter shooting. Last year we zoned them for 40 minutes, and you can’t do that. They can really fill it up.”

ASU needed to score the final 20 points last week to beat Utah and certainly can’t count on that happening on the road — or anywhere else really. The question is whether or not they can carry over the fourth-quarter focus they had against the Utes for a complete game.

“This team knows how to win and make plays, especially our top seven,” Turner Thorne said. “I’ll take that over a lot of things, kids that are tough and know how to finish games. We’ve had a lot of close games this year. We definitely don’t freak out and we have pretty good poise and toughness.”

Up Next

Arizona State at California, 8 p.m. Friday (Pac-12 Network/KDUS-AM 1060) — ASU (18-6, 9-4) is on a five-game win streak while Cal (14-11, 5-9) has lost five in a row.

Reach the reporter at [email protected] or 602-444-8053. Follow him on Twitter @jeffmetcalfe.

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PHOTOS: ASU women’s basketball 2018-19

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