WHEN: Friday at 7 p.m. MT
WHERE: Wells Fargo Arena • Tempe, Ariz. • Click here to purchase tickets
TELEVISION: Pac-12 Networks
RADIO: NBC Sports Radio AM 1060/TuneIn
LIVE STATS: Click here
2004-05 SWEET 16 TEAM RECOGNITION
Members of the Sun Devil women's basketball 2004-05 Sweet 16 Team will be recognized at halftime of Friday's game. The 2004-05 squad went 24-10, tied a then-school record for conference wins (12) and advanced to the Sweet 16 for the first time in 22 years.
UP NEXT
The Arizona State women's basketball team hosts Arizona on Friday (7 p.m. MT) in the first of consecutive Territorial Cup Series contests. Both teams will reconvene for the rematch on Sunday (4 p.m. MT) in Tucson.
With four games remaining in the regular season the Sun Devils (17-9, 8-6 Pac-12) come into Friday's game tied with Cal (17-8, 8-6) for fifth place in the Pac-12. Both teams are two games behind Oregon State (19-6, 10-4) and one game ahead of USC (17-8, 7-7). ASU is still in the hunt for one of the top four spots – and a bye in the first round of the Pac-12 Tournament – in the final regular season standings. No. 7 UCLA (21-4, 12-2), No. 9 Oregon (23-4, 12-2), and No. 14 Stanford (18-8, 12-2), are currently tied for first place with No. 15 Oregon State (19-6, 10-4) one spot behind.
The Sun Devils will looking to get back in the win column after dropping both of their contests last week in Los Angeles, falling at USC 77-62 and at UCLA 71-63. The Sun Devils were within four points midway through the fourth quarter of both games but would go cold down the stretch shooting a combined 33 percent in the last five minutes of both games. Leading the way offensively were Courtney Ekmark (15.5 ppg/7-11 - 63.6 3FGs) and Kianna Ibis (10.5 ppg/9.5 rpg). Kiara Russell, who connected on 75 percent of her FGs (6-8) and had four assists and zero turnovers, played only four minutes at UCLA after being forced to leave the game with an ankle injury.
Arizona (6-19, 2-12) has been a tough out throughout the season. Four of its losses have been by single digits, including a 53-51 setback to Cal on Jan. 7. Last month the Wildcats were within a point of Oregon at the half of its game in Eugene.
ASU won its first four Pac-12 games, defeating Colorado (Dec. 29) and Utah (Dec. 31) on the road and followed that with home wins over Cal (Jan. 5) and Stanford (Jan. 7). The Sun Devils had their season-long, six-game winning streak snapped after being edged at Oregon State, 57-54 on Jan. 12. They followed that with a 74-64 setback at Oregon (Jan. 14) and a 58-56 home loss to Utah (Jan 19). ASU bounced back with 73-59 win over Colorado on Jan. 21 but was not able to start another winning streak as it fell at Stanford, 74-50 (Jan. 26). The Sun Devils rebounded with a three-game winning streak that included convincing wins at Cal (57-42 on Jan. 28), vs. Washington (61-41 on Feb. 2) and vs. Washington State (77-51 on Feb. 4). They would then drop consecutive games at USC (77-62 on Feb. 9) and at UCLA (71-63). In both games ASU was within four points midway through the fourth quarter, but could not ever regain the advantage.
The Sun Devils will close the regular season next weekend with home games vs. Oregon (Feb. 23) and vs. Oregon State (Feb. 25).
COVERAGE
Friday's Territorial Cup Series contest will be televised by Pac-12 Networks (Cindy Brunson and Mary Murphy). The game can also be heard on NBC Sports Radio AM 1060/TuneIn Radio. Pregame radio coverage will start at 6:30 p.m. Veteran broadcaster and the state of Arizona's 2010 Broadcaster of the Year Jeff Munn is in his 14th season as the voice of ASU women's basketball. He will be joined by former Sun Devil head coach Maura McHugh.
SERIES NOTES VERSUS ARIZONA
The Sun Devils have won 24 of the last 28 meetings. ASU swept the season series in 2015 and 2016. The two teams split last season with each team winning on its home floor: UA 62-58 in Tucson and ASU 67-54 in Tempe.
BALANCED OFFENSE
ASU has had eight players lead or tie for the team lead in scoring this season. Kianna Ibis leads the way (8x). Sabrina Haines led/tied for the team lead 3x before her season-ending injury vs. UC Riverside on Dec. 3. Others who have led/tied for team lead in scoring include Robbi Ryan (7x), Courtney Ekmark (6x), Jamie Ruden (2x), Charnea Johnson-Chapman (2x), Reili Richardson (1x) and Sophia Elenga (1x). Ekmark has led ASU in four of the last five games. She has averaged 15.0 ppg and made 56 percent of her 3-pointers (15-27) in that stretch.
DOMINANT DEVIL DEFENSE
• ASU enters Sunday's contest first in the Pac-12 and 41st in the nation in scoring defense (57.8 ppg). It has limited the opposition to 12 or fewer points in a quarter 38x this season, including a season low of three points scored by Idaho (Dec. 18). ASU gave up an average of 44.7 ppg during its recent three-game winning streak: 57-42 win at Cal, 61-41 win vs. Washington and 77-51 win vs. WSU.
• ASU has allowed an average of only 56.5 points per game since the start of the 2014-15 season (127 games). ASU has held the opposition to 50 or fewer points 41 times during that stretch. They are 40-1 in those contests. The only loss came at home to Cal (50-49) on Feb. 8, 2015.
• ASU has made the most of its takeaways as it is averaging 16.7 ppg off the opposition's turnovers. It has scored 20 or more points off TOs eight times, including a season-high 31 points vs. Arkansas on Dec. 21.
• Over the last three-plus seasons (127 games) ASU has allowed the opposition to make only 28.2 percent of its attempts from long range.
TOUGH COMPETITION
Five of ASU's nine losses have come to teams who are currently ranked in the AP Top 25 AND currently among the top 15 teams in the NCAA RPI (as of Feb. 15): vs. No. 2-AP/RPI 3 Mississippi State (65-57), vs. No. 20/RPI 12 Green Bay (61-48), at No. 12/RPI 5 Florida State (77-66), at No. 9/RPI 10 Oregon (74-64) and at No. 7/RPI 9 UCLA (71-63). All five instances were away from home (0-2 neutral/0-3 road). ASU's games against Mississippi State and Green Bay came on consecutive days when it was at the Cancun Challenge (Nov. 23-25) over Thanksgiving Weekend. Against Mississippi State the Sun Devils rallied from a 13-point deficit to lead the Bulldogs by one point at the half and two points after three quarters. ASU is one of only three schools (Oklahoma State and Missouri) that has been within single digits of the undefeated Bulldogs. ASU's other losses came at No. 16 Oregon State 57-54 (ASU led for more than 26 minutes of game time), vs. Utah 58-56 (ASU led by 11 at start of the fourth quarter), at No. 25 Stanford 74-50 and at USC 77-62.
IT'S ALL ABOUT POSSESSIONS
• ASU is currently second in the Pac-12 and 16th in the nation in fewest turnovers per game (12.2) and third in the Pac-12 in assist-to-turnover ratio (20th in the nation/1.33).
• Reili Richardson (3.34 - No. 5 in the nation/No. 1 in the Pac-12) and Kiara Russell (2.63 - 24th in the nation/t-No. 2 in the Pac-12) are among the top 25 in the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio.
• ASU has had 10 or fewer turnovers 10 times this season.
• ASU is averaging only 14.2 turnovers the last three plus seasons (126 games).
HOME SWEET HOME
The Sun Devils have made Wells Fargo Arena one of the toughest places to play in recent years as they have won 85.9 percent of their home games (67-11) going back to the 2013-14 season, including an 12-1 mark this season. On average the Sun Devils are outscoring the opposition 75.2-52.5 at home this season.
IBIS LEADS THE WAY
In ASU's 83-81 win at Utah on Dec. 31 Kianna Ibis had one of the best offensive days turned in by a Sun Devil in recent memory as the junior forward scored a career-high 30 points, eclipsing her previous career high of 20 by 10 points. Included in that flurry of offense were a career-high three 3-pointers. Ibis became the first Sun Devils to score 30 or more points since Kylan Loney accomplished the feat vs. Arizona on January 31, 2004. She followed that extraordinary performance with a game-high 26 points in ASU's win over No. 23 Cal (Jan. 5). She added her third game of scoring 20 or more points in Pac-12 play (fourth of the season) after scoring 22 at Oregon (Jan. 14). Ibis poured in 24 points in ASU's win over Colorado (Jan. 21). With one more 20-point game Ibis, who had her first career double-double (13 points, career-high 11 rebounds) at UCLA (Feb. 11), will equal Sophie Brunner's 2016-17 single-season high of six 20-point games.
EKMARK TIES SINGLE-GAME SCHOOL RECORD FOR 3-POINTERS
Redshirt junior guard Courtney Ekmark connected on seven 3-pointers to tie ASU's single-game school record for 3-pointers in ASU's 80-43 win over Arkansas on Dec. 21. Ekmark, who scored a career-high 23 points against the Razorbacks, tied the mark previously accomplished by current ASU assistant coach Briann January (at UC Davis, Dec. 3, 2008), Crystal Cobb (vs. Oregon, Feb. 2, 1991) and Ryneldi Becenti (vs. Washington State, Feb. 13, 1993). Ekmark currently leads ASU in 3-point FGs (37). She has led ASU in scoring over the last seven games (13.7 ppg) and has connected on 46 percent (18-39) of her attempts from long range during that stretch.
JOHNSON-CHAPMAN STEPS UP IN THE POST
One of the biggest factors in ASU's success throughout the season has been the play of junior center Charnea Johnson-Chapman, who currently leads ASU in field goal percentage (57.8/3rd in Pac-12) and rebounding (6.8 rpg/15th in Pac-12). Johnson-Chapman posted tied her career high with 16 points (6-6 FGs) against Stanford (Jan. 7) and added 12 more against Oregon (6-8 FGs) on Jan. 14. She has grabbed 7 or more rebounds 15 times, including 10 in wins over Sacramento State (Nov. 18) and vs. Cal (Jan. 5) and a career-high 12 in wins over Idaho (Dec. 18) and Colorado (Jan. 21).
RUDEN PROVIDES SUN DEVILS WITH INSTANT OFFENSE
Heading into the Pac-12 portion of the schedule last season Charli Turner Thorne was very excited about what Jamie Ruden would be bringing to the team after the flashes of brilliance she displayed during the preseason. Unfortunately Ruden would end up missing all 18 Pac-12 regular season games after a foot injury occurred the week of the conference opener. She would end up returning to in time for the Pac-12 Tournament and, despite having almost no practice in nine weeks, made an immediate impact as she scored 12 points in ASU's Pac-12 quarterfinal contest vs. UCLA.
Fast forward to this season. After injury kept her sidelined for a portion of the offseason Ruden made her debut in the season's second game at Fresno State and scored 10 points in 10 minutes. It has been no different since as she has scored in double figures 11 times this season and is currently leading the team in 3-point FG percentage (43.1), is second in 3-point FGs (22) and fourth in scoring (9.3 ppg). She scored a career-high 19 points in ASU's win vs. Idaho (Dec. 18) and was responsible for the game-winning basket in ASU's 83-81 win at Utah on Dec. 31.
RYAN'S STEADY PLAY IMPORTANT PART OF ASU'S SUCCESS IN PAC-12 PLAY
One of three Sun Devils averaging double figures in scoring in Pac-12 play (10.4), Robbi Ryan has been a key contributor to ASU's success on both ends of the floor. Ryan, who is tied with Courtney Ekmark for most double-digit scoring efforts in conference games (8), had two of her best outings in close losses at Oregon State (57-54) and vs. Utah (58-56). In both games the Sun Devils struggled to find their offensive rhythm, shooting below 35 percent. Helping them stay within striking distance in both games was Ryan as the sophomore guard tied her career high with 19 points at Oregon State (Jan. 12) and then added 16 against Utah (Jan. 19). In both games Ryan, who has scored in double figures 15 times this season (eight times in last 13 games), connected on 52 percent of her shots (14-27). Ryan is also third on the team in 3-pointers (17) and assists (2.7 apg), fourth in steals (0.9 spg) and fifth in rebounds (3.5 rpg).
INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS OF NOTE
• Reili Richardson, who leads the Sun Devils in assists (4.9 assists per game/eighth in the Pac-12), is currently No. 5 in the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.34). Richardson dished out a career-best 11 assists vs. Cal (Jan. 5).
• Fellow guard Kiara Russell is tied for second in the Pac-12 and 24th in the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.60).
• Charnea Johnson-Chapman is currently third in the Pac-12 in FG pct. (57.8). Also the team leader in rebounds (6.8 rpg/15th in the Pac-12), Johnson-Chapman has grabbed 7 or more rebounds 15x, including a career-high 12 in ASU's win over Idaho (Dec. 18) & again vs. Colorado (Jan. 21).
• Currently leading the team in scoring (12.8 ppg), Kianna Ibis is 17th in the Pac-12 in scoring and is seventh in field goal percentage (49.8). Ibis has scored in double figures 16x, including a career-high 30 points at Utah on Dec. 31, the most points scored by a Sun Devil since 2004.
DEVILS WILL BE WITHOUT SABRINA HAINES FOR REMAINDER OF THE SEASON
Junior Sabrina Haines, who entered the season as one of ASU's starting guards, was lost for the season after suffering a knee injury against UC Riverside on Dec. 3. A starter in 38 of 75 career games, Haines came on towards the end of last season as she posted eight of her nine double-digit scoring efforts in the final 11 games of the season. She tied for the team lead in scoring (13.3 ppg) in ASU's four post season contests (two in the Pac-12 Tournament and two in the NCAA Tournament).
Haines had played in all nine of ASU's games (six starts) and had scored in double figures five times, including a career-high-tying 19 points in ASU's win vs. Sacramento State (Nov. 18). At the time of her injury Haines led the team in free throw percentage (86.7/1st in Pac-12), was second in scoring (10.2 ppg) and tied for second in steals (1.2 spg).
BENCH PRODUCTION
Although ASU's roster may be small in numbers (10 student-athletes on current active roster), it has not kept the Sun Devils from having an extremely productive bench. On average, ASU's reserves are outscoring the opposition's bench 23.4-12.1. Leading the way is Jamie Ruden, who is currently fourth on the team in scoring (9.3 ppg). Ruden has scored in double figures 11 times, including a career-high 19 points vs. Idaho (Dec. 18).
ASU PACES THE PAC-12 IN NON-CONFERENCE WINS SINCE 2013
Including this season's 9-3 record, ASU's 49 regular season, non-conference wins are more than any other team in the Pac-12 since 2013. Last year's win over Holy Cross was ASU's 40th regular-season, non-conference win between 2013-16. Going back to the 1986-87 season – the first season of Pac-10/Pac-12 play – the 40 regular-season, non-conference wins were by far the most in a four-season stretch in program history (the next highest total was 33 games done three times: 2003-06/2004-07/2005-08).
POLLS
Both the coaches and media picked the Sun Devils to finish sixth in the Pac-12.... The Sun Devils received votes in both the AP and USA Today Coaches preseason polls... In other preseason polls of note, ASU came in at No. 23 in Lindy's Sports and No. 25 in ESPN.com... ASU cracked the AP Top 25 on Nov. 20 coming in at No. 24. However after going 1-2 at the Cancun Challenge ASU fell out of the poll. ASU returned to the AP Top 25 on Jan. 1 (No. 25). The Sun Devils moved up to No. 18 (Jan. 8) after back-to-back Top 25 wins over No. 23 Cal and No. 24 Stanford. They fell to No. 22 (Jan. 15) after losses at OSU/UO and No. 25 (Jan. 22) after splitting with Utah and Colorado at home. After second straight split at Stanford and at Cal ASU was the first team receiving votes outside the Top 25... They returned to the AP Top 25 (25th) on Feb. 5, but fell out on Feb. 12 after dropping both of its games in Los Angeles. The Sun Devils were picked to earn a No. 5 seed in the NCAA Tournament in ESPN.com Charlie Creme's first Bracketology post of the season (Nov. 7). They were a No. 8 seed in his most recent bracket (Feb. 12).
SUN DEVIL WBB EARNS NO. 5 RANKING IN WBCA ACADEMIC TOP 25
For the second time in three years the Arizona State women's basketball program finished among the nation's best in combined team GPA. With a final team GPA of 3.672 for the 2016-17 academic year the Sun Devils finished fifth in the nation (the highest ranking in program history) among Division I institutions in the WBCA's annual Academic Top 25. The WBCA Academic Top 25 recognizes NCAA Division I, II and III; NAIA and junior/community college women's basketball teams across the nation that carry the highest combined GPAs inclusive of all student-athletes on their rosters for the entire season. The 2016-17 season is the 22nd in which the WBCA has compiled the honor rolls.
ASU's No. 5 finish represents the second time in three seasons the Sun Devils have been among the top 10 programs in the country after placing seventh (3.558) for the 2014-15 academic year. In 2016-17 ASU was one of only eight teams around the country to be included in the WBCA's Top 25 and qualify for the NCAA Tournament. Of those eight, ASU and DePaul were the only two schools to advance past the first round.
In March the Sun Devils had two players earn Pac-12 First-Team All-Academic recognition (2017 senior Kelsey Moos and Quinn Dornstauder), one player earn second-team honors (2017 senior Sophie Brunner) and three players named honorable mention (current Sun Devils Sabrina Haines, Kianna Ibis and Charnea Johnson-Chapman). ASU was the only Pac-12 school with two first-team honorees and led all Pac-12 schools with three combined first- and second-team honorees. Moos became only the 11th player in Pac-10/12 history (going back to 1986-87) to earn conference first-team recognition three straight years. Brunner was also eligible for CoSIDA Academic All-American honors after being one of five players named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District® VIII Team in February.
Since the 1996-97 season, Turner Thorne's first season at ASU, the Sun Devils lead the Pac-12 in the number of first-team All-Academic conference awards (21) and the combined number of first- and second-team All-Academic conference awards (43).
SUN DEVIL WBB'S REILI RICHARDSON EARNS SILVER MEDAL AT FIBA 19 WORLD CUP
Sophomore guard Reili Richardson became the fourth Sun Devil women's basketball player to earn a medal since 2015 as the USA Women's U19 World Cup Team claimed silver at the 2017 FIBA U19 World Cup in Udine, Italy.
Richardson became the most recent Sun Devil to earn a medal in international competition as former Sun Devils Katie Hempen (gold/USA/World University Games), Quinn Dornstauder (silver/Canada/World University Games) and Sophie Brunner (silver/USA/Pan American Games) claimed medals in 2015. Richardson averaged 10.8 minutes per game and was a steady contributor in helping the USA to wins in each of its first six games at the FIBA World Cup.
Richardson, a 5-11 guard, is coming off an outstanding freshman campaign in which she set ASU's single-season freshman record for assists (126). A Pac-12 All-Freshman honorable mention honoree, Richardson played in every game (25 starts) last season and led the team in assists (3.8 apg/12th in the Pac-12) and tied for the team lead in free throws made (79), was second in 3-pointers (20) and free throw percentage (82.3/12th in the Pac-12) and third in scoring (8.4 ppg) and steals (1.1 spg). She also finished fifth in the Pac-12 in assist-to-turnover ratio. Richardson, whose 277 points ranked seventh in program history for most points scored by a freshman, scored in double figures 13 times, including a career-high 16 points at eventual national champion South Carolina in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, a game the Sun Devils led going into the final minute.
CHARLI TURNER THORNE HAS SUN DEVIL WBB AMONG NATION'S ELITE
The all-time winningest coach in program history and No. 2 in the Pac-12 in career wins (417), Charli Turner Thorne has turned Sun Devil women's basketball into one of the nation's premiere programs since taking over in 1996-97. Included in ASU's earlier run of 13 consecutive postseason appearances (2000-12) were a school record five-consecutive NCAA Tournament bids from 2005-09. During that time ASU qualified for the Elite Eight on a pair of occasions, making it one of only 15 programs in the country to have qualified for the Elite Eight at least two times between 2007-12.
Last season the Sun Devils qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the fourth consecutive season and the 12th time under Turner Throne's guidance. ASU gave eventual national champion South Carolina its toughest game of the NCAA Tournament as it led the Gamecocks by as many as 11 in the second half and took a one-point lead into the final minute of the game before falling, 71-68.
In 2016 Turner Thorne was named the Pac-12 Coach of the Year (coaches and media), the second time she has been recognized with the honor (2001), after leading the Sun Devils to their second regular season Pac-12 championship. ASU would go on to earn its highest NCAA Tournament seed (No. 2) in program history. In 2016 ASU has also tied the program records for most conference wins (16) and consecutive wins (15) and set the program record for most road wins (11). Turner Thorne would go on to also be named the WBCA Region 5 Co-Coach of the Year. In 2014-15 Turner Thorne was named one of 10 semifinalists for the Naismith Women's College Coach of the Year for a season in which she led the Sun Devils to their best start in school history (18-1), their best conference start in school history (7-0), a second-place finish in the Pac-12 and 29 wins, the second-highest number of wins in school history. In 2013-14 Turner Thorne raised the curtain on the team's current era of success as she helped the Sun Devils post one of the best turnarounds in the country as they went from a 13-18 record and a ninth-place Pac-12 finish (5-13) in 2012-13 to a 23-10 record and fourth-place Pac-12 finish (11-7). Included among ASU's 23 wins in 2013-14 were three triumphs over Top 25 teams. The outstanding success Sun Devil women's basketball has enjoyed under Turner Thorne is a 180-degree difference from the program that had an aggregate record of 20-60 in the three years prior to her arrival and only two NCAA Tournament wins in its history.
FORMER VALLEY STANDOUT/UCONN TRANSFER/FIRST-YEAR LAW SCHOOL STUDENT COURTNEY EKMARK MAKES HER SUN DEVIL DEBUT IN 2017-18
In June 2016 Charli Turner Thorne announced that former UConn guard Courtney Ekmark would be transferring into the Sun Devil women's basketball program. Ekmark, who completed her sophomore season for the Huskies in 2015-16, sat out the 2016-17 season per NCAA transfer rules. She has two years of eligibility remaining. Ekmark, who earned her degree in Liberal Studies (May 2017) in only three years, is currently a first-year law student in ASU's Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law. Ekmark returned to the Valley where she helped lead St. Mary's High School to an 87-3 record (included a 49-game winning streak), three straight Division I State Titles, a No. 1 ranking in the USA Today Super 25 in 2012 and a No. 2 ranking in 2013. Ekmark was named the state of Arizona's Gatorade Player of the Year following a junior season in which she averaged 19.6 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.0 steals. In the 2013 state tournament, she averaged 21.5 points in helping lead the Knights to the title. In the 49-37 championship game win over Pinnacle, Ekmark had a game-high 14 points, becoming the first Arizona player to be the top scorer in three consecutive championship games. In addition to her outstanding play on the hardwood, Ekmark also excelled on the tennis court for St. Mary's, earning the top singles spot on the team. As a member of UConn's two most recent NCAA championship teams (2015 and 2016), Ekmark played in 61 games, including 10 of the Huskies' 12 NCAA Tournament games. She averaged 9.3 minutes per game during those two seasons and connected on 38 percent of her field goal attempts.
ALL-TIME SUN DEVIL GREAT, CURRENT INDIANA FEVER GUARD BRIANN JANUARY JOINS SUN DEVIL WBB COACHING STAFF
All-time Sun Devil great and current Indiana Fever guard Briann January returned to ASU as an assistant coach this past April. January, who helped lead ASU to 104 wins – the most in program history in a four-year span – while playing for the Sun Devils, will continue her professional playing career with Indiana where she is currently preparing to start her ninth season.
January, who last year was named to the Pac-12 Women's Basketball All-Century Team, concluded her Sun Devil playing career at or near the top of several ASU career statistical categories including assists (first), free throw percentage (first), steals (second), free throws (second), 3-point field goal percentage (fourth), 3-point field goals (fifth) and points (seventh). A two-time Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year, January earned honorable mention All-America recognition from the Associated Press and WBCA in 2009. During her four-year career the Sun Devils won 77 percent of their games (104-32), including 82 percent of their Pac-10 games (59-13), and qualified for the NCAA Tournament all four years, including two Elite Eight appearances (2007, '09).
January was selected by the Fever with the sixth overall pick in the 2009 WNBA Draft. In that time she has played a major role in helping Indiana qualify for the playoffs each of the last eight seasons, including three trips to the WNBA Finals and a WNBA championship in 2012. January is coming off a 2016 campaign in which she averaged 9.7 points, 1.8 rebounds and a career-best 4.7 assists per game while being named to the WNBA's All-Defensive Team for the fifth straight season. In 2014, January was named to the East All-Star Team for the WNBA's annual All-Star Game that was played in Phoenix. In 2012, January averaged 10.0 ppg in the WNBA Finals to help lead the Fever over the Minnesota Lynx for the WNBA title. As a rookie in 2009, January had an immediate impact as Indiana made its first WNBA finals appearance.
ANGIE NELP JOINS SUN DEVIL WBB COACHING STAFF; JACKIE MOORE PROMOTED TO ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH
This past May Charli Turner Thorne announced the appointment of Angie Nelp as assistant coach and that Jackie Moore had been promoted to associate head coach. Nelp joined ASU from Rice University where most recently she helped guide the Owls to a WBI Championship (the school's first postseason title) and 22 victories in 2016-17, the second-most wins in a single season. The Owls improved by 13 wins from her first to second season, one of the top increments in the nation. Players who Nelp has mentored in her time as an assistant coach have combined for 17 All-Conference awards. In addition she has helped develop three players who went on to play in the WNBA and eight players who signed to play professionally overseas.