WHEN: Saturday at 2:30 p.m. CT/12:30 p.m. PT
WHERE: Frank Erwin Center • Austin, Texas
TELEVISION: ESPN2 / Note: In the home markets of the competing teams, ESPN or ESPN2 will televise the game of local interest. While constant updates from the other games will be provided in the home market, the networks will not switch to another game during live action, thereby establishing home market protection. All games will be available to stream via the ESPN App.
WATCH ESPN LINK: Click here
RADIO: NBC Sports Radio AM 1060/TuneIn
LIVE STATS: Click here
UP NEXT
The Arizona State women's basketball team opens play in the 2018 NCAA Tournament on Saturday (2:30 p.m. CT/12:30 p.m. PT) when it faces Nebraska at the University of Texas' Frank Erwin Center in Austin, Texas.
The Sun Devils (21-12, 10-8 Pac-12 - No. 7 seed in Kansas City Region) and the Huskers (21-10, 11-5 Big Ten - No. 10 seed) will be meeting in the first of two NCAA First Round games on Saturday. The second game will feature the host school, the No. 8 Texas Longhorns (26-6, 15-3 Big 12 - No. 2 seed) taking on the Maine Black Bears (23-9, 13-3 America East - No. 15 seed). The winners of Saturday's games will reconvene at the Erwin Center on Monday (time TBD) for a second round game that will determine who advances to next week's regional round (March 23 & 25) that will be played at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo.
The Sun Devils went 11-4 in the non-conference portion of their schedule and would go on to finish in sixth place in the Pac-12 (10-8). Along the way they collected five wins over NCAA Tournament teams – Buffalo, Cal (x2), Oregon State and Stanford. Ten of ASU's 12 losses were to teams among the Top 42 in the most recent NCAA RPI. Included in those contests were a pair of losses to Oregon State by a combined seven points and an eight-point loss to Mississippi State, a contest ASU led at the start of the fourth quarter.
Led by Big Ten Coach of the Year Amy Williams, the Huskers (21-10, 11-5 Big Ten) has the best turnaround of any team in the nation this season (+14 wins from last year). Sophomore Hannah Whitish – the team leader in scoring (12.6 ppg), assists (4.8 apg), steals (1.3 spg) and three-pointers (71) – earned second-team All-Big Ten honors. She was the only Husker to start all 31 games this season.
COVERAGE
Saturday's game vs. Nebraska can be seen on ESPN2 (Pam Ward and Gail Goestenkors). Note: In the home markets of the competing teams, ESPN or ESPN2 will televise the game of local interest. While constant updates from the other games will be provided in the home market, the networks will not switch to another game during live action, thereby establishing home market protection. All games will be available to stream via the ESPN App.
The game can also be heard on NBC Sports Radio AM 1060/TuneIn Radio. Pregame coverage will start at noon in the Valley. 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.
SERIES HISTORY VERSUS NEBRASKA, MAINE AND TEXAS
• Nebraska has won four of the seven previous meetings against ASU. The Sun Devils have never played Maine and have dropped all four of their previous meetings against Texas.
• The last time ASU played Nebraska and Texas? 2008. What's the probability that the last time ASU faced both teams was in consecutive games? Not quite a Twilight Zone moment here, but in December of 2008 ASU played at Texas on Dec. 18 (81-71 UT), then hosted Xavier on Dec. 21, and then its first game back after the holiday break was at Nebraska on Dec. 28 (62-58 UN).
• Since she's been at ASU Charli Turner Thorne is 1-1 vs. Nebraska and 0-3 vs. Texas. Current Sun Devil assistant coach Briann January was on the teams that defeated Nebraska 87-60 in Tempe in the 2006-07 season opener and lost to the Huskers in 2008 in Lincoln. She was also a member of the squads that lost to Texas in 2007 (62-51 in Tempe) and 2008 (81-71 in Austin).
WHY THE SUN DEVILS ARE HERE
NOTABLE WINS (RPI AS OF MARCH 11): Buffalo (No. 22 RPI, 76-57 in Tempe), Stanford (No. 13 RPI, 73-66 in Tempe), Oregon State (No. 42 RPI, 57-51 in Seattle/Pac-12 Tournament quarterfinal), Cal x2 (No. 43 RPI, 80-71 in Tempe and 57-42 in Berkeley).
TOUGH COMPETITION: Eight of ASU's 12 losses were to teams who ended the regular season ranked in the AP Top 25 AND were among the top 25 teams in the NCAA RPI: vs. No. 4 AP/RPI 3 Mississippi State (65-57 in Cancun), No. 6/RPI 7 Oregon (74-64 in Eugene and 57-44 in Tempe), No. 9/RPI 10 UCLA (71-63 in Los Angeles), No. 11/RPI 8 Florida State (77-66 in Tallahassee), No. 15/ RPI 13 Stanford (74-50 in Palo Alto and 58-46 in Seattle/Pac-12 Tournament Semifinal) and No. 22/RPI 23 Green Bay (61-48 in Cancun).
Seven of the eight games were away from home (0-3 neutral/0-4 road/0-1 home). 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. Prior to MSU losing against South Carolina, ASU was one of only three schools (Oklahoma State and Missouri) that had been within single digits of the previously unbeaten Bulldogs. ASU held Oregon to its lowest point total of the season (57) on Feb. 23.
NO 'BAD' LOSSES: ASU's other losses came against No. 13 Oregon State 57-54 in Corvallis (ASU led for more than 26 minutes of game time) and 64-60 in Tempe (ASU led by as many as 13), vs. Utah 58-56 (ASU led by 11 at start of the fourth quarter), and at USC 77-62 (ASU was within four points in the middle of the fourth quarter).
NCAA TOURNAMENT HISTORY
• The Sun Devil women's basketball program will be making its 16th appearance in the NCAA Tournament (13th under the direction of head coach Charli Turner Thorne). ASU's overall NCAA record is 18-15 (16-12 record under Turner Thorne). ASU has advanced past the first two rounds four times during Turner Thorne's tenure ('05, '07, '09, '15). The Sun Devils have advanced as far as the Elite Eight on two occasions (2007 and 2009). ASU has won at least one game in 10 of its last 11 NCAA appearances (2002, '05, '06, '07, '08, '09, '14, '15, '16, '17).
• ASU's current run of five consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances (2014-18) ties school record (2005-09).
• In 2017, ASU traveled to Columbia, S.C., as the No. 8 seed and defeated Michigan State in the first round before handing eventual national champion South Carolina its biggest scare of the tournament in the second round. The Sun Devils led by as many as 11 in the third quarter and by one in the final minute before falling 71-68.
• ASU's No. 2 seed in 2016 represented its highest in program history. Prior to 2016 the highest seed it ever received was No. 3 (2007, 2015). The Sun Devils defeated No. 15 New Mexico State at home before being upset by No. 7 Tennessee in the second round.
• Prior to its first Elite Eight berth in 2007, the furthest ASU had reached was the round of 16 (1982, 1983 and 2005). In both 1982 and `83, ASU lost to the eventual national champion in the round of 16 (Louisiana Tech in 1982 and USC in 1983).
• ASU's first NCAA appearance in the Turner Thorne era came in 2001. As the No. 11 seed in the Midwest Region, ASU fell to No. 6 LSU in the first round. Turner Thorne earned her first victory in the NCAA Tournament in 2002 after the Sun Devils (No. 9) defeated Wisconsin (No. 8) in the first round of the Midwest sub-regional, 73-70. ASU would fall to the top seed, Vanderbilt, in the second round, 61-35.
• As the No. 5 seed in the Tempe Region in 2005 ASU advanced to the Sweet 16 for the first time in 22 years after defeating No. 4 seed Notre Dame, 70-61. In that game ASU overcame a 13-point, first-half deficit. In the Sweet 16 against North Carolina, ASU led by as many as 10 points and was within two points, 62-60, with 9:29 remaining before the Tar Heels closed out the game with a 17-12 run.
• ASU earned a No. 3 seed in the Greensboro Region in 2007 and advanced to the Elite Eight for the first time in school history on its way to posting a school record 31 wins. ASU denied the upset bids of No. 14 Riverside (first round) and No. 6 Louisville (second round), overcoming double-digit deficits in the final 10 minutes of both games before defeating Bowling Green (67-49) in the Sweet 16. ASU's season ended with a 64-45 loss to Rutgers in the regional final.
• As a No. 6 seed in 2008, ASU defeated Temple (61-54) in the first round before bowing out with a 67-59 loss to Duke (No. 3 seed).
• In 2009, ASU (a No. 6 seed in the Trenton Region) earned its second Elite Eight berth in three years. ASU defeated No. 11 Georgia and No. 3 Florida State in Duluth, Ga., before knocking off the No. 2 seed, Texas A&M, in the regional semifinal in Trenton, N.J. ASU was defeated by eventual national champion UConn in the Trenton Regional final.
• After a three-year absence, ASU returned to 'The Big Dance,' in 2014. As a No. 9 seed, ASU defeated No. 8 seed Vanderbilt, 69-61 in the first round, before falling to the top seed in the region, Notre Dame, 84-67. Both contests were played in Toledo, Ohio.
• ASU's 13 NCAA Tournament appearances since the 2000-01 season are the second-highest total in the Pac-12 behind Stanford.
BALANCED OFFENSE
ASU has had nine players lead or tie for the team lead in scoring this season. Kianna Ibis leads the way (11x). 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 (8x), Courtney Ekmark (7x), Jamie Ruden (2x), Charnea Johnson-Chapman (2x), Sophia Elenga (2x), Reili Richardson (1x) and Kiara Russell (1x).
DOMINANT DEVIL DEFENSE
• ASU concluded the regular season first in the Pac-12 and is currently 30th in the nation in scoring defense (56.8 ppg). It has limited the opposition to 12 or fewer points in a quarter 51x this season, including a season low of two points scored by Arizona (Mar. 1). On Feb. 23 ASU held Oregon to 57 points – nearly 27 points below its scoring average at the time and its lowest point total of the season. In its 57-51 Pac-12 Tournament quarterfinal win over Oregon State (Mar. 2) the Sun Devils limited the Beavers to seven points in the first quarter and five in the final quarter, including a single point in the last five minutes. During that stretch ASU outscored the Beavers 13-1 to overcome a six-point deficit
• ASU has allowed an average of only 56.3 points per game since the start of the 2014-15 season (134 games). ASU has held the opposition to 50 or fewer points 44 times during that stretch. They are 43-1 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 10 times, including a season-high 32 points vs. Arizona on Feb. 16.
• Over the last three-plus seasons (134 games) ASU has allowed the opposition to make only 28.5 percent of its attempts from long range.
IT'S ALL ABOUT POSSESSIONS – THANK YOU, REILI RICHARDSON AND KIARA RUSSELL
• ASU is currently 11th in the nation and first in the Pac-12 in fewest turnovers per game (11.8) and 16th in the nation and second in the Pac-12 in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.37). The Sun Devils who have had 10 or fewer turnovers 13 times this season, are on pace to shatter the school record for fewest turnovers per game (14.3) set by the 2014-15 team.
• Reili Richardson (3.38) is currently No. 6 in the nation and No. 1 in the Pac-12 in assist-to-turnover ratio. Richardson has had 40 assists and only 12 turnovers in her last eight games. Earlier this season she had a 10-game stretch in which she had 59 assists and only 8 turnovers. Richardson is currently in 7th place on ASU's all-time single-season list with 159 assists — needs five assists to move into a tie for fifth place (164 by Elisha Davis in 2016 and by Patti Peppler in 1987), eight to move into a tie for fourth place (167 by Briann January in 2009) and 15 to move into a tie for thirrd place (174 by Tamika Matlock in 1994). ASU Hall of Famer Ryneldi Becenti owns the top two single-season totals: 201 assists in 1992 and 195 in 1993.
• Richardson's backcourt mate Kiara Russell is second in the Pac-12 and 18th in the nation in assist-to-turnover ration (2.72). Russell, who had a career-high nine assists in ASU's win over Arizona on Mar. 1, is shooting 54.8 percent (17-31) in her last eight games (more than 13 percentage points above season percentage/40.8).
• ASU is averaging only 14.0 turnovers per game the last three-plus seasons (134 games).
INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS OF NOTE
• Reili Richardson, who leads ASU in assists (5.0 assists per game/t-6th in the Pac-12), is currently No. 6 in the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.38). Richardson dished out a career-best 11 assists vs. Cal (Jan. 5). Fellow guard Kiara Russell is second in the Pac-12 and 18th in the nation in assist-to-turnover ration (2.72).
• The team leader in rebounds (6.5 rpg/16th in the Pac-12), Charnea Johnson-Chapman has grabbed 7 or more rebounds 17x, including a career-high 14 boards vs. Oregon (Feb. 23).
• The team leader in scoring (12.4 ppg), Kianna Ibis is 20th in the Pac-12 in scoring and is sixth in field goal percentage (49.6). Ibis has scored in double figures 21x, including a career-high 30 points at Utah on Dec. 31, the most points scored by a Sun Devil since 2004.
• In Pac-12 games, Courtney Ekmark finished tied for fifth place in the league in 3-pointers (36) and ninth in 3-point FG pct (41.4). Overall, Ekmark is seventh in the Pac-12 in 3-pointers (58).
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 84.0 percent of their home games (68-13) going back to the 2013-14 season, including a 13-3 mark this season. On average the Sun Devils outscored the opposition 72.4-53.2 at home this season.
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).
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, who earned 2018 All-Pac-12 honors, 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. Most recently, Ibis recorded her second career double-double (14 points, 14 rebounds) in ASU's upset of No. 10 Oregon State in Pac-12 Tournament quarterfinal (Mar. 2). She helped lead ASU's comeback with six points in the final 3:38 and seven of her 14 rebounds in the 4th quarter.
RYAN'S STEADY PLAY IMPORTANT PART OF ASU'S SUCCESS IN PAC-12 PLAY
One of three Sun Devils who averaged double figures in scoring in Pac-12 play (10.9), Robbi Ryan (2018 All Pac-12 honorable mention and All-Defensive honorable mention) has been a key contributor to ASU's success on both ends of the floor. Ryan, who had 10 double-digit scoring efforts in conference games, 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 (then) 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 18 times this season, connected on 52 percent of her shots (14-27). In ASU's two regular season wins over Arizona, Ryan averaged 16.5 ppg and 7.5 rpg. She had a career-high 24 points in the first meeting and then came up one point short of her first career double-double (nine points, career-high 10 rebounds) in the second meeting. Ryan (14.7 ppg) was the only Sun Devil to average double figures in scoring in ASU's three contests vs. Oregon State.
EK-MARKS THE SPOT
Courtney Ekmark's excellent marksmanship from long range has provided the Sun Devils with a dangerous weapon on the offensive end. Ekmark, who currently leads ASU in 3-point FGs (58), is tied with Kianna Ibis for the team lead in scoring over the last 14 games (11.3 ppg). She has connected on 48 percent (32-67) of her attempts from long range during that stretch. In ASU's two regular-season wins over Arizona, Ekmark hit 67 percent of her 3-pointers (6-9) on her way to averaging 14.0 ppg to go with 6.0 rpg, 5.0 apg and 3.5 spg. Ekmark has hit 49 of her 58 triples in the last 22 games. She is shooting 44.5 percent (49-110) from long range during that stretch. Earlier this season she 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's 58 3-pointers this season currently have her tied for fifth on ASU's all-time single-season list with Kylan Loney (58 in 2005). She needs two more triples to tie Amanda Levens for fourth place (60 in 2001) and seven more to move into a tie for second (Briann January 65 in 2009 and Katie Hempen 65 in 2016). The single-season record is held by Katie Hempen who hit 76 in 2015. Most recently, Ekmark led the team with 18 points (5-7 3ptrs) in ASU's upset of No. 10 Oregon State in Pac-12 Tournament quarterfinal (Mar. 2).
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 (55.7) and rebounding (6.5 rpg/16th in Pac-12). Johnson-Chapman 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 scored in double figures 10 times and has grabbed seven or more rebounds 17 times, including 10 in wins over Sacramento State (Nov. 18) and vs. Cal (Jan. 5), 12 in wins over Idaho (Dec. 18) and Colorado (Jan. 21) and a career-high 14 boards vs. Oregon (Feb. 23).
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 13 times this season and is currently third on the team in 3-point FG percentage (38.5), is second in 3-point FGs (25) and fourth in scoring (8.5 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.
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).
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.
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.
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 22.5-11.2. Leading the way is Jamie Ruden, who is currently fourth on the team in scoring (8.5 ppg). Ruden has scored in double figures 13 times, including a career-high 19 points vs. Idaho (Dec. 18). Also consistently contributing strong outings of late has been Sophia Elenga, who has been ASU's fourth-leading scorer in its last six games, averaging 7.2 ppg. Elenga has connected on 60 percent of her shots during that stretch.
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. 7 seed in his most recent bracket (Mar. 3), the same seed where ASU ended up in the NCAA Tournament.
SUN DEVIL WBB TIES SCHOOL RECORD WITH EIGHT STUDENT-ATHLETES ON PAC-12 ALL-ACADEMIC TEAMS
A league-high and school-record-tying eight Arizona State University women's basketball players were named to the Pac-12 Women's Basketball All-Academic teams, announced by Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott on Wednesday.
The Sun Devils had one player earn first-team recognition (sophomore forward Jamie Ruden/4.00 GPA/Psychology), two players earn second-team honors (junior guard Sabrina Haines/3.75/Sports Journalism and sophomore guard Robbi Ryan/3.78/Psychology) and five players named honorable mention recognition (redshirt junior guard/forward Courtney Ekmark/3.24/Doctor of Law, junior forward Kianna Ibis/3.42/Interdisciplinary Studies, junior center Charnea Johnson-Chapman/3.42/Family and Human Development and sophomore guards Reili Richardson/3.32/Finance and Kiara Russell/3.48/Sociology). ASU tied for the conference lead with three combined first- and second-team honorees.
The eight awards ties the school record for most student-athletes on the Pac-12's All-Academic Team. The 2006-07 team also had eight (two on first team, one on second team and five honorable mention).
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.
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 (421), 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. This season ASU matched the school record for consecutive years (five) making the NCAA Tournament and consecutive seasons (five) with 20 or more wins
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.
ALL-TIME SUN DEVIL GREAT, CURRENT PHOENIX MERCURY GUARD BRIANN JANUARY JOINS SUN DEVIL WBB COACHING STAFF
All-time Sun Devil great and current Phoenix Mercury 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 Phoenix where she is currently preparing to start her 10th season (spent first nine seasons with the Indiana Fever).
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.
Rice led all of Conference USA in total assists (558) and total rebounds (1,308) while setting a single-season program record in 3-pointers (242). In addition the Owls ranked second in the league in assists per game (15.9), field goal percentage (.444), made three-pointers (242) and free throw attempts (626). The Owls set a school record with 13 home victories in the 2016-17 season and the team's 9-2 start was the best by a Rice squad since the 1988-89 season.
Moore, who has more than 20 years of coaching experience, joined the Sun Devil coaching staff in 2012. In addition to serving as the program's recruiting coordinator, Moore's on-court contributions have been vital to ASU's recent success, which includes 98 wins and four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances since 2014.