Nov. 6, 2003
TEMPE, Ariz. - Junior Carrie Buckner had 16 points, eight rebounds and six steals to lead the Arizona State women's basketball team to a 92-41 victory in their exhibition season opener against Latvian Select on Thursday night at Wells Fargo Arena.
The Sun Devils took a commanding lead early in the first half, using a 23-1 run to go up 42-13 with 3:30 left in the period. ASU had 13 steals in the first half and held Latvian Select, a traveling team from Riga, Latvia, to just 17.4 percent shooting. The Sun Devils led 52-15 at the half with Buckner turning in 11 of her 16 points and four steals in the first 20 minutes.
The second half provided much of the same as ASU added 12 more steals in the second half en route to the 92-41 victory. ASU finished the game with 25 steals and outrebounded the Latvians 61-37.
"I really liked the way we took care of the ball," eighth-year head coach Charli Turner Thorne said. "All in all, I am really pleased. I thought our effort was good and I was happy with our half-court defense."
Buckner led the Sun Devil effort with 16 points, while true freshmen Aubree Johnson and Alisha Godette each contributed 11 points in their home debuts. Johnson and junior Betsy Boardman, who was playing for the first time since tearing her ACL prior to the season last year, each pulled down seven rebounds. Senior Jen Albert turned in nine points and six rebounds, while sophomore YoVanna Rosenthal had six steals. Junior Kylan Loney led the team with six assists, and junior Lauren Stagg added five.
Sanita Dvinska led the Latvian Select team with 17 points and added seven rebounds.
Arizona State continues exhibition play Saturday, Nov. 15, playing host to the West Coast All-Stars at 6:30 p.m. at Wells Fargo Arena. The Sun Devils open up the regular season on Friday, Nov. 21, taking on Akron at 7:30 p.m. at Wells Fargo Arena.