Jan. 16, 2013
UP NEXT
After playing its only two home games in the month of January, the Arizona State women's basketball team goes back out on the road this week to take on No. 21/25 Colorado (Friday at 7 p.m. MT) and Utah (Sunday at 3 p.m. MT).
Both the Sun Devils (10-6, 2-2) and Buffaloes (13-2, 2-2) enter Friday's game in a three-way tie for sixth place with Arizona (10-5, 2-2). All three teams are a half-game behind fifth-place Washington (11-5, 3-2) and one game behind Stanford (14-2, 3-1 Pac-12) and Cal (13-2, 3-1), who are currently tied for second place. UCLA (13-2, 4-0) and USC (7-8, 4-0) currently share the conference lead.
Both Arizona State and Colorado bounced back with a pair of wins last week after starting league play 0-2.
The Sun Devils came through with a pair of solid defensive efforts in wins over Oregon (60-45) and Oregon State (66-55). ASU forced 51 turnovers in the two games while allowing only two 3-point field goals. Promise Amukamara (10.0 ppg, 7-14 FGs) led ASU's offensive effort. ASU averaged 18.5 assists in the two games (Adrianne Thomas led the away averaging 5.5 assists) and tied its single-game low for turnovers (14) against Oregon.
Colorado (13-2, 2-2 Pac-12) went 11-0 during the non-conference portion of its schedule before falling at home to Stanford and Cal the opening weekend of conference play. The Buffaloes, who defeated Utah twice last week, have proven to be equally efficient on both ends of the floor as they are second in the Pac-12 in scoring defense (54.1 ppg) and third in both field goal percentage (.427) and field goal percentage defense (.348). The Buffaloes are led in scoring by redshirt freshman forward Arielle Robinson (14.1 ppg - eighth in the Pac-12) and senior guard Chucky Jeffery (13.3 ppg - 13th in the Pac-12).
Utah (9-6, 0-4 Pac-12) has lost five straight, including all four of its conference games, since starting the season 9-1. Three of Utah's losses this season are by six points or less, including a 55-50 setback to current No. 7 Cal. The Utes are third in scoring defense in the Pac-12 (55.1 ppg) and fourth in field goal percentage defense (.356). Junior forwards Michelle Plouffe and Taryn Wicijowski both average 15.9 points per game (tied for fifth in the Pac-12) to pace Utah's attack.
RADIO/VIDEO STREAM
Friday's game can be heard on The Fan AM 1060 (coverage will begin at 6:30 p.m.) and Sunday's game can be heard on 1440 AM KAZG (coverage beginning at 2:30 p.m.). Veteran broadcaster and the state of Arizona's 2010 Broadcaster of the Year Jeff Munn is in his ninth season as the voice of ASU women's basketball.
Both of this weekend's games will also be streamed live on the Pac-12's website.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
• This will be ASU's second contest against a ranked team this season. The Sun Devils fell to current No. 18/17 Dayton 65-59 last month in a game ASU led by as many as 14. Dayton shot only 31.4 percent in that game which at the time was the Flyers' lowest shooting percentage of the season (now their second lowest).
• Sun Devil head coach Charli Turner Thorne needs one more win to become the third coach in Pac-12 history (Tara VanDerveer and Chris Gobrecht) to reach 300 victories (has 299 as ASU's head coach and 339 for her career).
• ASU's recent five-game winning streak (snapped by Washington on Jan. 4) represented the 19th time since 2001 the Sun Devils have had a winning streak of five or more games.
• Redshirt freshman Eliza Normen (Louisville, Colo./Monarch HS) will be playing in her home state for the first time since joining the Sun Devils. Normen redshirted last season due to injury and was not able to play in ASU's games at Colorado State and at Colorado.
• Jada Blackwell has averaged 16.0 points and is shooting 53 percent (27-51) in ASU's last four road games.
• Four of ASU's six losses have been by six or fewer points.
• ASU has had the same starting lineup every game this season (G - Promise Amukamara, G - Micaela Pickens, F - Janae Fulcher, C - Joy Burke).
• As of Jan. 16, ASU ranks in the top half of the Pac-12 in assists (second, 14.7 apg), rebounding defense (fourth, 33.7 rpg), field goal percentage (fifth, .426), rebounding margin (fifth, +6.4), blocks (fifth, +4.4), scoring margin (sixth, +6.1), scoring defense (sixth, 57.9 ppg), steals (sixth, 9.4 spg) and assist-to-turnover ratio (sixth, 0.8).
• ASU has shot better than 50 percent four times this season, already exceeding the number of times it shot above 50 percent during the entire 2011-12 season (3 times).
• Janae Fulcher is averaging 17.3 points and 7.0 rebounds in ASU's last three games. Fulcher is also shooting 83 percent from the free throw line (10-12 during that span).
• Only five opponents have shot above 34 percent in ASU's last 12 games.
• ASU's bench has scored 25 or more points seven times this season. Jada Blackwell leads the Sun Devil bench in points (7.4 ppg) and rebounds (4.8 rpg).
• The Sun Devils have had 15 or more assists 10 times in their last 13 games. They recorded a season-best 23 assists vs. San Diego (Dec. 12). Adrianne Thomas (3.1 apg - 12th) is currently among the Pac-12's leaders in assists. She is averaging 4.0 assists in ASU's last eight contests.
• The Sun Devils started the season playing six of their first nine games away from home. They are currently in the midst of playing six of their first eight conference games on the road. Last weekend's games against Oregon and Oregon State were ASU's only two home games in the month of January.
SERIES NOTES VS. COLORADO (COLORADO LEADS 8-2)
The Sun Devils dropped their first eight meetings to Colorado with the last of those losses coming in 1987. ASU swept the Buffaloes last season, Colorado's first as a member of the Pac-12 Conference. ASU won 64-43 in Tempe and 60-47 in Boulder. Current Sun Devil Janae Fulcher came off the bench to score 10 of her 16 points in the second half to help lead ASU to the win in Boulder.
SERIES NOTES VS. UTAH (UTAH LEADS 7-4)
The Sun Devils and Utes split last year's contests with each team winning on its home court. The Sun Devils won 59-51 in Tempe and the Utes won 50-46 in Salt Lake City. Prior to the first meeting of last season, the last time the two teams got together was in the second round of the 2006 NCAA Tournament (Tucson, Ariz.) when the fifth-seeded Utes downed the fourth-seeded Sun Devils, 86-65.
IN CASE YOU ARE JUST JOINING US...
• This season the Sun Devils return a young team (nine of 12 players on the active roster are in their first or second year in the program), which returned only one player with more than 10 career starts.
• Starting senior guard Deja Mann (the team's returning leading scorer from last season) is redshirting this season after suffering a knee injury in September.
• ASU played six of first nine games away from home to start the regular season and is currently in the midst of playing six of its first eight Pac-12 games on the road.
• Won seven of eight games, including five in a row, prior to the start of Pac-12 play.
• Lost first two Pac-12 games at the Washington schools before rebounding the following week with home wins vs. Oregon and Oregon State.
• Led by as many as 22 in eventual 74-58 win over Florida (No. 38 RPI).
• Four losses have been by six points or less, including a 65-59 loss to Dayton (No. 9 RPI), a game which the Sun Devils led by as many as 14.
• Leading scorer Janae Fulcher (head injury) did not play the last 30+ minutes of ASU's 60-54 loss at UTEP.
• Starting guard Micaela Pickens was injured and forced to miss time in ASU's losses at UTEP and at Washington State.
INDIVIDUAL PLAYER NOTES
• All 10 of Janae Fulcher's double-figure scoring games have come in ASU's last 12 contests. Fulcher set new career highs in points (26) and field goals (13) in ASU's 74-58 win over Florida (Nov. 25) in the championship game of the South Point Thanksgiving Shootout in Las Vegas. Fulcher, who leads the team and is No. 3 in the Pac-12 in field goal percentage (.561), has shot 50 percent or better in all but three games this season. She recorded her second career double-double (15 points, 11 rebounds) at Washington (Jan. 4) and led ASU in scoring with 23 points at WSU (Jan. 6).
• Micaela Pickens currently leads the team in 3-point FGs (17) and 3-point FG pct. (.362), is second in steals (1.3 spg) and blocks (0.7 bpg) and is third in assists (2.3 apg). Last month Pickens had a four-game stretch (@Providence, @BC, vs. USD, vs. Longwood) in which she averaged 12.5 points and shot 61 percent (19-31) from the field including 65 percent (11-17) from 3-point range. She had a career-high six assists at Washington (Jan. 4).
• Currently ASU's leader in steals (1.9 spg) and free throw percentage (.838), Promise Amukamara shot 55 percent from the floor (16-29 FGs) during ASU's five-game winning streak last month. She posted career highs in points (15) and field goals (six) in ASU's win over Idaho State (Dec. 30).
• Adrianne Thomas, ASU's leader in assists (3.1 apg), had a career-high eight assists vs. San Diego (Dec. 12). Earlier this season she scored a career-high 16 points at UTEP (Nov. 18). She shot 80 percent from the floor (8-10 FGs) and averaged 10.5 points in back-to-back games vs. Idaho State (Dec. 30) and at Washington (Jan. 4). She grabbed a career-high eight rebounds at Washington State (Jan. 6).
• Joy Burke has four of ASU's five highest single-game rebounding efforts this season. She has grabbed a career-high 12 rebounds three times. She has scored a career-high 14 points twice this season, most recently at Washington State (Jan. 6).
• Jada Blackwell scored in double figures in ASU's road wins at Providence (Dec. 7) and at Boston College (Dec. 9). She scored 12 of her 14 points in the second half at Providence and then added 10 points at Boston College. She shot a combined 56 percent (10-18 FGs) in the two games. In ASU's 77-74 loss at Washington (Jan. 4), Blackwell scored a career-high 29 points while also tying her career highs in rebounds (8) and steals (3). Her 29 points were the most scored by a Sun Devil since Danielle Orsillo scored 29 points at Oregon on Feb. 23, 2010. All four of her double-figure scoring efforts have come in ASU's last four road games (16.0 ppg./.530 shooting in those games).
• Arnecia Hawkins has scored seven or more points eight times this season. Currently second on the team in 3-point field goals (13), she dropped in a career-high 11 points vs. San Diego (Dec. 12).
• Elisha Davis has had three or more assists nine times this season, including a career-high six assists at Washington (Jan. 4).
• Haley Videckis, ASU's fourth leading rebounder (3.9 rpg), has had five or more rebounds six times this season. Videckis scored a career-high 11 points vs. Idaho State (Dec. 30).
TOUGH SCHEDULE
Throughout Charli Turner Thorne's tenure at Arizona State, the program has been known for having one of toughest schedules in the country on an annual basis and the 2012-13 season has been no different as the Sun Devils faced nine non-conference foes which qualified for postseason play in 2012.
"We have a preseason schedule that is geared toward making us road warriors and toughening us up to prepare for Pac-12 play," Turner Thorne said prior to the season. "We have a stretch in Pac-12 where we have four road games in a row. This schedule is by design. We are on the road a lot this preseason and I think it is only going to make us better and tougher. We need to go in there and be consistent with our effort and our focus."
ASU started the season playing six of its first nine games away from home. The Sun Devils are currently in the midst of a similar stretch to start Pac-12 play - six of their first eight conference games are on the road.
CONFERENCE SUCCESS
The Sun Devil women's basketball program has consistently been among the Pac-12/Pac-10's best for the last several years both on the court and in the classroom...
• Since the 2000-01 season ASU is one of only two schools in the Pac-12 to have won both a regular season conference title and the conference tournament title.
• ASU's three appearances in the conference title game are tied for second most in the conference since tournament play started in 2002.
• ASU has finished third or higher in the Pac-12 nine times since 2001.
•Since 2005-06, ASU has led the Pac-12 in the number of conference first-team all-academic awards and the combined number of first- and second-team all-academic awards.
50 AND UNDER EQUALS SUCCESS
One of the cornerstones of ASU's formula for success over the years has been defense. The Sun Devils have held the opposition to 50 or fewer points 80 times since the 2004-05 season, including three times this season. ASU's record in those 79 games is 78-2.
Deja Mann TO REDSHIRT IN 2012-13
The Sun Devils were dealt a serious blow in September when Deja Mann, the team's most experienced player and leading scorer among returners from last year's team, was lost for the season with a knee injury.
A starter in 48 of 95 career games, Mann started all 32 games last season and led ASU in assists (3.4 apg), free throws made (56) and free throw percentage (.812). She finished third on the team in scoring and recorded double figures in points nine times in 2011-12 with seven of those instances coming in the last 15 games of the season. Her 22 points at USC (Feb. 15, 2012) were the most scored by a Sun Devil last season.
TURNER THORNE RETURNS FOR 16TH SEASON; APPROACHING SIGNIFICANT CAREER ACHIEVEMENT
Following a one-year sabbatical, Charli Turner Thorne returns for her 16th season as head coach of the Sun Devil women's basketball program. The all-time winningest coach in ASU women's basketball history and third in the Pac-12 in career wins (299), Turner Thorne will look to lead the Sun Devils to their 14th consecutive postseason appearance in 2012-13.
"I really used [the sabbatical] to grow myself as a person," Turner Thorne said. "I think after 23 straight years in college coaching you can lose yourself a little bit. I worked on becoming a better coach, and in many ways, becoming a better wife, and a better mom and a better me. It was absolutely amazing. I do have a new and even better perspective."
Since taking over in 1996-97, Turner Thorne has turned Sun Devil women's basketball into one of the nation's premiere programs. Included in ASU's current run of 13 consecutive postseason appearances is a school record five-consecutive NCAA Tournament bids from 2005-09. During that time the Sun Devils qualified for the Elite Eight on a pair of occasions, making ASU one of only 15 programs in the country to have qualified for the Elite Eight at least two times since 2007.
Turner Thorne needs one more win at ASU to become the third Pac-12 coach to reach 300 victories. A closer look at her path to 300 puts into perspective the incredible 180-degree turnaround Sun Devil women's basketball has undergone since she came to ASU. To reach 150 wins it took Turner Thorne 272 games (150-122 - .551) as she rebuilt a 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. Since picking up her 150th win, Turner Thorne is 149-63 (.703). Included in those 149 wins are eight of Turner Thorne's 11 NCAA Tournament victories.