TEMPE, Ariz. – The Arizona State women's basketball team officially started preparations for the 2016-17 campaign as the team held its first practice of the season on Monday.
The Sun Devils were on the floor of the Weatherup Center for two hours, the first time they have participated in any kind of formal practice since the beginning of August when they were getting ready for their trip to Costa Rica.
ASU head coach Charli Turner Thorne was extremely pleased with everything she saw during Monday's session. Although the Sun Devils have a lot to work on before the regular season starts next month, Turner Thorne said having the practices to prepare for Costa Rica has made for a smoother transition into preseason practices.
"Obviously the fact we got some summer practices in I think made it a lot less frantic," Turner Thorne said. "We had great energy and effort out there, but we are by no means peaking right now."
Although there is still more than a month between now and the time the Sun Devils will play their first game of the season, Turner Throne said it is what happens this time of year that will set the tone for the coming season.
"This such an impactful time because once you get into the season your rest and recovery is so important," Turner Thorne said. "This is when you really lay your foundation and establish how you are going to play. You figure out who you are and try and get as good as you can because once you get into games you are never going to have this amount of quality reps and practice time."
Fans will have an opportunity to meet and interact with the Sun Devil women's basketball team when they join the men's team for Mill Madness on Friday, October 14 from 8-10 p.m.
The event, which was put together by the ASU Programming and Activities Board, will take place on the corner of 7th and Mill Avenue. The event is FREE and open to the public and will feature three-point shooting contests, a slam-dunk contest and other skill challenges in addition to games, food, and music from some of The Valley's best DJ's.
"ASU is known for its innovation and Mill Madness is certainly going to be an innovative event," Turner Thorne said. "I love that this event is about the fans and the opportunity they will have to come out and interact with both teams. We are all excited and very much looking forward to it."
The Sun Devils return three senior starters – posts Sophie Brunner, Quinn Dornstauder and Kelsey Moos – from the 2015-16 squad that captured a share of the Pac-12 regular season title, won 26 games (tied for third-highest win total in program history) and went on to earn a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament, the highest placement in program history. In addition to the aforementioned senior starters, 2016 Pac-12 Coach of the Year Charli Turner Thorne will also welcome a five-member freshman class – Sydney Goodson, Reili Richardson, Jamie Ruden, Kiara Russell and Robbi Ryan – that was ranked among the nation's top 10 signing classes when it was announced last fall, and Sara Hattis, a graduate post who will be eligible to play this season after transferring to ASU from the University of Texas in May.
The Sun Devils open their season when they host Illinois State on Fri., Nov. 11 at 4 p.m. Season tickets are now on sale for the team's 2016-17 home slate. Click here for more information or contact a Sun Devil ticket office representative at 480-965-5812.
The Sun Devils were on the floor of the Weatherup Center for two hours, the first time they have participated in any kind of formal practice since the beginning of August when they were getting ready for their trip to Costa Rica.
ASU head coach Charli Turner Thorne was extremely pleased with everything she saw during Monday's session. Although the Sun Devils have a lot to work on before the regular season starts next month, Turner Thorne said having the practices to prepare for Costa Rica has made for a smoother transition into preseason practices.
"Obviously the fact we got some summer practices in I think made it a lot less frantic," Turner Thorne said. "We had great energy and effort out there, but we are by no means peaking right now."
Although there is still more than a month between now and the time the Sun Devils will play their first game of the season, Turner Throne said it is what happens this time of year that will set the tone for the coming season.
"This such an impactful time because once you get into the season your rest and recovery is so important," Turner Thorne said. "This is when you really lay your foundation and establish how you are going to play. You figure out who you are and try and get as good as you can because once you get into games you are never going to have this amount of quality reps and practice time."
Fans will have an opportunity to meet and interact with the Sun Devil women's basketball team when they join the men's team for Mill Madness on Friday, October 14 from 8-10 p.m.
The event, which was put together by the ASU Programming and Activities Board, will take place on the corner of 7th and Mill Avenue. The event is FREE and open to the public and will feature three-point shooting contests, a slam-dunk contest and other skill challenges in addition to games, food, and music from some of The Valley's best DJ's.
"ASU is known for its innovation and Mill Madness is certainly going to be an innovative event," Turner Thorne said. "I love that this event is about the fans and the opportunity they will have to come out and interact with both teams. We are all excited and very much looking forward to it."
The Sun Devils return three senior starters – posts Sophie Brunner, Quinn Dornstauder and Kelsey Moos – from the 2015-16 squad that captured a share of the Pac-12 regular season title, won 26 games (tied for third-highest win total in program history) and went on to earn a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament, the highest placement in program history. In addition to the aforementioned senior starters, 2016 Pac-12 Coach of the Year Charli Turner Thorne will also welcome a five-member freshman class – Sydney Goodson, Reili Richardson, Jamie Ruden, Kiara Russell and Robbi Ryan – that was ranked among the nation's top 10 signing classes when it was announced last fall, and Sara Hattis, a graduate post who will be eligible to play this season after transferring to ASU from the University of Texas in May.
The Sun Devils open their season when they host Illinois State on Fri., Nov. 11 at 4 p.m. Season tickets are now on sale for the team's 2016-17 home slate. Click here for more information or contact a Sun Devil ticket office representative at 480-965-5812.