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Inaugural Ryneldi Becenti Award to be Presented at Saturday’s Native American Day Game

Inaugural Ryneldi Becenti Award to be Presented at Saturday’s Native American Day GameInaugural Ryneldi Becenti Award to be Presented at Saturday’s Native American Day Game
Sun Devil Athletics
TEMPE, Ariz. – The Sun Devil women's basketball program today announced that the inaugural Ryneldi Becenti Award will be presented during this Saturday's Native American Day Game vs. Oral Roberts.
 
The first Sun Devil women's basketball player to have her jersey hung from the rafters of Wells Fargo Arena and a member of the Sun Devil Sports Hall of Fame, Becenti will be in attendance on Saturday to present the award named in her honor to Warren Castiano, a graduating senior (Business) from Farmington, New Mexico, and member of the Navajo Nation.
 
Sun Devil Athletics worked in collaboration with the ASU Office of American Indian Initiatives Office (OAII) to establish the award in Becenti's honor. The OAII used the following criteria to determine the recipient of the award:
  • Native community engagement
  • Tribal Nations Tour/Athletics activities involvement
  • Academic achievement
  • Demonstrated Leadership skills
  • Campus-based organizations participation
  • Promotes Healthy lifestyles/physical activity 
The award, which will be presented on an annual basis, is named after Becenti, who came to ASU in 1991 following a two-year stint at Scottsdale Community College where she earned junior college All-America recognition. In only two seasons at ASU Becenti would accumulate 396 assists, which at the time was the second-highest career total in school history. Her career average of 7.1 assists per game remains a Pac-12 record to this day, while her 17-assist outing vs. Marquette in 1992 still sits atop the program's list for most assists in a single game.  A native of Fort Defiance, Arizona, Becenti starred at Window Rock High School where she earned high school All-America distinction.
 
Currently on a five-game winning streak and ranked No. 23 in the most recent AP poll, the Sun Devils will host Oral Roberts this Saturday at 2 p.m. at Wells Fargo Arena. Click here to purchase tickets or contact the Sun Devil ticket office at 480-965-5812.