TEMPE, Ariz. – The Arizona State women's basketball team will open play at the 2017 Cancun Challenge with a Thanksgiving Day game against NCAA Final Four participant Mississippi State, the first of three games the Sun Devils will play in three days, according to an announcement made by Triple Crown Sports on Wednesday.
The event, which will take place at the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya, features four teams in the Mayan Division (ASU, Columbia, Green Bay, Mississippi State) and six teams in the Riviera Division (Indiana State, Marquette, Montana, Oklahoma State, South Dakota, Tennessee).
In addition to the Turkey Day contest (Thurs., Nov. 23 at 1:30 p.m. ET/11:30 a.m. MT) against the Bulldogs, who upset three-time defending national champion UConn and snapped the Huskies' 111-game winning streak in the national semifinals of the NCAA Tournament, the Sun Devils will also face Green Bay (Fri., Nov. 24 at 1:30 p.m. ET/11:30 a.m. MT) and Columbia (Sat., Nov. 25 at 1:30 p.m. ET/11:30 a.m. MT).
Each game will represent the second all-time meeting between the Sun Devils and their respective opponents. Coincidentally, ASU's first meeting against Mississippi State (34-5 in 2016-17/NCAA Finalist) occurred at the Cancun Challenge, a contest won by the Sun Devils 70-48.
ASU will face Green Bay (27-6 in 2016-17/NCAA First Round) for the second time in four years after the Phoenix edged the Sun Devils 63-57 at the 2014 Gulf Coast Challenge in Estero, Fla.
Columbia (13-14 in 2016-17) will be another relatively familiar foe as the Sun Devils defeated the Lions 70-49 in the 2015 ASU Classic.
This will be the fourth visit (2005, 2007, 2013) to the Cancun Challenge for the Sun Devils, who won all three of their games during their most recent appearance in 2013.
The Cancun Challenge is one of the premier basketball events held each year and was rated as a top-five preseason tournament by Sports Illustrated in 2014. Teams stay and play at the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya. The resort's convention center ballroom is converted into an arena, which provides fans a special close-up view of the games.
Seating is limited for this exclusive event, and all fans should book land travel packages through Triple Crown Sports for admission into games. Travel packages are the only way to guarantee admission to games at this time. For travel package information, contact Sarah Sullivan at 970-672-0533 or by email at sarah@triplecrownsports.com, or visit the website at www.cancunchallenge.net.
The Sun Devils are coming off their fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance as they advanced to the second round of NCAAs where they nearly upset eventual national champion South Carolina on its home floor after taking a one-point lead into the game's final minute. Turner Thorne, who posted her 400th win as ASU's head coach in March, will return for her 21st season and will lead a squad that will look to match the school record of five consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances and five straight 20-win seasons.
2017 Cancun Challenge Schedule
All games will be played in the modified convention center at the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya. Home team is listed second:
Thursday, Nov. 23
Mayan Tournament
Green Bay vs. Columbia, 11 a.m. ET
Arizona State vs. Mississippi State, 1:30 p.m. ET/11:30 a.m. MT
Riviera Tournament
South Dakota vs. Oklahoma State, 4 p.m. ET
Tennessee vs. Marquette, 6:30 p.m. ET
Montana vs. Indiana State, 9 p.m. ET
Friday, Nov. 24
Mayan Tournament
Mississippi State vs. Columbia, 11 a.m. ET
Arizona State vs. Green Bay, 1:30 p.m. ET/11:30 a.m. MT
Riviera Tournament
Oklahoma State vs. Tennessee, 4 p.m. ET
Indiana State vs. South Dakota, 6:30 p.m. ET
Marquette vs. Montana, 9 p.m. ET
Saturday, Nov. 25
Mayan Tournament
Green Bay vs. Mississippi State, 11 a.m. ET
Columbia vs. Arizona State, 1:30 p.m. ET/11:30 a.m. MT
Riviera Tournament
Tennessee vs. South Dakota, 4 p.m. ET
The event, which will take place at the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya, features four teams in the Mayan Division (ASU, Columbia, Green Bay, Mississippi State) and six teams in the Riviera Division (Indiana State, Marquette, Montana, Oklahoma State, South Dakota, Tennessee).
In addition to the Turkey Day contest (Thurs., Nov. 23 at 1:30 p.m. ET/11:30 a.m. MT) against the Bulldogs, who upset three-time defending national champion UConn and snapped the Huskies' 111-game winning streak in the national semifinals of the NCAA Tournament, the Sun Devils will also face Green Bay (Fri., Nov. 24 at 1:30 p.m. ET/11:30 a.m. MT) and Columbia (Sat., Nov. 25 at 1:30 p.m. ET/11:30 a.m. MT).
Each game will represent the second all-time meeting between the Sun Devils and their respective opponents. Coincidentally, ASU's first meeting against Mississippi State (34-5 in 2016-17/NCAA Finalist) occurred at the Cancun Challenge, a contest won by the Sun Devils 70-48.
ASU will face Green Bay (27-6 in 2016-17/NCAA First Round) for the second time in four years after the Phoenix edged the Sun Devils 63-57 at the 2014 Gulf Coast Challenge in Estero, Fla.
Columbia (13-14 in 2016-17) will be another relatively familiar foe as the Sun Devils defeated the Lions 70-49 in the 2015 ASU Classic.
This will be the fourth visit (2005, 2007, 2013) to the Cancun Challenge for the Sun Devils, who won all three of their games during their most recent appearance in 2013.
The Cancun Challenge is one of the premier basketball events held each year and was rated as a top-five preseason tournament by Sports Illustrated in 2014. Teams stay and play at the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya. The resort's convention center ballroom is converted into an arena, which provides fans a special close-up view of the games.
Seating is limited for this exclusive event, and all fans should book land travel packages through Triple Crown Sports for admission into games. Travel packages are the only way to guarantee admission to games at this time. For travel package information, contact Sarah Sullivan at 970-672-0533 or by email at sarah@triplecrownsports.com, or visit the website at www.cancunchallenge.net.
The Sun Devils are coming off their fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance as they advanced to the second round of NCAAs where they nearly upset eventual national champion South Carolina on its home floor after taking a one-point lead into the game's final minute. Turner Thorne, who posted her 400th win as ASU's head coach in March, will return for her 21st season and will lead a squad that will look to match the school record of five consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances and five straight 20-win seasons.
2017 Cancun Challenge Schedule
All games will be played in the modified convention center at the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya. Home team is listed second:
Thursday, Nov. 23
Mayan Tournament
Green Bay vs. Columbia, 11 a.m. ET
Arizona State vs. Mississippi State, 1:30 p.m. ET/11:30 a.m. MT
Riviera Tournament
South Dakota vs. Oklahoma State, 4 p.m. ET
Tennessee vs. Marquette, 6:30 p.m. ET
Montana vs. Indiana State, 9 p.m. ET
Friday, Nov. 24
Mayan Tournament
Mississippi State vs. Columbia, 11 a.m. ET
Arizona State vs. Green Bay, 1:30 p.m. ET/11:30 a.m. MT
Riviera Tournament
Oklahoma State vs. Tennessee, 4 p.m. ET
Indiana State vs. South Dakota, 6:30 p.m. ET
Marquette vs. Montana, 9 p.m. ET
Saturday, Nov. 25
Mayan Tournament
Green Bay vs. Mississippi State, 11 a.m. ET
Columbia vs. Arizona State, 1:30 p.m. ET/11:30 a.m. MT
Riviera Tournament
Tennessee vs. South Dakota, 4 p.m. ET