WHAT: Sun Devil WBB (0-0) vs. Incarnate Word (0-0)
WHEN: Tuesday at 8:30 p.m.
WHERE: Wells Fargo Arena • Tempe, Ariz.
LIVE STREAM: http://pac-12.com/live/arizona-state-university
LIVE AUDIO: Sun Devil Athletics TuneIn Channel
UP NEXT
The No. 23 Arizona State women's basketball team lifts the lid on its 2018-19 campaign on Tuesday night when it hosts Incarnate Word at 8:30 p.m. at Wells Fargo Arena.
Tuesday's game will be the squad's only home game during the opening month of play. On Sunday the Sun Devils will take on No. 4 Baylor in Showdown on the Rez, taking place in Fort Defiance, Ariz. Next week the Sun Devils will be on the road for a game at Arkansas (Nov. 18) and then will spend their Thanksgiving weekend in Las Vegas for the South Point Shootout where they will face No. 5 and 2018 Final Four participant Louisville (Nov. 23) and Northern Illinois (Nov. 24). ASU will then return home to host the annual ASU Classic on Dec. 1-2.
The Sun Devils are coming off a campaign in which they tied the school records for consecutive NCAA appearances (five) and 20-win seasons (five). The team returns all of its core players from last season including 2018 All-Pac-12 standout and leading scorer Kianna Ibis and 2018 All-Pac-12 honorable mention/Pac-12 defensive honorable mention selection Robbi Ryan.
Also returning are the team's 2017-18 leaders in 3-pointers (senior Courtney Ekmark), field goal percentage (senior Charnea Johnson-Chapman), assists (junior Reili Richardson) and steals (junior Kiara Russell). Head coach Charli Turner Thorne, who will be entering her 22nd season, will also welcome what is expected to be an impactful freshman class: Jamie Loera, Taya Hanson, Iris Mbulito, Jayde Van Hyfte.
ASU is one of five Pac-12 teams – No. 3 Oregon, No. 7 Stanford, No. 8 Oregon State, No. 24 Cal – ranked in the AP Top 25, marking the third-straight year the conference has had five teams in the preseason poll.
LIVE STREAM/LIVE AUDIO
Tuesday's game vs. Incarnate Word will be streamed at http://pac-12.com/live/arizona-state-university. The game can also be heard on NBC Sports Radio AM 1060 and the Sun Devil Athletics TuneIn Channel. Veteran broadcaster and the state of Arizona's 2010 Broadcaster of the Year Jeff Munn is in his 15thh season as the voice of ASU women's basketball. He will be joined by former Sun Devil head coach Maura McHugh.
SERIES NOTES VS. INCARNATE WORD
This will be the first meeting between the two schools.
FOR STARTERS
The Sun Devils have been victorious in 17 of their last 20 season openers, most recently a 74-42 win over UTSA last season in Tempe. ASU's only opening day blemishes the last 20 years were a 75-60 setback at North Carolina in the 2007 State Farm Tip-Off Classic, a 61-49 decision at home against Texas Tech in 2013 and a 68-64 overtime loss to Kentucky in 2015.
SALUTE TO SERVICE
In celebration of Veterans Day, Arizona State University proudly honors veterans and active members of the military with an annual series of events across the metro Phoenix campuses. The ASU community is invited to attend all of the Salute to Service events, which include military appreciation athletic events, performances, panel discussions and activities sponsored by student clubs. Click here for list of all the events.
SHOWDOWN ON THE REZ COMING THIS SUNDAY
The Arizona State University women's basketball program will be bringing NCAA women's college basketball to the Native American community this Sunday (5:30 p.m. MT on ESPN2) when it hosts perennial national powerhouse and fourth-ranked Baylor at the Bee Holdzil Fighting Scouts Event Center on the Navajo Reservation in Fort Defiance, Arizona. Working in conjunction with ASU's Office of American Indian Initiatives, 'Showdown on the Rez' will serve as a celebration of Native American Heritage Month and also provide a platform to recognize and honor Native Americans who served in the armed forces. The Sun Devil women's basketball program will also be honoring former ASU players and Native Americans Ryneldi Becenti (1992-93), Kalene Carl (1997), Michelle Tom (1998-99) and Rainy Crisp (2000-03). Click here for more information on the event.
2017-18 RECAP
The Sun Devils finished 22-13 and 10-8 in the Pac-12 (6th place) last season. They made their 16th appearance in the NCAA Tournament (13th under the direction of head coach Charli Turner Thorne) and tied the school record for consecutive NCAA appearances (5) and 20-win seasons (5). A win over No. 10 Oregon State enabled ASU to make its eighth appearance in the semifinal round of the Pac-12 Tournament.
ASU finished among the Top 30 in the nation in fewest turnovers per game (12th/11.7), assist-to-turnover ratio (16th/1.35), fewest fouls per game (22nd/14.1) and assists (29th/552). They were also among the top third in the Pac-12 in scoring defense (1st/57.8 ppg), rebounding defense (1st/30.1), assist-to-turnover ratio (2nd/1.4), rebounding margin (3rd/+6.5), 3-point FG percentage defense (3rd/30.0), turnover margin (tied for 3rd/+3.10), field goal percentage (4th/44.1), assists (4th/15.8 apg) and scoring margin (4th/+10.0). It was the second time in four years that ASU led the league in scoring defense (also in 2014-15).
Kianna Ibis (All-Pac-12) and Robbi Ryan (All-Pac-12 honorable mention and Pac-12 All-Defensive honorable mention) both earned Pac-12 honors. ASu's leading scorer last season, Ibis scored in double figures 23x, including a career-high 30 points in ASU's win at Utah (Dec. 31), the most points by a Sun Devil since 2004.
Guards Reili Richardson (fourth) and Kiara Russell (16th) both finished among the top 20 in the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio, helping ASU shatter the school record for fewest turnovers per game (11.7/previous record was 14.3 set by the 2014-15 team). Courtney Ekmark led ASU with 57 triples and tied single-game school record with seven 3-pointers vs. Arkansas
PRESEASON POLLS
Both the coaches and media picked the Sun Devils to finish fifth in the Pac-12.
ASU was ranked 23rdin the preseason AP poll and was the first team outside the top 25 of the USA Today Coaches Poll.
Athlon Sports had ASU 19thwhile ESPN.com and Lindy's Sports both had ASU at No. 23.
INTERNATIONAL IMPACT
Over the summer three Sun Devils – junior Kiara Russell and freshmen Taya Hanson and Iris Mbulito – not only played in international competition but were also part of teams that won a medal.
Mbulito earned Most Valuable Player honors as she helped Spain claim the gold medal at the FIBA U20 Women's European Championship in Sopron, Hungary.Mbulito posted a double-double (21 points, 12 rebounds) in the championship game in leading Spain to a convincing 69-50 win over Serbia.Mbulito, who had the game-winning basket with five seconds remaining in Spain's 51-50 quarterfinal win over France, averaged 9.7 points, 7.7 rebounds (team high), 2.4 assists and 1.6 steals in the tournament (seven games). She also recorded a double-double (12 points, 12 rebounds) in the win over France.
Russell was a member of the U.S. team that won the gold at the FISU America Games.Russell was part of a squad that defeated its four opponents – Mexico, Uruguay, Chile and Brazil – by an average of 43.8 points. The USA claimed the gold with a 59-42 win in the championship game.The FISU America Games are a multi-sport event sanctioned by the International University Sports Federation (FISU).
Hanson averaged 11.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.7 steals in helping lead Canada to a silver medal at the FIBA U18 Women's Americas Championship. Hanson came one rebound short of a double-double (14 points, nine rebounds) in Canada's opening game of the tournament against Colombia. She would surpass that performance with a 16-point, 11-rebound outing in Canada's quarterfinal victory over Chile. Canada won its first five contests by an average of 23.2 points before falling to the USA in the gold medal game.
WHEN: Tuesday at 8:30 p.m.
WHERE: Wells Fargo Arena • Tempe, Ariz.
LIVE STREAM: http://pac-12.com/live/arizona-state-university
LIVE AUDIO: Sun Devil Athletics TuneIn Channel
UP NEXT
The No. 23 Arizona State women's basketball team lifts the lid on its 2018-19 campaign on Tuesday night when it hosts Incarnate Word at 8:30 p.m. at Wells Fargo Arena.
Tuesday's game will be the squad's only home game during the opening month of play. On Sunday the Sun Devils will take on No. 4 Baylor in Showdown on the Rez, taking place in Fort Defiance, Ariz. Next week the Sun Devils will be on the road for a game at Arkansas (Nov. 18) and then will spend their Thanksgiving weekend in Las Vegas for the South Point Shootout where they will face No. 5 and 2018 Final Four participant Louisville (Nov. 23) and Northern Illinois (Nov. 24). ASU will then return home to host the annual ASU Classic on Dec. 1-2.
The Sun Devils are coming off a campaign in which they tied the school records for consecutive NCAA appearances (five) and 20-win seasons (five). The team returns all of its core players from last season including 2018 All-Pac-12 standout and leading scorer Kianna Ibis and 2018 All-Pac-12 honorable mention/Pac-12 defensive honorable mention selection Robbi Ryan.
Also returning are the team's 2017-18 leaders in 3-pointers (senior Courtney Ekmark), field goal percentage (senior Charnea Johnson-Chapman), assists (junior Reili Richardson) and steals (junior Kiara Russell). Head coach Charli Turner Thorne, who will be entering her 22nd season, will also welcome what is expected to be an impactful freshman class: Jamie Loera, Taya Hanson, Iris Mbulito, Jayde Van Hyfte.
ASU is one of five Pac-12 teams – No. 3 Oregon, No. 7 Stanford, No. 8 Oregon State, No. 24 Cal – ranked in the AP Top 25, marking the third-straight year the conference has had five teams in the preseason poll.
LIVE STREAM/LIVE AUDIO
Tuesday's game vs. Incarnate Word will be streamed at http://pac-12.com/live/arizona-state-university. The game can also be heard on NBC Sports Radio AM 1060 and the Sun Devil Athletics TuneIn Channel. Veteran broadcaster and the state of Arizona's 2010 Broadcaster of the Year Jeff Munn is in his 15thh season as the voice of ASU women's basketball. He will be joined by former Sun Devil head coach Maura McHugh.
SERIES NOTES VS. INCARNATE WORD
This will be the first meeting between the two schools.
FOR STARTERS
The Sun Devils have been victorious in 17 of their last 20 season openers, most recently a 74-42 win over UTSA last season in Tempe. ASU's only opening day blemishes the last 20 years were a 75-60 setback at North Carolina in the 2007 State Farm Tip-Off Classic, a 61-49 decision at home against Texas Tech in 2013 and a 68-64 overtime loss to Kentucky in 2015.
SALUTE TO SERVICE
In celebration of Veterans Day, Arizona State University proudly honors veterans and active members of the military with an annual series of events across the metro Phoenix campuses. The ASU community is invited to attend all of the Salute to Service events, which include military appreciation athletic events, performances, panel discussions and activities sponsored by student clubs. Click here for list of all the events.
SHOWDOWN ON THE REZ COMING THIS SUNDAY
The Arizona State University women's basketball program will be bringing NCAA women's college basketball to the Native American community this Sunday (5:30 p.m. MT on ESPN2) when it hosts perennial national powerhouse and fourth-ranked Baylor at the Bee Holdzil Fighting Scouts Event Center on the Navajo Reservation in Fort Defiance, Arizona. Working in conjunction with ASU's Office of American Indian Initiatives, 'Showdown on the Rez' will serve as a celebration of Native American Heritage Month and also provide a platform to recognize and honor Native Americans who served in the armed forces. The Sun Devil women's basketball program will also be honoring former ASU players and Native Americans Ryneldi Becenti (1992-93), Kalene Carl (1997), Michelle Tom (1998-99) and Rainy Crisp (2000-03). Click here for more information on the event.
2017-18 RECAP
The Sun Devils finished 22-13 and 10-8 in the Pac-12 (6th place) last season. They made their 16th appearance in the NCAA Tournament (13th under the direction of head coach Charli Turner Thorne) and tied the school record for consecutive NCAA appearances (5) and 20-win seasons (5). A win over No. 10 Oregon State enabled ASU to make its eighth appearance in the semifinal round of the Pac-12 Tournament.
ASU finished among the Top 30 in the nation in fewest turnovers per game (12th/11.7), assist-to-turnover ratio (16th/1.35), fewest fouls per game (22nd/14.1) and assists (29th/552). They were also among the top third in the Pac-12 in scoring defense (1st/57.8 ppg), rebounding defense (1st/30.1), assist-to-turnover ratio (2nd/1.4), rebounding margin (3rd/+6.5), 3-point FG percentage defense (3rd/30.0), turnover margin (tied for 3rd/+3.10), field goal percentage (4th/44.1), assists (4th/15.8 apg) and scoring margin (4th/+10.0). It was the second time in four years that ASU led the league in scoring defense (also in 2014-15).
Kianna Ibis (All-Pac-12) and Robbi Ryan (All-Pac-12 honorable mention and Pac-12 All-Defensive honorable mention) both earned Pac-12 honors. ASu's leading scorer last season, Ibis scored in double figures 23x, including a career-high 30 points in ASU's win at Utah (Dec. 31), the most points by a Sun Devil since 2004.
Guards Reili Richardson (fourth) and Kiara Russell (16th) both finished among the top 20 in the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio, helping ASU shatter the school record for fewest turnovers per game (11.7/previous record was 14.3 set by the 2014-15 team). Courtney Ekmark led ASU with 57 triples and tied single-game school record with seven 3-pointers vs. Arkansas
PRESEASON POLLS
Both the coaches and media picked the Sun Devils to finish fifth in the Pac-12.
ASU was ranked 23rdin the preseason AP poll and was the first team outside the top 25 of the USA Today Coaches Poll.
Athlon Sports had ASU 19thwhile ESPN.com and Lindy's Sports both had ASU at No. 23.
INTERNATIONAL IMPACT
Over the summer three Sun Devils – junior Kiara Russell and freshmen Taya Hanson and Iris Mbulito – not only played in international competition but were also part of teams that won a medal.
Mbulito earned Most Valuable Player honors as she helped Spain claim the gold medal at the FIBA U20 Women's European Championship in Sopron, Hungary.Mbulito posted a double-double (21 points, 12 rebounds) in the championship game in leading Spain to a convincing 69-50 win over Serbia.Mbulito, who had the game-winning basket with five seconds remaining in Spain's 51-50 quarterfinal win over France, averaged 9.7 points, 7.7 rebounds (team high), 2.4 assists and 1.6 steals in the tournament (seven games). She also recorded a double-double (12 points, 12 rebounds) in the win over France.
Russell was a member of the U.S. team that won the gold at the FISU America Games.Russell was part of a squad that defeated its four opponents – Mexico, Uruguay, Chile and Brazil – by an average of 43.8 points. The USA claimed the gold with a 59-42 win in the championship game.The FISU America Games are a multi-sport event sanctioned by the International University Sports Federation (FISU).
Hanson averaged 11.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.7 steals in helping lead Canada to a silver medal at the FIBA U18 Women's Americas Championship. Hanson came one rebound short of a double-double (14 points, nine rebounds) in Canada's opening game of the tournament against Colombia. She would surpass that performance with a 16-point, 11-rebound outing in Canada's quarterfinal victory over Chile. Canada won its first five contests by an average of 23.2 points before falling to the USA in the gold medal game.