WHAT: No. 19/18 Sun Devil WBB (2-0) at Minnesota (2-1)
WHEN: Sunday at 3 p.m. CT/2 p.m. MT
WHERE: Williams Arena • Minneapolis, Minn.
TELEVISION: Big Ten Network
RADIO: NBC Sports Radio AM 1060
LIVE AUDIO: Sun Devil Athletics TuneIn Channel
LIVE STATS: Click here
UP NEXT
The No. 19 Arizona State women's basketball team goes on the road for the first time this season when it travels to Minneapolis, Minn., to face Big Ten foe Minnesota on Sunday (3 p.m. CT/2 p.m. MT).
The Sun Devils posted a pair of double-digit wins to start the season, defeating Air Force 87-56 and Army 83-51. Both wins were the product of team efforts as the Sun Devils have received important contributions from several different players on the roster. Leading the way have been post players senior Ja'Tavia Tapley (14.5 ppg, 7.0 rpg) and sophomore Jayde Van Hyfte (12.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg), who have combined to average 26.5 ppg and 13.0 rpg. The duo has combined to shoot 65.6 percent from the floor. Both players had career nights in ASU's win over Army as Tapley scored a career-high 18 points, to go with six rebounds four steals and two assists, while Van Hyfte notched her first career double-double (12 points, 10 rebounds).
ASU's four newest players – Tapley, freshman post Eboni Walker and freshmen guards Sara Bejedi and Sydnei Caldwell – have already provided significant contributions as the quartet was responsible for 38 percent of the scoring and 38 percent of the rebounds in last week's wins.
Senior post Jamie Ruden made the first two starts of her career last week and led ASU in scoring (14 points) in its season opening win over Air Force. Fellow senior Kiara Russell is currently second on the team in field goal percentage (63.6). After missing the first game due to injury, senior guard Robbi Ryan scored 12 points while grabbing four rebounds in ASU's win over Army.
COVERAGE
Sunday's game vs. Minnesota can be seen on Big Ten Network. The game can also be heard on NBC Sports Radio AM 1060 and the Sun Devil Athletics TuneIn Channel. Pregame coverage will start at 1:30 pm in the Valley. Veteran broadcaster and the state of Arizona's 2010 and 2019 Broadcaster of the Year Jeff Munn is in his 16th season as the voice of ASU women's basketball.
WELCOME HOME
Sunday's game vs. Minnesota will be a homecoming for Sun Devil seniors Jamie Ruden and Kiara Russell. Ruden (Rochester, Minn./John Marshall High School), was a two-time AP First-Team All-State honoree, member of the James Naismith All-America team and a finalist for Minnesota's Miss Basketball award. She concluded her varsity career as Rochester's all-time leading scorer, boy or girl, with 2,671 points. Russell (Minneapolis, Minn./Osseo High School) was also a Miss Minnesota Basketball finalist and a Gatorade Player of the year finalist.
Another Sun Devil who will see familiar faces is sophomore Jayde Van Hyfte, who hails from Annawan, Ill., 400 miles south of Minneapolis.
SCOUTING MINNESOTA
Minnesota (2-1) will be playing its fourth consecutive game at home. The Gophers, who were ranked 23rd in the preseason AP poll, fell to 2019 NCAA Sweet 16 participant Missouri State in their opener (77-69) before bouncing back to claim double-digit wins over Vermont (90-58) and Milwaukee (77-61). The Gophers went 21-11 and advanced to the second round of the WNIT Tournament last season. Minnesota was picked fifth in the Big Ten preseason media poll. Junior G/F Destiny Pitts, one of three returning starters for second-year head coach Lindsey Whalen, earned preseason All-Big Ten notice from both the coaches and the media .
Minnesota claimed the only prior meeting against the Sun Devils, a 76-58 decision at the Northern Lights Tournament in Anchorage, Alaska (2/27/82).
WHERE WE STARTED
The Sun Devils finished 15th in the nation in 2018-19, setting school records for consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances (six) and 20-win seasons (six). ASU won a pair of games in the 2019 NCAA Tournament and advanced to the Sweet 16 for the fifth time since 2005.
The Sun Devils returned two starters this season in the form of guards Reili Richardson (started 89 of 101 games entering 2019-20) and Robbi Ryan (started 74 of 101 games entering 2019-20). ASU's three-year starter at point guard, Richardson concluded the 2018-19 season No. 4 in the nation and No. 1 in the Pac-12 in assist-to-turnover ratio and led the team and finished 6th in the Pac-12 in assists (5.0 apg). She started the 2019-20 season in third place on ASU's all-time list for career assists (456). Ryan, who earned All-Pac-12 honorable mention and Pac-12 All-Defensive honorable mention recognition from the league's coaches in 2018, started every game in 2018-19 and concluded the season second on the team in 3-pointers (29), third in scoring (7.2 ppg) and assists (1.8 apg) and fifth in rebounds (2.5 rpg).
Sophomore guards Taya Hanson and Iris Mbulito both competed internationally over the summer for the second straight season. Representing Canada at the FIBA U19 World Cup in Thailand, Hanson averaged 10.7 points in the tournament's seven games and led Canada in its final contest with 15 points. Mbulito, who earned Pac-12 All-Freshman honorable mention honors last season, helped Spain claim a fifth-place finish at the FIBA U20 European Championship held in the Czech Republic. Mbulito averaged 10.4 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.7 assists (second among all players) in the seven games.
Also returning for ASU in the backcourt are senior Kiara Russell and sophomore Jamie Loera. Russell, who has 95 games of experience under her belt, finished second on the team in assists (2.2 apg) and fifth in FG pct. (45.7) last season. Despite being limited to 11 games last season, Loera still had an impact as ASU's leader in 3-point FG percentage (50.0/9-18).
The frontcourt is where the Sun Devils lost the most from last year's team as the squad is having to replace its top three scorers and rebounders. Returning posts for the Sun Devils include senior Jamie Ruden (averaged 6.1 ppg in 78 career games), junior Bre'yanna Sanders and sophomore Jayde Van Hyfte.
The Sun Devils started the new campaign with four newcomers. Senior post Ja'Tavia Tapley brings her talents to ASU after being a strong contributor for USC where she started 41 games the last three seasons (26 starts in 2018-19). Also debuting for the Sun Devils later this fall will be freshman post Eboni Walker (state of Nevada's Gatorade Player of the Year in 2019) and freshman guards Sydnei Caldwell (2019 McDonald's All-American Game nominee from the state of New Jersey) and Sara Bejedi, who represented Finland at the World University Games in July 2019 and finished third among all players in scoring (16.2 ppg), second in steals (3.0 spg) and tied for third in 3-pointers per game (2.7).
PRESEASON POLLS
• Both the coaches and media picked the Sun Devils to finish fifth in the Pac-12.
• ASU was ranked 20th in the preseason AP poll and 18th in the USA Today Sports Coaches Poll. The Sun Devils moved up one spot to 19th in the AP poll after opening with a pair of double-digit wins over Air Force and Army.
NOTES ON THE NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
Contests against five – and possibly as many as eight – teams that qualified for postseason play last March highlight the Arizona State women's basketball team's 2019 non-conference schedule.
The Sun Devils will play seven of their non-conference contests at home, including a tilt against 2019 NCAA Tournament participant BYU on Fri., Dec. 6. ASU will also host 2019 WNIT participants Idaho State (Sun., Dec. 8) and New Mexico (Sat., Dec. 14).
Both of ASU's road contests will be against stiff competition. Its third game of the season will be at 2019 WNIT participant Minnesota (Sun., Nov. 17). The Sun Devils' penultimate non-conference game will be at 2019 NCAA entrant New Mexico State (Wed., Dec. 18).
ASU will also play three games at the 2019 Gulf Coast Showcase. The field for the Thanksgiving weekend tournament includes Auburn (2019 NCAA First Round), Dayton (2019 WNIT First Round), Drake (2019 NCAA First Round), Gonzaga (2019 NCAA Second Round), Maine (2019 NCAA First Round), Middle Tennessee (2019 WNIT Second Round) and Purdue. ASU will open tournament play against Maine.
ASU is 60-11 (.845) in non-conference play since 2013.
DOMINANT DEVIL DEFENSE
• Last season ASU led the Pac-12 in scoring defense (58.2 ppg). It was the second straight season and third time in five years that ASU has led the Pac-12 in scoring defense.
• ASU has allowed an average of only 56.9 ppg since the start of the 2014-15 season (a span of 171 games). It has held the opposition to 50 or less points 54 times during that stretch. They are 53-1 in those contests. The only loss came at home to Cal (50-49) on Feb. 8, 2015. Over that same stretch (171 games), ASU has allowed the opposition to make only 28.8 percent of its attempts from long range. Through two games in 2019-20, the Sun Devils have remained true to form, allowing an average of 53.5 points while holding the opposition to 20 percent from long range (4-20).
• Last season ASU held each of its Pac-12 opponents below its scoring average: UA (-25.4), Utah (-16.1), CU (-1.2), Stan (-8.5), Cal (-10.6), UO (-14.1), OSU (-5.7 in 2OTs), UCLA (-9.6), USC (-8.1 ppg), UA (-24.0), WSU (-21.3), CU (-17.9), Utah (-17.6), Cal (-0.9), Stan (-5.0), OSU (-23.4), UO (-22.0).
• Defense made the greatest comeback in school history possible last season. Against Utah on Feb. 17, 2019, ASU held the Utes to only 3 points in the 4th quarter allowing the Sun Devils to rally from 18 down with a 20-0 run in the last 7:45 to win 60-58.
REILI RICHARDSON GUIDES NEAR FLAWLESS ATTACK
One of the biggest reasons for ASU's outstanding execution on the offensive end over the last three seasons is the play of senior guard Reili Richardson. In 2018, Richardson's exceptional play at the point helped the Sun Devils shatter the school record for fewest turnovers per game (11.3). Richardson concluded the 2017-18 season ranked No. 4 in the nation and first in the Pac-12 in assist-to-TO ratio (3.46). Last season Richardson finished No. 4 in the nation and No. 1 in the Pac-12 in assist-to-turnover ratio and led the team and finished 6th in the Pac-12 in assists (5.0 apg). Richardson is currently in third place on ASU's all-time list for career assists (463). She needs 21 assists to pass Elisha Davis (483/2012-15) for second place and 72 more to pass Briann January, ASU's all-time assists leader (534/2006-09).
GRAD TRANSFER JA'TAVIA TAPLEY HAS IMMEDIATE IMPACT
The Sun Devil women's basketball team added a strong post player during the offseason when Charli Turner Thorne announced that Ja'Tavia Tapley was joining the program as a grad transfer from USC. A 6-3 forward, Tapley started 41 games at USC the last three seasons, including 26 contests during the 2018-19 season.
Tapley has already provided the Sun Devils with a strong presence on both ends of the floor as she currently leads the team in points (14.5 ppg), rebounds (7.0 rpg), steals (3.0 spg) and free throws made (9) and attempted (11) and is third in FG pct. (62.5/10-16). Tapley scored 11 points and led team with eight rebounds in her first appearance as a Sun Devil in season opener vs. Air Force (Nov. 5). She followed that with a career-high 18 points to go with six rebounds, four steals and two assists in 15 minutes of play in win over Army (Nov. 10).
Tapley started 26 of 30 games in 2018-19 and averaged 6.0 points and 5.0 rebounds per game. She scored in double figures four times and pulled down seven or more rebounds 10 times. Tapley averaged 12.0 points in USC's two games against Colorado, accounting for a career-high 14 points in the first meeting. Against Pac-12 champion and Final Four participant Oregon, Tapley had 13 points and seven boards. She posted season highs in rebounds (nine) and steals (four) against NCAA Tournament participant Texas A&M.
Tapley appeared in all 31 games in 2017-18 and scored a season-high nine points on two occasions. She recorded career highs with 10 rebounds and five steals vs. Arizona and also delivered a career-high four assists at Colorado.
Tapley played in all 30 games as a true freshman and was promoted to a starting role the second half of the season. She scored in double figures three times, including a career-high, 15-point effort against Arizona.
BENCH PRODUCTION
Last season the Sun Devil bench more than doubled the production of the opposition's bench (23.2-11.4), an improvement over the prior season when ASU had a 22.5-12.1 edge. Early returns in 2019-20 suggest the Sun Devils may have one of their most complete teams ever in terms the level of efficiency they have shown with different combinations on the floor. In its first two games, ASU has averaged nearly three times the number of points as the opposition's reserves (46.0-15.5). The 46.0 points are more than half the 85.0 points the Sun Devils have averaged in their first three games.
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
Over the summer three Sun Devils – sophomores Taya Hanson and Iris Mbulito and freshman Sara Bejedi – participated in international competitions.
Taya Hanson was one of 12 athletes representing Canada at the FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup 2019 in Bangkok, Thailand (July 20-28). Mbulito represented Spain at the FIBA U20 European Championship being held Aug. 3-11 in the Czech Republic. Bejedi just played for Finland at the World University Games in Italy, finishing third among all players in scoring (16.2 ppg), second in steals (3.0 spg) and tied for third in 3-pointers per game (2.7).
During the summer of 2018, Hanson, Mbulito and senior Kiara Russell all played in international competitions and were part of teams that won medals.
Mbulito earned Most Valuable Player honors as she helped Spain claim the gold medal at the 2018 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.
HOME SWEET HOME
ASU has made Wells Fargo Arena one of the toughest places to play in recent years as the Sun Devils have won 83.0 percent of their home games (81-17) going back to the 2013-14 season.
GETTING IT DONE IN THE CLASSROOM
• Six Sun Devils were named to the 2019 Pac-12 Women's Basketball All-Academic teams. Headlining the list for ASU was jJamie Ruden, who earned first-team honors for the second consecutive year. Ruden (4.00 GPA in Psychology) was also named to the Google Cloud CoSIDA Academic All-District® VIII Second Team for the second straight year. ASU also had five players named Pac-12 honorable mention recognition: senior F Kianna Ibis, senior C Charnea Johnson-Chapman and guards Reili Richardson, Kiara Russell and Robbi Ryan.
• A league-high and school-record-tying eight Sun Devil WBB players were named to the Pac-12 Women's Basketball All-Academic teams in 2018. The eight awards tied the school record for most student-athletes on the Pac-12's All-Academic Team. The 2006-07 team also had eight (two on first team, one on second team and five honorable mention).
• In 2017 ASU finished among the nation's best in combined team GPA. With a final team GPA of 3.672 for the 2016-17 academic year the Sun Devils finished fifth in the nation (the highest ranking in program history) among Division I institutions in the WBCA's annual Academic Top 25. The WBCA Academic Top 25 recognizes NCAA Division I, II and III; NAIA and junior/community college women's basketball teams across the nation that carry the highest combined GPAs inclusive of all student-athletes on their rosters for the entire season. The 2016-17 season is the 22nd in which the WBCA has compiled the honor rolls. ASU's No. 5 finish represented the second time in three seasons the Sun Devils were among the top 10 programs in the country after placing seventh (3.558) for the 2014-15 academic year. In 2016-17 ASU was one of only eight teams around the country to be included in the WBCA's Top 25 and qualify for the NCAA Tournament. Of those eight, ASU and DePaul were the only two schools to advance past the first round.
NIKKI BLUE JOINS SUN DEVIL WBB COACHING STAFF
Former UCLA All-American and Washington Mystics guard Nikki Blue was named assistant coach last April.Blue joined Charli Turner Thorne's staff from nearby Grand Canyon University where she was the top assistant and recruiting coordinator the last two seasons. In that position she oversaw the program's domestic and international recruiting, scouting and planning. In her first season on staff, Blue's guidance was instrumental in guard Brie Mobley earning All-WAC first-team recognition.
Blue arrived at GCU after spending three seasons as the top assistant at CSU Bakersfield, where she was part of a staff that helped the Roadrunners to a 2014 postseason appearance with 23 wins. Before Bakersfield, Blue spent six years as an assistant coach at UNLV, where she helped the Rebels land the Nevada Player of the Year out of high school and develop the Mountain West Conference Freshman of the Year in 2008.
As a player, Blue had a decorated career at UCLA where earned Pac-10 first-team honors four times and was named a WBCA All-American in 2006. During her time at UCLA she played an integral role in leading the Bruins to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances and the 2006 Pac-10 Tournament title.
Blue was drafted by the WNBA's Washington Mystics in 2006. She played four seasons with the Mystics and one with the New York Liberty before playing two seasons internationally with FIBA (one in Turkey and one in Greece).
WHEN: Sunday at 3 p.m. CT/2 p.m. MT
WHERE: Williams Arena • Minneapolis, Minn.
TELEVISION: Big Ten Network
RADIO: NBC Sports Radio AM 1060
LIVE AUDIO: Sun Devil Athletics TuneIn Channel
LIVE STATS: Click here
UP NEXT
The No. 19 Arizona State women's basketball team goes on the road for the first time this season when it travels to Minneapolis, Minn., to face Big Ten foe Minnesota on Sunday (3 p.m. CT/2 p.m. MT).
The Sun Devils posted a pair of double-digit wins to start the season, defeating Air Force 87-56 and Army 83-51. Both wins were the product of team efforts as the Sun Devils have received important contributions from several different players on the roster. Leading the way have been post players senior Ja'Tavia Tapley (14.5 ppg, 7.0 rpg) and sophomore Jayde Van Hyfte (12.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg), who have combined to average 26.5 ppg and 13.0 rpg. The duo has combined to shoot 65.6 percent from the floor. Both players had career nights in ASU's win over Army as Tapley scored a career-high 18 points, to go with six rebounds four steals and two assists, while Van Hyfte notched her first career double-double (12 points, 10 rebounds).
ASU's four newest players – Tapley, freshman post Eboni Walker and freshmen guards Sara Bejedi and Sydnei Caldwell – have already provided significant contributions as the quartet was responsible for 38 percent of the scoring and 38 percent of the rebounds in last week's wins.
Senior post Jamie Ruden made the first two starts of her career last week and led ASU in scoring (14 points) in its season opening win over Air Force. Fellow senior Kiara Russell is currently second on the team in field goal percentage (63.6). After missing the first game due to injury, senior guard Robbi Ryan scored 12 points while grabbing four rebounds in ASU's win over Army.
COVERAGE
Sunday's game vs. Minnesota can be seen on Big Ten Network. The game can also be heard on NBC Sports Radio AM 1060 and the Sun Devil Athletics TuneIn Channel. Pregame coverage will start at 1:30 pm in the Valley. Veteran broadcaster and the state of Arizona's 2010 and 2019 Broadcaster of the Year Jeff Munn is in his 16th season as the voice of ASU women's basketball.
WELCOME HOME
Sunday's game vs. Minnesota will be a homecoming for Sun Devil seniors Jamie Ruden and Kiara Russell. Ruden (Rochester, Minn./John Marshall High School), was a two-time AP First-Team All-State honoree, member of the James Naismith All-America team and a finalist for Minnesota's Miss Basketball award. She concluded her varsity career as Rochester's all-time leading scorer, boy or girl, with 2,671 points. Russell (Minneapolis, Minn./Osseo High School) was also a Miss Minnesota Basketball finalist and a Gatorade Player of the year finalist.
Another Sun Devil who will see familiar faces is sophomore Jayde Van Hyfte, who hails from Annawan, Ill., 400 miles south of Minneapolis.
SCOUTING MINNESOTA
Minnesota (2-1) will be playing its fourth consecutive game at home. The Gophers, who were ranked 23rd in the preseason AP poll, fell to 2019 NCAA Sweet 16 participant Missouri State in their opener (77-69) before bouncing back to claim double-digit wins over Vermont (90-58) and Milwaukee (77-61). The Gophers went 21-11 and advanced to the second round of the WNIT Tournament last season. Minnesota was picked fifth in the Big Ten preseason media poll. Junior G/F Destiny Pitts, one of three returning starters for second-year head coach Lindsey Whalen, earned preseason All-Big Ten notice from both the coaches and the media .
Minnesota claimed the only prior meeting against the Sun Devils, a 76-58 decision at the Northern Lights Tournament in Anchorage, Alaska (2/27/82).
WHERE WE STARTED
The Sun Devils finished 15th in the nation in 2018-19, setting school records for consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances (six) and 20-win seasons (six). ASU won a pair of games in the 2019 NCAA Tournament and advanced to the Sweet 16 for the fifth time since 2005.
The Sun Devils returned two starters this season in the form of guards Reili Richardson (started 89 of 101 games entering 2019-20) and Robbi Ryan (started 74 of 101 games entering 2019-20). ASU's three-year starter at point guard, Richardson concluded the 2018-19 season No. 4 in the nation and No. 1 in the Pac-12 in assist-to-turnover ratio and led the team and finished 6th in the Pac-12 in assists (5.0 apg). She started the 2019-20 season in third place on ASU's all-time list for career assists (456). Ryan, who earned All-Pac-12 honorable mention and Pac-12 All-Defensive honorable mention recognition from the league's coaches in 2018, started every game in 2018-19 and concluded the season second on the team in 3-pointers (29), third in scoring (7.2 ppg) and assists (1.8 apg) and fifth in rebounds (2.5 rpg).
Sophomore guards Taya Hanson and Iris Mbulito both competed internationally over the summer for the second straight season. Representing Canada at the FIBA U19 World Cup in Thailand, Hanson averaged 10.7 points in the tournament's seven games and led Canada in its final contest with 15 points. Mbulito, who earned Pac-12 All-Freshman honorable mention honors last season, helped Spain claim a fifth-place finish at the FIBA U20 European Championship held in the Czech Republic. Mbulito averaged 10.4 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.7 assists (second among all players) in the seven games.
Also returning for ASU in the backcourt are senior Kiara Russell and sophomore Jamie Loera. Russell, who has 95 games of experience under her belt, finished second on the team in assists (2.2 apg) and fifth in FG pct. (45.7) last season. Despite being limited to 11 games last season, Loera still had an impact as ASU's leader in 3-point FG percentage (50.0/9-18).
The frontcourt is where the Sun Devils lost the most from last year's team as the squad is having to replace its top three scorers and rebounders. Returning posts for the Sun Devils include senior Jamie Ruden (averaged 6.1 ppg in 78 career games), junior Bre'yanna Sanders and sophomore Jayde Van Hyfte.
The Sun Devils started the new campaign with four newcomers. Senior post Ja'Tavia Tapley brings her talents to ASU after being a strong contributor for USC where she started 41 games the last three seasons (26 starts in 2018-19). Also debuting for the Sun Devils later this fall will be freshman post Eboni Walker (state of Nevada's Gatorade Player of the Year in 2019) and freshman guards Sydnei Caldwell (2019 McDonald's All-American Game nominee from the state of New Jersey) and Sara Bejedi, who represented Finland at the World University Games in July 2019 and finished third among all players in scoring (16.2 ppg), second in steals (3.0 spg) and tied for third in 3-pointers per game (2.7).
PRESEASON POLLS
• Both the coaches and media picked the Sun Devils to finish fifth in the Pac-12.
• ASU was ranked 20th in the preseason AP poll and 18th in the USA Today Sports Coaches Poll. The Sun Devils moved up one spot to 19th in the AP poll after opening with a pair of double-digit wins over Air Force and Army.
NOTES ON THE NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
Contests against five – and possibly as many as eight – teams that qualified for postseason play last March highlight the Arizona State women's basketball team's 2019 non-conference schedule.
The Sun Devils will play seven of their non-conference contests at home, including a tilt against 2019 NCAA Tournament participant BYU on Fri., Dec. 6. ASU will also host 2019 WNIT participants Idaho State (Sun., Dec. 8) and New Mexico (Sat., Dec. 14).
Both of ASU's road contests will be against stiff competition. Its third game of the season will be at 2019 WNIT participant Minnesota (Sun., Nov. 17). The Sun Devils' penultimate non-conference game will be at 2019 NCAA entrant New Mexico State (Wed., Dec. 18).
ASU will also play three games at the 2019 Gulf Coast Showcase. The field for the Thanksgiving weekend tournament includes Auburn (2019 NCAA First Round), Dayton (2019 WNIT First Round), Drake (2019 NCAA First Round), Gonzaga (2019 NCAA Second Round), Maine (2019 NCAA First Round), Middle Tennessee (2019 WNIT Second Round) and Purdue. ASU will open tournament play against Maine.
ASU is 60-11 (.845) in non-conference play since 2013.
DOMINANT DEVIL DEFENSE
• Last season ASU led the Pac-12 in scoring defense (58.2 ppg). It was the second straight season and third time in five years that ASU has led the Pac-12 in scoring defense.
• ASU has allowed an average of only 56.9 ppg since the start of the 2014-15 season (a span of 171 games). It has held the opposition to 50 or less points 54 times during that stretch. They are 53-1 in those contests. The only loss came at home to Cal (50-49) on Feb. 8, 2015. Over that same stretch (171 games), ASU has allowed the opposition to make only 28.8 percent of its attempts from long range. Through two games in 2019-20, the Sun Devils have remained true to form, allowing an average of 53.5 points while holding the opposition to 20 percent from long range (4-20).
• Last season ASU held each of its Pac-12 opponents below its scoring average: UA (-25.4), Utah (-16.1), CU (-1.2), Stan (-8.5), Cal (-10.6), UO (-14.1), OSU (-5.7 in 2OTs), UCLA (-9.6), USC (-8.1 ppg), UA (-24.0), WSU (-21.3), CU (-17.9), Utah (-17.6), Cal (-0.9), Stan (-5.0), OSU (-23.4), UO (-22.0).
• Defense made the greatest comeback in school history possible last season. Against Utah on Feb. 17, 2019, ASU held the Utes to only 3 points in the 4th quarter allowing the Sun Devils to rally from 18 down with a 20-0 run in the last 7:45 to win 60-58.
REILI RICHARDSON GUIDES NEAR FLAWLESS ATTACK
One of the biggest reasons for ASU's outstanding execution on the offensive end over the last three seasons is the play of senior guard Reili Richardson. In 2018, Richardson's exceptional play at the point helped the Sun Devils shatter the school record for fewest turnovers per game (11.3). Richardson concluded the 2017-18 season ranked No. 4 in the nation and first in the Pac-12 in assist-to-TO ratio (3.46). Last season Richardson finished No. 4 in the nation and No. 1 in the Pac-12 in assist-to-turnover ratio and led the team and finished 6th in the Pac-12 in assists (5.0 apg). Richardson is currently in third place on ASU's all-time list for career assists (463). She needs 21 assists to pass Elisha Davis (483/2012-15) for second place and 72 more to pass Briann January, ASU's all-time assists leader (534/2006-09).
GRAD TRANSFER JA'TAVIA TAPLEY HAS IMMEDIATE IMPACT
The Sun Devil women's basketball team added a strong post player during the offseason when Charli Turner Thorne announced that Ja'Tavia Tapley was joining the program as a grad transfer from USC. A 6-3 forward, Tapley started 41 games at USC the last three seasons, including 26 contests during the 2018-19 season.
Tapley has already provided the Sun Devils with a strong presence on both ends of the floor as she currently leads the team in points (14.5 ppg), rebounds (7.0 rpg), steals (3.0 spg) and free throws made (9) and attempted (11) and is third in FG pct. (62.5/10-16). Tapley scored 11 points and led team with eight rebounds in her first appearance as a Sun Devil in season opener vs. Air Force (Nov. 5). She followed that with a career-high 18 points to go with six rebounds, four steals and two assists in 15 minutes of play in win over Army (Nov. 10).
Tapley started 26 of 30 games in 2018-19 and averaged 6.0 points and 5.0 rebounds per game. She scored in double figures four times and pulled down seven or more rebounds 10 times. Tapley averaged 12.0 points in USC's two games against Colorado, accounting for a career-high 14 points in the first meeting. Against Pac-12 champion and Final Four participant Oregon, Tapley had 13 points and seven boards. She posted season highs in rebounds (nine) and steals (four) against NCAA Tournament participant Texas A&M.
Tapley appeared in all 31 games in 2017-18 and scored a season-high nine points on two occasions. She recorded career highs with 10 rebounds and five steals vs. Arizona and also delivered a career-high four assists at Colorado.
Tapley played in all 30 games as a true freshman and was promoted to a starting role the second half of the season. She scored in double figures three times, including a career-high, 15-point effort against Arizona.
BENCH PRODUCTION
Last season the Sun Devil bench more than doubled the production of the opposition's bench (23.2-11.4), an improvement over the prior season when ASU had a 22.5-12.1 edge. Early returns in 2019-20 suggest the Sun Devils may have one of their most complete teams ever in terms the level of efficiency they have shown with different combinations on the floor. In its first two games, ASU has averaged nearly three times the number of points as the opposition's reserves (46.0-15.5). The 46.0 points are more than half the 85.0 points the Sun Devils have averaged in their first three games.
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
Over the summer three Sun Devils – sophomores Taya Hanson and Iris Mbulito and freshman Sara Bejedi – participated in international competitions.
Taya Hanson was one of 12 athletes representing Canada at the FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup 2019 in Bangkok, Thailand (July 20-28). Mbulito represented Spain at the FIBA U20 European Championship being held Aug. 3-11 in the Czech Republic. Bejedi just played for Finland at the World University Games in Italy, finishing third among all players in scoring (16.2 ppg), second in steals (3.0 spg) and tied for third in 3-pointers per game (2.7).
During the summer of 2018, Hanson, Mbulito and senior Kiara Russell all played in international competitions and were part of teams that won medals.
Mbulito earned Most Valuable Player honors as she helped Spain claim the gold medal at the 2018 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.
HOME SWEET HOME
ASU has made Wells Fargo Arena one of the toughest places to play in recent years as the Sun Devils have won 83.0 percent of their home games (81-17) going back to the 2013-14 season.
GETTING IT DONE IN THE CLASSROOM
• Six Sun Devils were named to the 2019 Pac-12 Women's Basketball All-Academic teams. Headlining the list for ASU was jJamie Ruden, who earned first-team honors for the second consecutive year. Ruden (4.00 GPA in Psychology) was also named to the Google Cloud CoSIDA Academic All-District® VIII Second Team for the second straight year. ASU also had five players named Pac-12 honorable mention recognition: senior F Kianna Ibis, senior C Charnea Johnson-Chapman and guards Reili Richardson, Kiara Russell and Robbi Ryan.
• A league-high and school-record-tying eight Sun Devil WBB players were named to the Pac-12 Women's Basketball All-Academic teams in 2018. The eight awards tied the school record for most student-athletes on the Pac-12's All-Academic Team. The 2006-07 team also had eight (two on first team, one on second team and five honorable mention).
• In 2017 ASU finished among the nation's best in combined team GPA. With a final team GPA of 3.672 for the 2016-17 academic year the Sun Devils finished fifth in the nation (the highest ranking in program history) among Division I institutions in the WBCA's annual Academic Top 25. The WBCA Academic Top 25 recognizes NCAA Division I, II and III; NAIA and junior/community college women's basketball teams across the nation that carry the highest combined GPAs inclusive of all student-athletes on their rosters for the entire season. The 2016-17 season is the 22nd in which the WBCA has compiled the honor rolls. ASU's No. 5 finish represented the second time in three seasons the Sun Devils were among the top 10 programs in the country after placing seventh (3.558) for the 2014-15 academic year. In 2016-17 ASU was one of only eight teams around the country to be included in the WBCA's Top 25 and qualify for the NCAA Tournament. Of those eight, ASU and DePaul were the only two schools to advance past the first round.
NIKKI BLUE JOINS SUN DEVIL WBB COACHING STAFF
Former UCLA All-American and Washington Mystics guard Nikki Blue was named assistant coach last April.Blue joined Charli Turner Thorne's staff from nearby Grand Canyon University where she was the top assistant and recruiting coordinator the last two seasons. In that position she oversaw the program's domestic and international recruiting, scouting and planning. In her first season on staff, Blue's guidance was instrumental in guard Brie Mobley earning All-WAC first-team recognition.
Blue arrived at GCU after spending three seasons as the top assistant at CSU Bakersfield, where she was part of a staff that helped the Roadrunners to a 2014 postseason appearance with 23 wins. Before Bakersfield, Blue spent six years as an assistant coach at UNLV, where she helped the Rebels land the Nevada Player of the Year out of high school and develop the Mountain West Conference Freshman of the Year in 2008.
As a player, Blue had a decorated career at UCLA where earned Pac-10 first-team honors four times and was named a WBCA All-American in 2006. During her time at UCLA she played an integral role in leading the Bruins to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances and the 2006 Pac-10 Tournament title.
Blue was drafted by the WNBA's Washington Mystics in 2006. She played four seasons with the Mystics and one with the New York Liberty before playing two seasons internationally with FIBA (one in Turkey and one in Greece).