WHAT: Sun Devil WBB (1-0) vs. Army (0-1)
WHEN: Sunday at 5 p.m. MST
WHERE: Desert Financial Arena • Tempe, Ariz.
LIVE STREAM: http://pac-12.com/live/arizona-state-university
RADIO: NBC Sports Radio AM 1060
LIVE AUDIO: Sun Devil Athletics TuneIn Channel
LIVE STATS: Click here
TICKETS: Click here to purchase.
UP NEXT
The No. 20 Arizona State women's basketball team concludes its two-game homestand to start the 2019-20 season on Sunday when it hosts Army. Tipoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. MST at Desert Financial Arena.
The Sun Devils will be looking to move to 2-0 after opening the season with an 87-56 win over Air Force on Tuesday.
Next week the Sun Devils will go on the road for the first time this season when they travel to the Midwest to face Minnesota (Sun., Nov. 17 at 3 p.m. CT/2 p.m. MT). They will then return to Desert Financial Arena to host Cal Poly on Sun., Nov. 24 at 5 p.m.
LIVE STREAM/RADIO/LIVE AUDIO
Sunday's game vs. Army 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. Pregame coverage will start at 4:30 pm. 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. He will be joined by former Sun Devil head coach Maura McHugh.
NOTES FROM LAST GAME
• The Sun Devils opened the 2019-20 season with an 87-56 win over Air Force on Tuesday, their 19thsuccessful outing in their last 22 season openers.
• ASU outscored Air Force 42-20 in the first and fourth quarters combined.
• Jamie Ruden (14 points, 6-10 FGs) and fellow post Jayde Van Hyfte (12 points, 5-6 FGs) – both making their first career start – combined for 26 points while shooting 68.8 percent (11-16 FGs) for the game.
• In her Sun Devil debut, graduate transfer Ja'Tavia Tapley scored 11 points and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds.
• ASU's three freshmen – Sara Bejedi (12 points), Eboni Walker (seven points), Sydnei Caldwell (six points) – accounted for 25 of the team's 87 points.
SERIES NOTES VS. ARMY
ASU won only its prior meeting vs. Army 83-46 in 2011 in Tempe.
SCOUTING ARMY
Army opened its season with a 77-65 loss to William & Mary on Tuesday. The Black Knights had three players Lindsey Scamman (career-high 22 points), Sabria Hunter (15 points), and Sarah Bohn (14 points) – score in double figures. The Black Knights were picked to finish 10th in the Patriot League preseason poll.
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 last three seasons) and Robbi Ryan (started 74 of 101 games last three seasons). 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 entered 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 93 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).
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.
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 of the USA Today Sports Coaches Poll.
QUICK PLAYER NOTES
0 - Taya Hanson (So. G) – Played in every game last season and finished fifth on the team in 3-pointers… Has competed internationally for Canada each of the last two summers… Made first career start vs. Air Force (Nov. 5).
1- Reili Richardson (Sr. G) – Has played in 102 games (90 starts) and is currently in third place on ASU's all-time list for career assists (459). Needs 25 assists to pass Elisha Davis (483/2012-15) for second place and 76 more to pass Briann January, ASU's all-time assists leader (534/2006-09).
3 - Sara Bejedi (Fr. G) – 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)… Scored 12 points in her Sun Devil debut vs. Air Force (Nov. 5).
4 - Kiara Russell (Sr. G) – Has played in 94 (14 starts) career games and has finished second on the team in assists each of the last two seasons… Started and made all her of her shots and scored nine points in season opener vs. Air Force (Nov. 5).
5 - Jamie Loera (So. G) – Led the team in 3-point FG pct. (50.0/9-18) last season.
11 - Robbi Ryan (Sr. G) – Has played in 101 games (74 starts). Earned All-Pac-12 honorable mention and Pac-12 All-Defensive honorable mention recognition from the league's coaches in 2018.
21 - Sydnei Caldwell (Fr. G) – A 2019 McDonald's All-American Game nominee from the state of New Jersey, Caldwell was ranked No. 28 at her position by ESPN.com… Scored six points (3-5 FGs) and had three rebounds in season opener vs. Air Force (Nov. 5).
22 - Eboni Walker (Fr. F) - The 2019 Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of Nevada, Walker led her Centennial team to a 31-1 record and a fifth-straight Class 4A state championship in 2019… Scored seven points and grabbed six rebounds in season opener vs. Air Force (Nov. 5).
23 - Iris Mbulito (So. G/F) – A 2019 Pac-12 All-Freshman Honorable Mention selection, Mbulito played in every game and led the team in free throw attempts, was second in steals (0.7 spg) and tied for fourth in assists (1.6 apg)… Scored three points to go with five rebounds and three assists in season opening win vs. Air Force (Nov 5).
24 - Bre'yanna Sanders (Jr. F) – Has played in 39 games… Played 13 minutes and scored two points in season opener vs. Air Force (Nov. 5).
32 - Jayde Van Hyfte (So. F) – As a freshman, played in 29 games and made 60.6 percent of her FGs (20-33)… Scored a career-high 12 points (5-6 FGs) in season opening win over Air Force (Nov. 5).
33 - Ja'Tavia Tapley (Sr. F/C) – Transferred to ASU from USC in April 2019. At USC, Tapley started 41 games the last three seasons, including 26 contests during the 2018-19 season… Scored 11 points and led team with eight rebounds in first appearance as a Sun Devil in season opener vs. Air Force (Nov. 5).
52 - Jamie Ruden (Sr. F/C) – Excellent 3-point shooter who has played in 79 career games… Made first start of career and finished with a team-high 19 points in win over Air Force (Nov. 5).
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 entries 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.
The Sun Devils will open the 2019-20 season on Tues., Nov. 5 when they host Air Force. Five days later (Sun., Nov. 10) ASU will host Army West Point.
A week after its game at Minnesota the Sun Devils will host Cal Poly on Sun., Nov. 24.
ASU will conclude non-conference play at home against Creighton on Fri., Dec. 20.
Including last season's 9-2 record, ASU's 59 regular season, non-conference wins are more than any other school in the Pac-12 since 2013.
WHEN: Sunday at 5 p.m. MST
WHERE: Desert Financial Arena • Tempe, Ariz.
LIVE STREAM: http://pac-12.com/live/arizona-state-university
RADIO: NBC Sports Radio AM 1060
LIVE AUDIO: Sun Devil Athletics TuneIn Channel
LIVE STATS: Click here
TICKETS: Click here to purchase.
UP NEXT
The No. 20 Arizona State women's basketball team concludes its two-game homestand to start the 2019-20 season on Sunday when it hosts Army. Tipoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. MST at Desert Financial Arena.
The Sun Devils will be looking to move to 2-0 after opening the season with an 87-56 win over Air Force on Tuesday.
Next week the Sun Devils will go on the road for the first time this season when they travel to the Midwest to face Minnesota (Sun., Nov. 17 at 3 p.m. CT/2 p.m. MT). They will then return to Desert Financial Arena to host Cal Poly on Sun., Nov. 24 at 5 p.m.
LIVE STREAM/RADIO/LIVE AUDIO
Sunday's game vs. Army 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. Pregame coverage will start at 4:30 pm. 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. He will be joined by former Sun Devil head coach Maura McHugh.
NOTES FROM LAST GAME
• The Sun Devils opened the 2019-20 season with an 87-56 win over Air Force on Tuesday, their 19thsuccessful outing in their last 22 season openers.
• ASU outscored Air Force 42-20 in the first and fourth quarters combined.
• Jamie Ruden (14 points, 6-10 FGs) and fellow post Jayde Van Hyfte (12 points, 5-6 FGs) – both making their first career start – combined for 26 points while shooting 68.8 percent (11-16 FGs) for the game.
• In her Sun Devil debut, graduate transfer Ja'Tavia Tapley scored 11 points and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds.
• ASU's three freshmen – Sara Bejedi (12 points), Eboni Walker (seven points), Sydnei Caldwell (six points) – accounted for 25 of the team's 87 points.
SERIES NOTES VS. ARMY
ASU won only its prior meeting vs. Army 83-46 in 2011 in Tempe.
SCOUTING ARMY
Army opened its season with a 77-65 loss to William & Mary on Tuesday. The Black Knights had three players Lindsey Scamman (career-high 22 points), Sabria Hunter (15 points), and Sarah Bohn (14 points) – score in double figures. The Black Knights were picked to finish 10th in the Patriot League preseason poll.
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 last three seasons) and Robbi Ryan (started 74 of 101 games last three seasons). 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 entered 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 93 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).
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.
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 of the USA Today Sports Coaches Poll.
QUICK PLAYER NOTES
0 - Taya Hanson (So. G) – Played in every game last season and finished fifth on the team in 3-pointers… Has competed internationally for Canada each of the last two summers… Made first career start vs. Air Force (Nov. 5).
1- Reili Richardson (Sr. G) – Has played in 102 games (90 starts) and is currently in third place on ASU's all-time list for career assists (459). Needs 25 assists to pass Elisha Davis (483/2012-15) for second place and 76 more to pass Briann January, ASU's all-time assists leader (534/2006-09).
3 - Sara Bejedi (Fr. G) – 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)… Scored 12 points in her Sun Devil debut vs. Air Force (Nov. 5).
4 - Kiara Russell (Sr. G) – Has played in 94 (14 starts) career games and has finished second on the team in assists each of the last two seasons… Started and made all her of her shots and scored nine points in season opener vs. Air Force (Nov. 5).
5 - Jamie Loera (So. G) – Led the team in 3-point FG pct. (50.0/9-18) last season.
11 - Robbi Ryan (Sr. G) – Has played in 101 games (74 starts). Earned All-Pac-12 honorable mention and Pac-12 All-Defensive honorable mention recognition from the league's coaches in 2018.
21 - Sydnei Caldwell (Fr. G) – A 2019 McDonald's All-American Game nominee from the state of New Jersey, Caldwell was ranked No. 28 at her position by ESPN.com… Scored six points (3-5 FGs) and had three rebounds in season opener vs. Air Force (Nov. 5).
22 - Eboni Walker (Fr. F) - The 2019 Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of Nevada, Walker led her Centennial team to a 31-1 record and a fifth-straight Class 4A state championship in 2019… Scored seven points and grabbed six rebounds in season opener vs. Air Force (Nov. 5).
23 - Iris Mbulito (So. G/F) – A 2019 Pac-12 All-Freshman Honorable Mention selection, Mbulito played in every game and led the team in free throw attempts, was second in steals (0.7 spg) and tied for fourth in assists (1.6 apg)… Scored three points to go with five rebounds and three assists in season opening win vs. Air Force (Nov 5).
24 - Bre'yanna Sanders (Jr. F) – Has played in 39 games… Played 13 minutes and scored two points in season opener vs. Air Force (Nov. 5).
32 - Jayde Van Hyfte (So. F) – As a freshman, played in 29 games and made 60.6 percent of her FGs (20-33)… Scored a career-high 12 points (5-6 FGs) in season opening win over Air Force (Nov. 5).
33 - Ja'Tavia Tapley (Sr. F/C) – Transferred to ASU from USC in April 2019. At USC, Tapley started 41 games the last three seasons, including 26 contests during the 2018-19 season… Scored 11 points and led team with eight rebounds in first appearance as a Sun Devil in season opener vs. Air Force (Nov. 5).
52 - Jamie Ruden (Sr. F/C) – Excellent 3-point shooter who has played in 79 career games… Made first start of career and finished with a team-high 19 points in win over Air Force (Nov. 5).
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 entries 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.
The Sun Devils will open the 2019-20 season on Tues., Nov. 5 when they host Air Force. Five days later (Sun., Nov. 10) ASU will host Army West Point.
A week after its game at Minnesota the Sun Devils will host Cal Poly on Sun., Nov. 24.
ASU will conclude non-conference play at home against Creighton on Fri., Dec. 20.
Including last season's 9-2 record, ASU's 59 regular season, non-conference wins are more than any other school in the Pac-12 since 2013.