WHEN: Wednesday at 11 a.m. MST
WHERE: Pan American Center • Las Cruces, N.M.
TELEVISION: Fox Sports Arizona/Fox Sports GO App (with provider login)
LIVE STREAM: Click here
RADIO: 1440 AM
LIVE AUDIO: Sun Devil Athletics TuneIn Channel
LIVE STATS: Click here
UP NEXT
Winners of its last four games, the Arizona State women's basketball team (8-2) will play its last non-conference road game of the season when it travels to Las Cruces, N.M. for a Wednesday matinee game (11 a.m. MST) at New Mexico State. Two days later (Friday at 2 p.m. MST) the Sun Devils will close out non-conference play when they host Creighton at Desert Financial Arena.
The Sun Devils extended their winning streak to four games with a 84-47 win over New Mexico on Saturday. Reili Richardson (21 points) and Sara Bejedi (16 points) both posted career highs while Ja'Tavia Tapley (12 points, 12 rebounds) recorded her third-straight double-double.
The Sun Devils started their recent three-game homestand with a pair of hard-fought wins over BYU (60-52 on Dec. 6) and Idaho State (74-69 in OT on Dec. 8). Tapley recorded double-doubles in both games and averaged 13.0 ppg/14.5 rpg for the weekend. Tapley's 18 rebounds against BYU were the most by a Sun Devil in a single game in more than 20 years. Richardson had a (then) season-high 15 points against BYU and senior guard Kiara Russell had a career-high 14 points against Idaho State.
ASU started the 2019-20 campaign with pair of double-digit home wins, defeating Air Force 87-56 (Nov. 5) and Army 83-51 (Nov. 10). Leading the way were Tapley (14.5 ppg, 7.0 rpg) and freshman post Jayde Van Hyfte (12.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg), who combined to average 26.5 ppg and 13.0 rpg shot a collective 65.6 percent from the floor. Both players had career nights in ASU's win over Army as Tapley scored a (then) 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).
The Sun Devils came up short in their first road contest of the season, falling at Minnesota 80-66 (Nov. 17). ASU struggled from the floor, hitting only 34 percent of its shots against the Gophers. Tapley (16 points), sophomore guard Taya Hanson (career-high 14 points), Richardson (10 points) and senior guard Robbi Ryan (10 points) all scored in double figures for the Sun Devils, who outrebounded the Gophers 43-34.
ASU rebounded with a 66-41 win over Cal Poly on Nov. 24. For the second time in three games, Tapley posted a career-high in scoring with 23 points while Van Hyfte pulled down a career-best 12 rebounds.
ASU spent Thanksgiving weekend in Estero, Fla., where it won two of three games – defeated Maine (57-31) and Middle Tennessee (61-60) and lost to Purdue (59-52) – at the Gulf Coast Showcase. Hanson (9.3 ppg), Ryan (8.3 ppg), Tapley (7.3 ppg) and freshman post Eboni Walker (7.3 ppg) were ASU's top scorers for the weekend. Van Hyfte was ASU's leading rebounder, averaging 7.7 boards in the three games. Van Hyfte (6-9/66.7 pct.) and Walker (10-20/50 pct.) combined to shoot 55 percent for the weekend. All three of ASU's freshmen had significant contributions in the win over Middle Tennessee. Walker had eight of her 12 points in the second half. Sara Bejedi had eight points and a team-high eight rebounds and Sydnei Caldwell added five points and a team-high three steals.
COVERAGE
Wednesday's game at New Mexico State will be televised by Fox Sports Arizona and on the Fox Sports GO app (with provider login). A live stream can also be viewed by clicking here. The game can also be heard on 1440 AM and the Sun Devil Athletics TuneIn Channel. Pregame coverage will start at 10:30 a.m. 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.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
• ASU has split its 10 games with New Mexico State that date back to the 1975-76 season. The Sun Devils have won five of the last six, including postseason home wins in 2010 (WNIT First Round) and 2016 (NCAA First Round). This will be ASU's first visit to Las Cruces since 1986.
• ASU is 66-13 (.835) in non-conference play since 2013. During that same stretch it is also 74-13 (.851) at home. A win on Wednesday would give ASU's its 25th win streak of five or more games since 2004.
• The Sun Devils come into Wednesday's game ranked among the top 40 in the nation in offensive rebounds per game (2nd/19.7 rpg), rebound margin (3rd/+15.1), 3-point FG percent defense (11th/23.6), rebounds per game (17th/44.7), scoring defense (26th/54.6) and steals per game (27th/11.5).
• ASU is ranked among the top third in the Pac-12 in rebounding defense (1st/29.6 rpg), offensive rebounds per game (1st/19.7 rpg), rebounding margin (1st/+15.1), steals (4th/11.5 spg) and turnover margin (4th/+3.5).
• ASU individual leaders in the Pac-12: Ja'Tavia Tapley: 5th in rebounding/8.5 rpg, 7th in offensive rebounds/2.8 rpg, 8th in FT pct./69.8, 17th in scoring/12.8 ppg; Jayde Van Hyfte: 1st in offensive rebounds/3.8 rpg, 9th in rebounding/6.9 rpg; Eboni Walker: 5th in offensive rebounds/3.0 rpg; Kiara Russell: 7th in steals (1.9 spg).
• On average, ASU's bench has outscored the opponent's reserves 28.7-10.3. Kiara Russell (7.8 ppg), Sara Bejedi (7.3 ppg) and Eboni Walker (7.3) have combined to average 22.4 ppg during ASU's four-game winning streak.
• ASU has outrebounded all 10 of its opponents.
• ASU has allowed 13 or fewer points in quarter 20 times this season (10x in single-digits).
• In its last three games, ASU outscored the opposition 68-28 in the third quarter.
• Graduate transfer Ja'Tavia Tapley has proven to be a dominant presence thus far. She has played in every game (8 starts) and currently leads the team in scoring (12.8 ppg), rebounds (8.5) and free throws made (30) and attempted (43), is tied for 2nd in steals (1.5 spg) and FG pct. (50.0) and tied for 4th in assists (1.7 apg). Tapley, who has three straight double-doubles, pulled down a career-high 18 rebounds in ASU's win over BYU (Dec. 6), the highest single-game rebound total in more than 20 years.
• Senior guard Reili Richardson is currently in 2nd place on ASU's all-time list for career assists (485). She needs 50 assists to pass Briann January and becomes ASU's all-time assists leader (534/2006-09).
• Jayde Van Hyfte has grabbed 10 or more rebounds three times this season. She is shooting 59.2 percent (16-27) in ASU's last six games.
• Starting senior post Jamie Ruden, senior guard Kiara Russell and reserve sophomore guard Jamie Loera have all missed time due to injury/illness. Ruden has missed ASU's last eight games, Russell missed two games and Loera all 10 games. Starting senior guard Robbi Ryan missed the season opener and left ASU's game vs. Idaho State (Dec. 8) early in the second quarter due to injury.
• ASU is currently in the midst of stretch in which it is playing five of six games at home. ASU's only road game this month is Wednesday's contest at New Mexico State. The Sun Devils open Pac-12 play on Dec. 29 when they host Arizona.
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. They fell out of both polls after their 80-66 setback at Minnesota on Nov. 17. They are currently receiving votes in both the AP and coaches polls.