WHEN: Friday at 2 p.m. MST
WHERE: Desert Financial Arena • Tempe, Ariz.
TICKETS: Click here to purchase
LIVE STREAM: https://pac-12.com/live/arizona-state-university
RADIO: KAZG 1440 AM
LIVE AUDIO: Sun Devil Athletics TuneIn Channel
LIVE STATS: Click here
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The Arizona State women's basketball team closes out non-conference play on Friday (2 p.m. MST) when it hosts Creighton (8-2) at Desert Financial Arena. Currently 9-2, the Sun Devils bring a five-game winning streak into Friday's matchup.
ASU completed a sweep of the New Mexico schools on Wednesday after defeating New Mexico State 70-47. Freshman post Eboni Walker scored a team/season-high 13 points while senior post Ja'Tavia Tapley added 11 points. ASU took control of the game during the middle two quarters when it outscored NMSU 39-10. Wednesday's victory came on the heels of a 84-47 win over New Mexico on Saturday. Reili Richardson (21 points) and Sara Bejedi (16 points) both posted career highs while Tapley (12 points/12 rebs) recorded her third-straight double-double. The win over New Mexico was the last of three straight home game for the Sun Devils. The homestand started 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 (13.0 ppg/14.5 rpg) to lead ASU. Her 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), lost to Purdue (59-52) – at the Gulf Coast Showcase. Hanson (9.3 ppg), Ryan (8.3 ppg), Tapley (7.3 ppg) and Walker (7.3 ppg) were ASU's top scorers for the weekend. Van Hyfte was ASU's leading rebounder (7.7 rpg). Van Hyfte (6-9/66.7 pct.) and Walker (10-20/50 pct.) combined to shoot 55 pct 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. Bejedi had eight points and a team-high eight rebounds and Sydnei Caldwell added five points and a team-high three steals.
COVERAGE
Friday's game vs. Creighton will can be seen via live stream at http://pac-12.com/live/arizona-state-university. The game can also be heard on 1440 AM KAZG and the Sun Devil Athletics TuneIn Channel. Pregame coverage will start at 1:30 p.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. He will be joined by former Sun Devil head coach Maura McHugh.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
• Friday's game will be the first meeting between ASU and Creighton. The Bluejays have the highest RPI (No. 7) of any team ASU has played thus far.
• ASU is 67-13 (.838) in non-conference play since 2013. During that same stretch it is also 74-13 (.851) at home. ASU's current five-game winning streak represents the 25th time since 2004 that it has had a winning streak of five or more games.
• The Sun Devils come into Friday's game ranked among the top 40 in the nation in offensive rebounds per game (2nd/18.8 rpg), rebound margin (6th/+14.2), 3-point FG percent defense (17th/24.3), scoring defense (18th/53.9), rebounds per game (23rd/44.0)and steals per game (28th/11.3).
• ASU is ranked among the top third in the Pac-12 in rebounding defense (1st/29.8 rpg), offensive rebounds per game (1st/18.8 rpg), rebounding margin (2nd/+14.2), 3-point FG percent defense (2nd/24.3), scoring defense (3rd/53.9 ppg), steals (3rd/11.3 spg) and turnover margin (4th/+4.2).
• ASU individual leaders in the Pac-12: Ja'Tavia Tapley: 5th in rebounding/8.2 rpg, 12th in offensive rebounds/2.6 rpg, 9th in FT pct./68.9, 18th in scoring/12.6 ppg; Jayde Van Hyfte: 1st in offensive rebounds/3.6 rpg, 14th in rebounding/6.7 rpg; Eboni Walker: 8th in offensive rebounds/2.9 rpg; Kiara Russell: t8th in steals (1.8 spg).
• On average, ASU's bench has outscored the opponent's reserves 28.9-9.7. Eboni Walker (8.4 ppg), Kiara Russell (7.5 ppg), Sara Bejedi (6.8 ppg) and have combined to average 22.7 ppg during ASU's five-game winning streak.
• ASU has outrebounded all 11 of its opponents.
• ASU has allowed 13 or fewer points in quarter 23 times this season (12x in single-digits). In its last four games, it has allowed an average of only 19.3 points in the second and third quarters combined. During that same stretch, ASU has outscored the opposition 89-34 in the third quarter.
• Graduate transfer Ja'Tavia Tapley has proven to be a dominant presence thus far. She has played in every game (9 starts) and currently leads the team in scoring (12.6 ppg), rebounds (8.2) and free throws made (31) and attempted (45), is 2nd in steals (1.5 spg) and FG pct. (50.9) and 4th in assists (1.7 apg). Tapley, who had a streak of three straight double-doubles earlier this month, 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 (487). She needs 48 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 58 percent (18-31) in ASU's last seven 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 nine games, Russell missed two games and Loera 10 games before making her 2019-20 debut at New Mexico State (Dec. 18). 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 was 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.
DOMINANT DEVIL DEFENSE
• Last season ASU led the Pac-12 in scoring defense (58.2 ppg). It was the second straight season and the third time in five years that ASU has led the Pac-12 in scoring defense.
• ASU has allowed an average of only 56.7 ppg since the start of the 2014-15 season (a span of 180 games). It has held the opposition to 50 or less points 58 times during that stretch. They are 57-1 in those contests. The only loss came at home to Cal (50-49) on Feb. 8, 2015. Over that same stretch (179 games), ASU has allowed the opposition to make only 28.6 percent of its attempts from long range.
• As of Dec. 19, ASU is 28th in the nation in steals (11.3 spg).
• ASU has allowed 13 or fewer points in quarter 23 times this season (12x in single-digits). In its last four games, it has allowed an average of only 19.3 points in the second and third quarters combined. During that same stretch, ASU has outscored the opposition 89-34 in the third quarter.
• The 31 points scored by Maine on Nov. 29, 2019 represented the fewest given up by ASU since Harvard scored 29 on December 14, 2015.
• 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).
• Outstanding team defense helped ASU make the greatest comeback in school history 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.