TEMPE, Ariz. - Arizona State University women's basketball players Kianna Ibis, Courtney Ekmark and Iris Mbulito were recognized by the Pac-12 on Tuesday as the conference announced its annual awards for the 2018-19 season as voted on by the league's head coaches.
Ibis was named to the conference's 15-member All-Pac-12 Team for the second straight season and also earned Pac-12 All-Defensive honorable mention honors, Ekmark was named All-Pac-12 honorable mention and Mbulito earned Pac-12 All-Freshman honorable mention recognition.
A starter in every game this season, Ibis currently leads the team in scoring (14.6 ppg), steals (1.2 spg) and blocks (0.6 bpg) and is second in rebounds (6.6 rpg). ASU's active career leader in points (1,121), rebs (538), steals (99) and blocks (52), Ibis Is averaging 17.0 ppg and 7.2 rpg and is shooting 50 percent in ASU's nine games this season vs. ranked teams. For the season, Ibis has scored 20 or more points eight times and has grabbed seven or more rebounds 15 times, including season-highs of 28 points and 13 rebounds in upset of No. 10 Oregon State (Jan. 20). Against Utah on Jan. 4, Ibis knocked down back-to-back 3-ponters to help ASU erase six-point deficit in final 80 seconds of their eventual 65-63 win. She followed that up with a 27-point, seven-rebound effort in ASU's win at Colorado (Jan. 6). One week later, Ibis scored 26 points (included career-best 4-4 3-pointers) to go with six rebounds and two steals in win over then-No. 24 California (Jan. 13). Ibis Poured in 22 points and grabbed eight rebounds at No. 5 Oregon (Jan. 18) and followed that with season highs in points (28), rebounds (13) and blocks (3) in ASU's upset at No. 10 Oregon State (Jan. 20). Against the Beavers, Ibis scored 21 of her season-high 28 points in the second half and overtime. In the rematch against Oregon State (Mar. 1), Ibis scored 16 of her 20 points in the second half and grabbed eight rebounds in ASU's upset of the No. 9 Beavers. Most recently, Ibis scored a game-high 23 points and grabbed eight rebounds in ASU's near upset of No. 6 Oregon (Mar. 3). In addition to all of her offensive contributions, Ibis was every bit as important on the defensive end where her efforts helped ASU finished the regular season with the league's top scoring defense for the second straight season.
ASU's top perimeter shooter, Ekmark currently leads the team in 3-pointers (53 - 12th in Pac-12), is second in scoring (10.0 ppg) and steals (0.8 spg), third in assists (1.7 apg) and fourth in rebounds (3.0 rpg). Ekmark, who is currently a second-year law student at ASU's Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law (earned undergrad in three years with 4.0 GPA), has buried three or more 3-pointers nine times this season. She was ASU's leading scorer (13.0 ppg) during its season-best seven-game winning streak to end non-conference play. Against Colorado State (Dec. 9), Ekmark came within one 3-pointer of tying the school record she already shares, hitting six triples (6-10) and scoring a season-high 21 points. In ASU's come-from-behind win at Utah (Jan. 4), Ekmark led ASU with 15 points to go with five rebounds and four steals (one short of tying career high). She started the month of February scoring team-high 20 points to go with a season-high seven rebounds in ASU's win over Arizona (Feb. 1). She scored 15 points and hit the game-winning free throws with .9 seconds left in ASU's 60-58 win over Utah in which ASU overcame 18-point deficit.
Mbulito has had several flashes of brilliance in her first season as a Sun Devil. Currently third on the team in assists (1.7 apg) and fourth in steals (0.7 spg), Mbulito scored a season-high 13 points to go with four assists in ASU's win at Arkansas (Nov. 18). In ASU's win over SIU at the South Point Thanksgiving Shootout, Mbulito accounted for 10 points, three rebounds and four assists. In ASU's come-from-behind win at Utah (Jan. 4), Mbulito scored five of her eight points in the fourth quarter to help the Sun Devils come away with the win. She recorded a season-high five assists in ASU's wins over Cal (Jan. 13) and at Washington State (Feb. 7). Two of Mbulito's most impactful performances came against Oregon State. In the first meeting in Corvallis, she scored nine points to go with five rebounds and two steals in helping ASU upset then-No. 10 OSU. In the rematch last Friday, Mbulito notched her third double-figure scoring effort of the season, accounting for 10 points in ASU's second upset of the Beavers, who were No. 9 in the nation coming into the game.
Currently No. 20 in the nation, the Sun Devils (19-9, 10-7 Pac-12) will be the No. 5 seed in this week's Pac-12 Tournament. They will open play in the tournament on Thursday (11:30 a.m. PT/12:30 p.m. MT) when they face Colorado (No. 12 seed) at MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas. The game can be seen on Pac-12 Networks and heard on NBC Sports Radio AM 1060.
Ibis was named to the conference's 15-member All-Pac-12 Team for the second straight season and also earned Pac-12 All-Defensive honorable mention honors, Ekmark was named All-Pac-12 honorable mention and Mbulito earned Pac-12 All-Freshman honorable mention recognition.
A starter in every game this season, Ibis currently leads the team in scoring (14.6 ppg), steals (1.2 spg) and blocks (0.6 bpg) and is second in rebounds (6.6 rpg). ASU's active career leader in points (1,121), rebs (538), steals (99) and blocks (52), Ibis Is averaging 17.0 ppg and 7.2 rpg and is shooting 50 percent in ASU's nine games this season vs. ranked teams. For the season, Ibis has scored 20 or more points eight times and has grabbed seven or more rebounds 15 times, including season-highs of 28 points and 13 rebounds in upset of No. 10 Oregon State (Jan. 20). Against Utah on Jan. 4, Ibis knocked down back-to-back 3-ponters to help ASU erase six-point deficit in final 80 seconds of their eventual 65-63 win. She followed that up with a 27-point, seven-rebound effort in ASU's win at Colorado (Jan. 6). One week later, Ibis scored 26 points (included career-best 4-4 3-pointers) to go with six rebounds and two steals in win over then-No. 24 California (Jan. 13). Ibis Poured in 22 points and grabbed eight rebounds at No. 5 Oregon (Jan. 18) and followed that with season highs in points (28), rebounds (13) and blocks (3) in ASU's upset at No. 10 Oregon State (Jan. 20). Against the Beavers, Ibis scored 21 of her season-high 28 points in the second half and overtime. In the rematch against Oregon State (Mar. 1), Ibis scored 16 of her 20 points in the second half and grabbed eight rebounds in ASU's upset of the No. 9 Beavers. Most recently, Ibis scored a game-high 23 points and grabbed eight rebounds in ASU's near upset of No. 6 Oregon (Mar. 3). In addition to all of her offensive contributions, Ibis was every bit as important on the defensive end where her efforts helped ASU finished the regular season with the league's top scoring defense for the second straight season.
ASU's top perimeter shooter, Ekmark currently leads the team in 3-pointers (53 - 12th in Pac-12), is second in scoring (10.0 ppg) and steals (0.8 spg), third in assists (1.7 apg) and fourth in rebounds (3.0 rpg). Ekmark, who is currently a second-year law student at ASU's Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law (earned undergrad in three years with 4.0 GPA), has buried three or more 3-pointers nine times this season. She was ASU's leading scorer (13.0 ppg) during its season-best seven-game winning streak to end non-conference play. Against Colorado State (Dec. 9), Ekmark came within one 3-pointer of tying the school record she already shares, hitting six triples (6-10) and scoring a season-high 21 points. In ASU's come-from-behind win at Utah (Jan. 4), Ekmark led ASU with 15 points to go with five rebounds and four steals (one short of tying career high). She started the month of February scoring team-high 20 points to go with a season-high seven rebounds in ASU's win over Arizona (Feb. 1). She scored 15 points and hit the game-winning free throws with .9 seconds left in ASU's 60-58 win over Utah in which ASU overcame 18-point deficit.
Mbulito has had several flashes of brilliance in her first season as a Sun Devil. Currently third on the team in assists (1.7 apg) and fourth in steals (0.7 spg), Mbulito scored a season-high 13 points to go with four assists in ASU's win at Arkansas (Nov. 18). In ASU's win over SIU at the South Point Thanksgiving Shootout, Mbulito accounted for 10 points, three rebounds and four assists. In ASU's come-from-behind win at Utah (Jan. 4), Mbulito scored five of her eight points in the fourth quarter to help the Sun Devils come away with the win. She recorded a season-high five assists in ASU's wins over Cal (Jan. 13) and at Washington State (Feb. 7). Two of Mbulito's most impactful performances came against Oregon State. In the first meeting in Corvallis, she scored nine points to go with five rebounds and two steals in helping ASU upset then-No. 10 OSU. In the rematch last Friday, Mbulito notched her third double-figure scoring effort of the season, accounting for 10 points in ASU's second upset of the Beavers, who were No. 9 in the nation coming into the game.
Currently No. 20 in the nation, the Sun Devils (19-9, 10-7 Pac-12) will be the No. 5 seed in this week's Pac-12 Tournament. They will open play in the tournament on Thursday (11:30 a.m. PT/12:30 p.m. MT) when they face Colorado (No. 12 seed) at MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas. The game can be seen on Pac-12 Networks and heard on NBC Sports Radio AM 1060.