TEMPE, Ariz. - Arizona State University women's basketball players Robbi Ryan, Reili Richardson, Ja'Tavia Tapley and Kiara Russell were recognized by the Pac-12 on Tuesday as the conference announced its annual awards for the 2019-20 season as voted on by the league's head coaches.
Ryan was named to the conference's 15-member All-Pac-12 Team for the first time in her career, Richardson and Tapley were both named All-Pac-12 honorable mention and Russell was earned Pac-12 All-Defense honorable mention recognition.
A starter in 28 games this season, Ryan is currently second on the team in scoring (10.5 ppg) and 3-pointers (34), is third in steals (1.0 spg), fourth in assists (1.7 apg) and fifth in rebounds (3.0 rpg). Ryan has been one of ASU's top performers throughout the conference season with 12 of her double-digit scoring efforts coming in league play, including a career-high 25-point effort at Arizona (Jan. 24), the most scored against Arizona this season. Ryan scored 12 of her 17 points in the fourth quarter of ASU's comeback win over then-No. 2 Oregon (Jan. 10). She scored 20 points (9-17 FGs) in ASU's comeback win at WSU (Jan. 19). She matched that point total tied a career high with four triples in ASU's loss at No. 9 Oregon State (Feb. 7). She connected on three 3-pointers and scored 15 points in ASU's comeback win over Colorado, and most recently, led ASU with 13 points against No. 4 Stanford on Sunday. Ryan, who earned All-Pac-12 honorable mention and Pac-12 All-Defense honorable mention in 2018, is the only current Sun Devil who has scored 1,000 or more points (1,113).
A starter in every game this season, Richardson has been one of ASU's best passers, scorers and its top long-range threat throughout the conference season. One of the league's top passers over the last four years, Richardson became ASU's all-time leader for career assists in the Sun Devils' win over Washington on Feb. 16 passing former Sun Devil all-time great Briann January. Richardson, who currently has 557 career assists, became the career leader for all of ASU basketball (men or women) in ASU's win over Cal last week. In addition to her outstanding ability distributing the basketball, Richardson has been one of ASU's most reliable scoring threats. Ten of Richardson's 14 double-digit scoring efforts this season have come in the last 15 games. In ASU's triple OT win over USC (Jan. 31), Richardson scored 19 of her career-high 24 points in the second half and overtime, including the game-winning 3-pointer. Against Washington State (Feb. 14), Richardson accounted for a team-high 22 point performance, including 13 in the final quarter of ASU's 62-59 win. Coming into Sunday's contest against Stanford, Richardson had a nine-game stretch in which she led the team in scoring with an average of 15.1 ppg. During that sequence of games, she connected on 48 percent (26-54) of her attempts from long range. Against Utah, Richardson hit a career-high six 3-pointers, one triple short of tying the single-game school record. She is currently tied for ninth place in ASU annals for most 3s in a season (53).
Tapley, who transferred to ASU from USC over the offseason, has proven to be a difference maker for ASU. She has played in every game (28 starts) and currently leads the team in scoring (11.5 ppg), rebounds (6.2) and free throws made (67), is second in steals (1.3 spg) and FG pct. (48.1) and is fifth in assists (1.5 apg). In December, Tapley posted three consecutive double-doubles for points/rebounds vs. BYU (11 points, career-high 18 rebounds), vs. Idaho St. (15 points, 11 rebounds) and vs. New Mexico (12 points 12 rebounds). During that stretch, she averaged 12.7 ppg and 13.7 rpg. Tapley was named Ann Meyers Drysdale Women's Player of the Week, espnW Player of the Week and Pac-12 Player of the Week after leading ASU in scoring (15.0 ppg), rebounds (6.0 rpg) and field goal percentage (48.0) in its historical upsets of No. 2 Oregon (Jan. 10) and No. 3 Oregon St. (Jan. 12). She accounted for 16 points and six rebounds vs. Oregon and posted a game-high 14 points and six rebounds vs. OSU. She scored 17 of her 20 points in the second half and tied for the team lead with eight rebounds in ASU's comeback win at WSU (Jan. 19). She tied for team lead with 16 points and, with ASU down six in 4th quarter, scored seven straight points, starting ASU's 20-8 run to end the game in comeback win at Colorado (Feb. 21). The 18 rebounds Tapley grabbed in the win over BYU back in December, represented the highest rebound total by a Sun Devil in more than 20 years.
Russell has fought through injuries for much of the season to play in 25 games (21 starts) and has been one of ASU's top defenders throughout the season. She has been ASU's steals leader (1.5 spg) and has been the team's top rebounding guard (4.2 rpg) good enough for fourth on the team. Russell's 3.0 defensive rebounds per game are second on the team. Russell has recorded three or more steals five times: 3 vs. Air Force, 3 vs. Army, 3 vs. Idaho State, 3 at Arizona and a season-high 4 at Colorado. She has grabbed five or more rebounds 10 times this season and seven or more rebounds seven times, including a season-high eight rebounds vs. Creighton. In addition to her steals and rebound numbers, Russell is second on the team in assists (2.4 apg) and third in FG pct. (44.7). In December, Russell came through with a career-high 14 points and had three steals in ASU's overtime win vs. Idaho State (Dec. 8). She pulled down a season-high eight rebounds and dished out a season-high five assists in a win over New Mexico (Dec. 14).
After tying for fifth place in the final Pac-12 regular season standings, the No. 24 Sun Devils will open play in the Pac-12 Tournament on Thursday (11:30 a.m. PT/12:30 p.m. MT) when they face No. 12 seed Cal at Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. The game can be seen on Pac-12 Networks and heard on NBC KDUS AM 1060.
Ryan was named to the conference's 15-member All-Pac-12 Team for the first time in her career, Richardson and Tapley were both named All-Pac-12 honorable mention and Russell was earned Pac-12 All-Defense honorable mention recognition.
A starter in 28 games this season, Ryan is currently second on the team in scoring (10.5 ppg) and 3-pointers (34), is third in steals (1.0 spg), fourth in assists (1.7 apg) and fifth in rebounds (3.0 rpg). Ryan has been one of ASU's top performers throughout the conference season with 12 of her double-digit scoring efforts coming in league play, including a career-high 25-point effort at Arizona (Jan. 24), the most scored against Arizona this season. Ryan scored 12 of her 17 points in the fourth quarter of ASU's comeback win over then-No. 2 Oregon (Jan. 10). She scored 20 points (9-17 FGs) in ASU's comeback win at WSU (Jan. 19). She matched that point total tied a career high with four triples in ASU's loss at No. 9 Oregon State (Feb. 7). She connected on three 3-pointers and scored 15 points in ASU's comeback win over Colorado, and most recently, led ASU with 13 points against No. 4 Stanford on Sunday. Ryan, who earned All-Pac-12 honorable mention and Pac-12 All-Defense honorable mention in 2018, is the only current Sun Devil who has scored 1,000 or more points (1,113).
A starter in every game this season, Richardson has been one of ASU's best passers, scorers and its top long-range threat throughout the conference season. One of the league's top passers over the last four years, Richardson became ASU's all-time leader for career assists in the Sun Devils' win over Washington on Feb. 16 passing former Sun Devil all-time great Briann January. Richardson, who currently has 557 career assists, became the career leader for all of ASU basketball (men or women) in ASU's win over Cal last week. In addition to her outstanding ability distributing the basketball, Richardson has been one of ASU's most reliable scoring threats. Ten of Richardson's 14 double-digit scoring efforts this season have come in the last 15 games. In ASU's triple OT win over USC (Jan. 31), Richardson scored 19 of her career-high 24 points in the second half and overtime, including the game-winning 3-pointer. Against Washington State (Feb. 14), Richardson accounted for a team-high 22 point performance, including 13 in the final quarter of ASU's 62-59 win. Coming into Sunday's contest against Stanford, Richardson had a nine-game stretch in which she led the team in scoring with an average of 15.1 ppg. During that sequence of games, she connected on 48 percent (26-54) of her attempts from long range. Against Utah, Richardson hit a career-high six 3-pointers, one triple short of tying the single-game school record. She is currently tied for ninth place in ASU annals for most 3s in a season (53).
Tapley, who transferred to ASU from USC over the offseason, has proven to be a difference maker for ASU. She has played in every game (28 starts) and currently leads the team in scoring (11.5 ppg), rebounds (6.2) and free throws made (67), is second in steals (1.3 spg) and FG pct. (48.1) and is fifth in assists (1.5 apg). In December, Tapley posted three consecutive double-doubles for points/rebounds vs. BYU (11 points, career-high 18 rebounds), vs. Idaho St. (15 points, 11 rebounds) and vs. New Mexico (12 points 12 rebounds). During that stretch, she averaged 12.7 ppg and 13.7 rpg. Tapley was named Ann Meyers Drysdale Women's Player of the Week, espnW Player of the Week and Pac-12 Player of the Week after leading ASU in scoring (15.0 ppg), rebounds (6.0 rpg) and field goal percentage (48.0) in its historical upsets of No. 2 Oregon (Jan. 10) and No. 3 Oregon St. (Jan. 12). She accounted for 16 points and six rebounds vs. Oregon and posted a game-high 14 points and six rebounds vs. OSU. She scored 17 of her 20 points in the second half and tied for the team lead with eight rebounds in ASU's comeback win at WSU (Jan. 19). She tied for team lead with 16 points and, with ASU down six in 4th quarter, scored seven straight points, starting ASU's 20-8 run to end the game in comeback win at Colorado (Feb. 21). The 18 rebounds Tapley grabbed in the win over BYU back in December, represented the highest rebound total by a Sun Devil in more than 20 years.
Russell has fought through injuries for much of the season to play in 25 games (21 starts) and has been one of ASU's top defenders throughout the season. She has been ASU's steals leader (1.5 spg) and has been the team's top rebounding guard (4.2 rpg) good enough for fourth on the team. Russell's 3.0 defensive rebounds per game are second on the team. Russell has recorded three or more steals five times: 3 vs. Air Force, 3 vs. Army, 3 vs. Idaho State, 3 at Arizona and a season-high 4 at Colorado. She has grabbed five or more rebounds 10 times this season and seven or more rebounds seven times, including a season-high eight rebounds vs. Creighton. In addition to her steals and rebound numbers, Russell is second on the team in assists (2.4 apg) and third in FG pct. (44.7). In December, Russell came through with a career-high 14 points and had three steals in ASU's overtime win vs. Idaho State (Dec. 8). She pulled down a season-high eight rebounds and dished out a season-high five assists in a win over New Mexico (Dec. 14).
After tying for fifth place in the final Pac-12 regular season standings, the No. 24 Sun Devils will open play in the Pac-12 Tournament on Thursday (11:30 a.m. PT/12:30 p.m. MT) when they face No. 12 seed Cal at Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. The game can be seen on Pac-12 Networks and heard on NBC KDUS AM 1060.