THE GAME: Briann January Classic – Sun Devil WBB (6-2) vs. Missouri (8-1)
WHEN: Sunday at 12:30 p.m. MST
WHERE: Desert Financial Arena • Tempe, Ariz.
LIVE STREAM: Click here
RADIO: KAZG 1440 AM
LIVE STATS: Click here
PURCHASE TICKETS: Click here
UP NEXT
For the second time in five days, the Sun Devil women's basketball team (6-2) will look for a bounce-back performance against a difficult opponent when it concludes the inaugural Briann January Classic on Sunday (12:30 pm MST) when it hosts Missouri (8-1) out of the Southeastern Conference.
After reeling off five wins in five games for the program's best start since 2002-03, ASU encountered its first loss of the season falling to No. 7 Notre Dame, 85-65 on Nov. 26 at the Goombay Splash in Bimini, Bahamas. The Sun Devils led the Irish by three points at the half and were tied with just over three minutes remaining in the third quarter before Notre Dame used a 12-2 run to gain control of the game on its way to the win.
ASU's first game in the state of Arizona since Nov. 11 was not back in the friendly confines of Desert Financial Arena but rather in front of a GCU women's basketball record crowd of 6,019 for the first contest between ASU and Grand Canyon since 1994. The game was dubbed by the home team as the "Battle for State Forty Eight." And a battle it was. Down by as many as 11 in the fourth quarter, and playing without one of its top performers, Treasure Hunt, the Sun Devils rattled off a pair of stretches in which they outscored the Lopes 15-0 and 10-2. In the end, the Sun Devils had amassed a school record for most points in quarter (35) on their way to an 80-72 win.
Two nights later, ASU was back at home for the first time in 21 days against UMass, the defending Atlantic-10 Tournament champions and the preseason pick to win the conference this season. Playing from behind for most of the game, the Sun Devils were not able to replicate the same magic from the win at Grand Canyon as they dropped an 88-64 loss to the Minutewomen. UMass shot 50 percent from the floor while the Sun Devils were only able to connect on 30 percent of their shots. UMass' biggest advantage came in points in the paint where it nearly doubled ASU, 54-28. It was also plus-11 in rebounding (54-43). Jaddan Simmons and Tyi Skinner tied for the team lead in scoring with 15 points each. Freshman Journey Thompson, who had numerous contributions in ASU's win at GCU, not only had career highs in scoring and rebounds but took it a step further with her first career double-double (11 points and 10 rebounds).
Sunday's game vs. Missouri will conclude a period in which ASU will have played six games in 15 days. The Sun Devils will then play two games over the next 25 days – at Stephen F. Austin (Dec. 11) and vs. Prairie View A&M (Dec. 17). The treadmill will speed back up in a hurry after the holidays as ASU as it will open Pac-12 play with three road games in five days: at Arizona (Dec. 29), at Stanford (Dec. 31) and at Cal (Jan. 2).
HOW WE GOT HERE
The Sun Devils started out the Natasha Adair era with a 69-68 win vs. Northern Arizona on Nov. 7. Junior guard Jaddan Simmons tied her career high with 22 points while junior Tyi Skinner added 12 points. In her debut for the Sun Devils, Meg Newman, who redshirted last season due to injury, nearly had a near double-double with nine points and 11 rebounds. ASU held the Lumberjacks to zero points in the final three minutes of play and Simmons hit the game-tying and go-ahead free throws to get the hard-earned win.
ASU's win over Grambling State on Nov. 11 came in much less dramatic fashion as it led by 16 in the middle of the third quarter. After the Lady Tigers got back within nine points less than two minutes into the final frame, Skinner personally made sure ASU did not have a second-consecutive, one-possession game as she scored 11 of her game-high 16 points – and 11 of ASU's 16 points as a team – in the final quarter. Skinner could not miss as she swished all four of her field goals, including a pair of makes from downtown and hit the only free throw she attempted.
ASU started its five-game road swing with a 79-64 win at 2022 Big Sky Tournament champion/2022 NCAA Tournament participant Montana State (Nov. 15). ASU scored the first 20 points and led by as many as 27. Skinner (game-high 24 points on 9-of-18 shooting) came within a point of matching her career high in scoring while accounting for a career-best four steals. Hunt scored a career-high 19 points while leading the team with seven rebounds.
On Nov. 20, ASU had to go to overtime to remain unbeaten in a hard-fought 83-77 win at New Mexico. Skinner posted her second straight 24-point outing, while Kayla Mokwuah (16 points, 13 rebounds), Simmons (16 points) and Hunt (15 points, career-high 15 rebounds) also scored in double figures for the Sun Devils, who had to battle back from a five-point deficit in the final minutes to force overtime.
On Nov. 25, Skinner posted her third consecutive 24-point game, scoring 14 of ASU's 22 fourth-quarter points to help the Sun Devils outlast American, 70-61 at the Goombay Splash (played in Bimini, Bahamas) to improve ASU's record to 5-0 for the first time since 2002-03.
The following day, ASU came out on the short end for the first time this season, but not before showing it could play with one of the nation's best teams in an 85-65 setback to seventh-ranked Notre Dame. Skinner (15 points), Simmons (14 points) and Trayanna Crisp (11 points) combined for 40 of ASU's points. Skinner, who was named to the Goombay Division All-Tournament Team of the 2022 Goombay Splash, also paced ASU with a game-high three steals. Meg Newman was perfect from the floor (3-3 FGs) and grabbed a game-high seven rebounds.
Skinner poured in a career-high 29 points in ASU's win at GCU while Sydney Erikstrup added a career-high 11 points in the win.
NOTES ON THE OPPOSITION
Missouri has proven to be dangerous from long range as it comes into Sunday's game second in the SEC in 3-point FG pct. and third in 3-point FGs per game. The Tigers knocked down 15 triples and shot 47 percent beyond the arc in their 71-66 win over UMass on Saturday.
ASU has won both its prior meetings against Missouri, most recently a 50-39 triumph in the 2021 postseason WNIT. Current Sun Devil Jaddan Simmons scored 12 of her game-high 18 points in the second half and led ASU with seven rebounds.
WHEN: Sunday at 12:30 p.m. MST
WHERE: Desert Financial Arena • Tempe, Ariz.
LIVE STREAM: Click here
RADIO: KAZG 1440 AM
LIVE STATS: Click here
PURCHASE TICKETS: Click here
UP NEXT
For the second time in five days, the Sun Devil women's basketball team (6-2) will look for a bounce-back performance against a difficult opponent when it concludes the inaugural Briann January Classic on Sunday (12:30 pm MST) when it hosts Missouri (8-1) out of the Southeastern Conference.
After reeling off five wins in five games for the program's best start since 2002-03, ASU encountered its first loss of the season falling to No. 7 Notre Dame, 85-65 on Nov. 26 at the Goombay Splash in Bimini, Bahamas. The Sun Devils led the Irish by three points at the half and were tied with just over three minutes remaining in the third quarter before Notre Dame used a 12-2 run to gain control of the game on its way to the win.
ASU's first game in the state of Arizona since Nov. 11 was not back in the friendly confines of Desert Financial Arena but rather in front of a GCU women's basketball record crowd of 6,019 for the first contest between ASU and Grand Canyon since 1994. The game was dubbed by the home team as the "Battle for State Forty Eight." And a battle it was. Down by as many as 11 in the fourth quarter, and playing without one of its top performers, Treasure Hunt, the Sun Devils rattled off a pair of stretches in which they outscored the Lopes 15-0 and 10-2. In the end, the Sun Devils had amassed a school record for most points in quarter (35) on their way to an 80-72 win.
Two nights later, ASU was back at home for the first time in 21 days against UMass, the defending Atlantic-10 Tournament champions and the preseason pick to win the conference this season. Playing from behind for most of the game, the Sun Devils were not able to replicate the same magic from the win at Grand Canyon as they dropped an 88-64 loss to the Minutewomen. UMass shot 50 percent from the floor while the Sun Devils were only able to connect on 30 percent of their shots. UMass' biggest advantage came in points in the paint where it nearly doubled ASU, 54-28. It was also plus-11 in rebounding (54-43). Jaddan Simmons and Tyi Skinner tied for the team lead in scoring with 15 points each. Freshman Journey Thompson, who had numerous contributions in ASU's win at GCU, not only had career highs in scoring and rebounds but took it a step further with her first career double-double (11 points and 10 rebounds).
Sunday's game vs. Missouri will conclude a period in which ASU will have played six games in 15 days. The Sun Devils will then play two games over the next 25 days – at Stephen F. Austin (Dec. 11) and vs. Prairie View A&M (Dec. 17). The treadmill will speed back up in a hurry after the holidays as ASU as it will open Pac-12 play with three road games in five days: at Arizona (Dec. 29), at Stanford (Dec. 31) and at Cal (Jan. 2).
HOW WE GOT HERE
The Sun Devils started out the Natasha Adair era with a 69-68 win vs. Northern Arizona on Nov. 7. Junior guard Jaddan Simmons tied her career high with 22 points while junior Tyi Skinner added 12 points. In her debut for the Sun Devils, Meg Newman, who redshirted last season due to injury, nearly had a near double-double with nine points and 11 rebounds. ASU held the Lumberjacks to zero points in the final three minutes of play and Simmons hit the game-tying and go-ahead free throws to get the hard-earned win.
ASU's win over Grambling State on Nov. 11 came in much less dramatic fashion as it led by 16 in the middle of the third quarter. After the Lady Tigers got back within nine points less than two minutes into the final frame, Skinner personally made sure ASU did not have a second-consecutive, one-possession game as she scored 11 of her game-high 16 points – and 11 of ASU's 16 points as a team – in the final quarter. Skinner could not miss as she swished all four of her field goals, including a pair of makes from downtown and hit the only free throw she attempted.
ASU started its five-game road swing with a 79-64 win at 2022 Big Sky Tournament champion/2022 NCAA Tournament participant Montana State (Nov. 15). ASU scored the first 20 points and led by as many as 27. Skinner (game-high 24 points on 9-of-18 shooting) came within a point of matching her career high in scoring while accounting for a career-best four steals. Hunt scored a career-high 19 points while leading the team with seven rebounds.
On Nov. 20, ASU had to go to overtime to remain unbeaten in a hard-fought 83-77 win at New Mexico. Skinner posted her second straight 24-point outing, while Kayla Mokwuah (16 points, 13 rebounds), Simmons (16 points) and Hunt (15 points, career-high 15 rebounds) also scored in double figures for the Sun Devils, who had to battle back from a five-point deficit in the final minutes to force overtime.
On Nov. 25, Skinner posted her third consecutive 24-point game, scoring 14 of ASU's 22 fourth-quarter points to help the Sun Devils outlast American, 70-61 at the Goombay Splash (played in Bimini, Bahamas) to improve ASU's record to 5-0 for the first time since 2002-03.
The following day, ASU came out on the short end for the first time this season, but not before showing it could play with one of the nation's best teams in an 85-65 setback to seventh-ranked Notre Dame. Skinner (15 points), Simmons (14 points) and Trayanna Crisp (11 points) combined for 40 of ASU's points. Skinner, who was named to the Goombay Division All-Tournament Team of the 2022 Goombay Splash, also paced ASU with a game-high three steals. Meg Newman was perfect from the floor (3-3 FGs) and grabbed a game-high seven rebounds.
Skinner poured in a career-high 29 points in ASU's win at GCU while Sydney Erikstrup added a career-high 11 points in the win.
NOTES ON THE OPPOSITION
Missouri has proven to be dangerous from long range as it comes into Sunday's game second in the SEC in 3-point FG pct. and third in 3-point FGs per game. The Tigers knocked down 15 triples and shot 47 percent beyond the arc in their 71-66 win over UMass on Saturday.
ASU has won both its prior meetings against Missouri, most recently a 50-39 triumph in the 2021 postseason WNIT. Current Sun Devil Jaddan Simmons scored 12 of her game-high 18 points in the second half and led ASU with seven rebounds.