THE GAME: Sun Devil WBB (7-17, 0-15 Pac-12) vs. No. 4/5 Utah (22-3, 12-3 Pac-12)
WHEN: Sunday at 12 p.m. MST
WHERE: Desert Financial Arena • Tempe, Ariz.
TV: Pac-12 Mountain
RADIO: KDUS AM 1060
LIVE STATS: Click here
PURCHASE TICKETS: Click here
UP NEXT
The Sun Devil women's basketball team (7-17, 0-15 Pac-12) closes out the home portion of its 2022-23 schedule on Sunday (12 p.m. MST) when it takes on No. 4/5 Utah (22-3, 12-3). Sunday's game vs. Utah (22-2, 12-2) will be Senior Day and the program's annual Pink Game for Breast Cancer Awareness. Senior Isadora Sousa and graduate student Kayla Mokwuah will be recognized prior to Sunday's game.
At the conclusion of Sunday's game, ASU will have played four of five games against ranked teams: No. 14 UCLA, No. 6 Stanford, No. 21 Colorado and No. 4 Utah. If going by the current rankings, it would be five ranked teams in six games as USC, not ranked when it defeated ASU on Feb. 3 in Los Angeles, entered the Top 25 (No. 25) in the most recent AP poll.
Like Friday's contest vs. Colorado, this will be ASU's first encounter with Utah this season after having to forfeit last month's road contests at Utah/Colorado due to not having enough healthy players to play.
After an impressive 6-1 start, first-year head coach Natasha Adair and her staff were suddenly inundated with an injury situation that became worse by the week. Injuries took such a toll on ASU's roster that it had to accept the aforementioned forfeits in only its third weekend of conference play.
Looking beyond the won-loss record, one of the biggest indicators of the improvement the Sun Devils have made came in Friday's near upset of the No. 21 Buffaloes. Trailing by as many as 15 points early in the third quarter, ASU fought back to get within two points before Colorado pulled away in the final three minutes to escape with the 70-62 win. Tyi Skinner had a game-high 27 points – two points short of tying her single-game career high and the most points scored vs. Colorado this season – and tied her career high for the second straight game with four steals.
ASU will conclude the regular season in Oregon where it will face Oregon State on Thursday and Oregon on Saturday. The following week it will travel to Las Vegas for the Pac-12 Women's Basketball Tournament (Mar. 1-5).
SERIES NOTES VERSUS UTAH
• ASU has won 11 of the last 15 meetings – or 11 of 16 counting ASU's forfeit last month. Utah has won 3 of the last 4 contests decided on the court, most recently a 72-63 win last season in Tempe, a contest in which ASU fell behind by 29 before getting within six with just over two minutes remaining.
• During a three-season stretch between 2018-20, the two teams played four consecutive games that were each decided by two points and a fifth in which the margin of victory was four.
• On Feb. 17, 2019, ASU pulled off the biggest comeback in school history when it scored the last 20 points of the game to erase an 18-point deficit.
• On New Year's Eve of 2017, Kianna Ibis had one of the best offensive days turned in by a Sun Devil in recent memory as she scored a career-high 30 points, becoming the first Sun Devil to score 30 or more points since Kylan Loney accomplished the feat vs. Arizona on January 31, 2004.
CURRENT STORYLINES (STATS LISTED ARE AS OF FEB. 18)
• ASU is ranked in the top half of the Pac-12 in FTs made (2nd/14.33) and attempted per game (2nd/19.71), fewest turnovers per game (2nd/12.5/14th in the nation), turnover margin (2nd/+2.33,) offensive rebounds per game (6th/13.0) and FT pct. (6th/72.7). In Pac-12 games, ASU is No. 2 in turnover margin (+3.85) and No. 5 in steals per game (7.08). On Friday, ASU forced a season-high 20 turnovers for the fifth time this season. All five instances have come in ASU's last nine games. ASU is +5.9 in turnover margin during that stretch.
• Tyi Skinner (22x/24 games) and Jaddan Simmons (20x/23 games), have combined to score in double figures 42x out of a possible 47 opportunities this season.
• Skinner scored 27 points vs. Colorado on Friday – two points shy of matching her career high for her 13th 20-point game of the season. Only Utah's Alissa Pili (15) has more 20-point games in the Pac-12 this season.
• Simmons has team's current longest streak of scoring in double figures (11 games). During that period, she is averaging 13.4 ppg and she leads the team in steals (2.1 spg) and assists (2.7 apg) and is 2nd in rebounds (4.5 rpg) and offensive rebounds (1.7).
• Only four players have played in all 24 games: Skinner (24 starts), Kayla Mokwuah (21 starts), Meg Newman (5 starts) and Trayanna Crisp (6 starts). Both Simmons and Treasure Hunt have missed one game due to illness/injury. Both have started all 23 games they have played in. As of Feb. 18, ASU has three of the top six players in the Pac-12 in minutes per game: 1. Simmons (36.85), 3. Skinner (36.21), 6. Hunt (33.87).
IF YOU HAVEN'T HEARD THE NAME TYI SKINNER YET... GET READY
Junior guard Tyi Skinner, who transferred to ASU from Delaware in the offseason, quickly ascended to 'must-see' status for all basketball fans. As of Feb. 18, Skinner, who has scored in double figures in all but two games (Jan. 23 vs. Arizona, Jan. 27 vs. Washington St.), is 2nd in the Pac-12 and 25th in the nation in scoring (19.3 ppg). She is also among the Pac-12's leaders in minutes per game (3rd/36.21/31st in the nation), 3-pointers per game (3rd/2.3), FTs made (2nd/108) and attempted (4th/137), steals (5th/1.83), 3-point FG pct. (6th/34.4) and FT pct. (8th/78.8). In ASU's contest at Cal (Jan. 2), Skinner scored 13 points and pulled down a team- and career-high 10 rebounds for the first double-double of her career.
Currently the owner 13 20-point games this season (2nd in the Pac-12), Skinner reached 1,000 career points vs. Arizona on Jan. 22. On Dec. 4 vs. Missouri, Skinner tied her career high in scoring for the second time in three games (29 points) and came one triple short of tying the single-game school record after knocking down six vs. the Tigers. Skinner again connected on six 3-pointers in her 28-point effort at UCLA (Feb. 5).
Skinner's current scoring average of 19.3 ppg, is No. 4 in program annals going back to 1979. Only one Sun Devil, ASU Sports Hall of Famer Kym Hampton, has ever averaged more than 20 points in a season. She did it in 1982 (21.3 ppg) and again in 1984 (20.2 ppg).
SUN DEVIL TOP SEASON POINTS PER GAME
21.3 -- Kym Hampton, 1981-82
20.2 -- Kym Hampton 20.2, 1983-84
19.5 -- Karen O'Connor, 1988-89
19.3 -- Tyi Skinner, 2022-23*
19.2 -- Olivia Jones, 1982-83
18.9 -- Kym Hampton 1982-83
*As of Feb. 18, 2023
Skinner's 20-point efforts include consecutive 24-point efforts at New Mexico (Nov. 20) and vs. American (Nov. 25), a pair of career-high 29-point games at Grand Canyon (Nov. 30) and vs. Missouri (Dec. 4), a 26-point showing at Arizona (Dec. 29), and a 28-point performance at UCLA (Feb 5th), also a game in which she tied her career high with six triples.
SIMMONS' SOLID, STEADY PLAY IMPORTANT FACTOR IN ASU'S SUCCESS
Among returning players, Jaddan Simmons is ASU's most experienced player (73 starts/73 games). As great as Simmons' play was her first two seasons in Tempe, she has taken it to an even higher level this season.
A starter in all 23 games she's played this season (DNP vs. Missouri on Dec. 4/illness), Simmons has scored in double figures in all but three games this season. She enters Sunday's game with the team's current longest streak of scoring in double figures (11 games). During that period, she's averaging 13.4 ppg and leads ASU in steals (2.1 spg) and assists (2.7 apg) and is 2nd in rebounds (4.5 rpg) and offensive rebounds (1.7 rpg).
Simmons, who has pulled down 5 or more rebounds 12x this season, currently leads ASU in assists (3.0 apg), minutes (36.85 mpg/1st in Pac-12/17th in nation) and steals (1.87 spg/4th in Pac-12) and is 2nd in FT pct. (75.0/10th in Pac-12) and FTs made (84/6th in Pac-12) and attempted (112/6th in Pac-12).
Simmons opened the 2022-23 campaign with nine straight double-digit scoring efforts, including a career high-tying 22 points in ASU's season opener vs. Northern Arizona (Nov. 7). She made a career-high 11 FTs as part of her 19 points vs. Arizona (Jan. 22) and led or tied for the team lead in scoring in ASU's near victories vs. WSU (Jan. 27 - scored 16 of her game-high 20 points in the second half) and vs. UW (Jan. 29 - tied for team lead with 11 points had team highs with 5 assists and 2 steals.
THIS TREASURE IS NOT HIDDEN
A starter in all 23 games she's played this season and currently ASU's leader in rebounds (6.3 rpg/10th in Pac-12), Treasure Hunt, joined ASU after playing her first two seasons at Kentucky (30 starts/45 games).
Hunt had a strong start to the season, averaging a double-double over the season's first four games (13.5 ppg/10.3 rpg). The opening sequence included 19 points in ASU's win at Montana State (Nov. 15). She averaged 4.5 ppg in her next four games, two of which came in the immediate aftermath of an injury she incurred in ASU's first loss to Notre Dame (Nov. 26). The injury caused Hunt to miss ASU's ensuing game at Grand Canyon (Nov. 30).
Hunt, who is third on the team in minutes (33.87/6th in Pac-12), has scored in double figures 13x, with 10 of those performances coming in ASU's last 15 games. She scored 22 points in ASU's non-conference finale vs. Prairie View A&M (Dec. 17). She added her third double-double of the season (17 points/12 rebs) vs. Oregon (Jan. 6). She again topped her career high in scoring with 24 points vs. Arizona (Jan. 22).
CONTRIBUTORS APLENTY RESPONSIBLE FOR ASU'S SUCCESS
• A starter in 21 games, TCU transfer Kayla Mokwuah leads the team in offensive rebs (2.1 rpg/14th in Pac-12) and blocks per game (0.8/12 of 18 blocks have come in last 10 games), is 3rd on the team in rebounds (4.8 rpg/6 or more rebounds 9x this season) and 4th in scoring (5.4 ppg). Mokwuah's second career double-double (16 points, 13 rebounds) proved critical in ASU's OT win at New Mexico (Nov. 20). She also scored in double figures (10 points) in win over Grambling (Nov. 11).
• In ASU's games vs. Prairie View A&M (Dec. 17) and at Arizona (Dec. 29), Meg Newman came off the bench and provided ASU with a pair of big-time efforts: 11.0 ppg/13.5 rpg. Newman had career highs in points (12) and rebounds (18) for her first career double-double in ASU's win over PVAM. Newman's 18 boards were the most by a Sun Devil since Ja'Tavia Tapley (also 18) in 2019 vs. BYU. Newman leads the team in FG pct. (45.9) and is is 2nd in rebounds (5.6 rpg/18th in Pac-12) and offensive rebounds (2.0 rpg).
• Freshman guard Trayanna Crisp, who has started 6 games, averaged double figures in scoring (11.5 ppg) and connected on 60 pct of her field goals (9-15) at the Goombay Splash (Nov. 25-26). Crisp, who made her first career start in place of Jaddan Simmons (illness) vs. Missouri on Dec. 4, is currently 3rd on the team in assists per game (1.5) and 4th in scoring (5.4 ppg). She's had a season-high 5 assists three times. Crisp averaged double figures in scoring in consecutive games for the second time this season vs. WSU (Jan. 27/11 points) and vs. UW (Jan. 29/9 points).
• Junior guard Sydney Erikstrup is 5th on the team in 3-pointers per game (0.4). She posted career highs in scoring (11 points) and 3-pointers (3) in ASU's comeback win at GCU (Nov. 30).
• In the 19 games Isadora Sousa has played in – missed five games due to injury, was injured less than three minutes into game vs. Oregon (Jan. 6) and was limited to only 10 minutes vs. Arizona (Jan. 22) – she has connected on 44 pct of her FGs. Sousa had a career-high 12 rebounds vs. American (Nov. 25) and scored a career high-tying 7 points in consecutive games (at Stanford/Dec. 31 and at Cal/Jan. 2). Sousa contributed 5.0 ppg and 3.0 rpg while averaging 20 minutes per game vs. WSU (Jan. 27) and UW (Jan. 29). She added 5 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists while playing a career-high 34 minutes vs. Stanford (Feb. 12).
INJURIES ALL TOO COMMON THEME IN 2022-23
On the last day of November, ASU found itself with a 6-1 record after they overcame an 11-point, fourth-quarter deficit in a dramatic 80-72 win at Grand Canyon. Three consecutive losses followed before ASU got win No. 7. During the three-game losing streak, the talented depth that was a major factor in the team's success was dramatically reduced due to an unlucky spate of injuries/illness. At the start of the month, ASU had eight players who were averaging double figures in minutes. And that number did not include junior center Imogen Greenslade and freshman forward Journey Thompson, two players who were gradually seeing increased playing time.
After accounting for 6 points, 4 rebounds and 1 block in the fourth quarter of ASU's comeback win at GCU (Nov. 30), Thompson had her first career double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds vs. UMass (Dec. 2). However, Thompson was injured prior to ASU's following game vs. Missouri (Dec. 4). In her first game back (also her first career starting assignment), Thompson accounted for 11 points and six rebounds in ASU's win over Prairie View A&M (Dec. 17). She only played in 14 minutes in ASU's first three Pac-12 contests, including a DNP at Stanford (Dec. 31), due to illness. The following week, Thompson pulled down a season-high 12 rebounds vs. Oregon State (Jan. 8). She has not played since the OSU game due to injury.
In addition to not having Thompson vs. Missouri (Dec. 4), ASU was without junior guard Jaddan Simmons (the team's second-leading scorer) and senior guard Isadora Sousa (averaged seven rebounds in three most recent outings in addition to providing ASU with an important defensive presence).
In ASU's 75-60 loss at SFA on Dec. 11, the Sun Devils had nearly as many players in uniform (eight) as players who were not suited up (six). The latter group was comprised of injured players and played a major factor in the outcome. Simmons was back in the lineup but Greenslade was not available in addition to Thompson and Sousa. Thus, for the second straight game, ASU had seven players who accounted for nearly all the minutes. Just like in its loss to Missouri, ASU looked every bit the team that had won six of its first seven games – for the first 20 minutes. The final result? Just like against Missouri, fresher bodies enabled the opposition to outscore and out rebound ASU.
In its non-conference finale, an 82-67 win over Prairie View A&M, freshman guard Jaylah Robinson made her first career appearance after missing the first 10 games. It remains Robinson's only appearance this season.
At the start of Pac-12 play, ASU was boosted by the return of Sousa, who played at Arizona for the first time since Nov. 30. After accounting for five points, five rebounds in her return, Sousa scored a season-high seven points in ASU's next two games at Stanford (Dec. 31) and at Cal (Jan. 2). Sousa once again went down with an injury less than three minutes into ASU's contest vs. Oregon (Jan. 6). She missed ASU's game vs. OSU (Jan. 8) before being limited to nine minutes vs. Arizona (Jan. 22).
ASU's injury situation reached its nadir the second week in January when it had to forfeit games at Utah (Jan. 13) and at Colorado (Jan. 15) due to not having enough healthy players to play.
Greenslade returned to play at USC (Feb. 3), her first action since Dec. 4. She had a season high in scoring (6 points) in the first half vs. Cal (Feb. 10), before being forced to leave the game due to injury.
DEVILS HAVE BEEN WITHOUT PAIR OF DIFFERENCE MAKERS ALL SEASON
In addition to all the injuries ASU has incurred throughout the regular season, there are two additional players – returning junior G/F Maggie Besselink and sophomore transfer G Morasha Wiggins (North Carolina) – who have not played this season due to injury. If healthy, both players would almost certainly be significant contributors.
A versatile scorer, Besselink started 21 of 30 games she played in her first two seasons at ASU and was among the team leaders in rebounds and offensive rebounds both seasons. A rising star in the Canadian national program, in the summer of 2019 Besselink was named to Canada's U19 national team. In February, 2020, Besselink traveled to the NBA All-Star Game in Chicago to participate in the Basketball Without Borders Global Camp, which invites the top international 64 girls and boys from 34 countries and regions.
ESPN ranked Wiggins as the nation's No. 18 prospect in the class of 2021. A three-time all-state selection at Kalamazoo Central, she one of five finalists for the 2021 Miss Basketball award and received Division 1 co-Player of Year honors from the Associated Press as a senior. She was part of signing class at UNC that was ranked No. 3 by ESPN.
CHALLENGING NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULE INCLUDED EIGHT TEAMS THAT QUALIFIED FOR POSTSEASON PLAY IN 2022
Contests against eight teams that qualified for postseason play last season highlighted ASU's 2022 non-conference schedule.
ASU played five of its non-conference games at home. Included in those games were tilts against 2022 NCAA Tournament participant and Atlantic-10 champion UMass (Dec. 2/L, 64-88) and 2022 WNIT participant Missouri (Dec. 4/L, 60-71) in the Briann January Classic. In the latter contest, a sudden spate of injuries proved too much for ASU to overcome. The Sun Devils led the Tigers 31-28 at the half. ASU's lack of depth due to its injury situation affected its ability to defend a Missouri squad with a proven knack for scoring the basketball. Ultimately, the Tigers came away with the win.
At the Goombay Splash (Nov. 25-26/Bimini, Bahamas) ASU faced two 2022 NCAA Tournament teams in the form of American (NCAA First Round and Patriot League Tournament champions, W, 70-61) and current No. 5 Notre Dame (NCAA Third Round/L, 65-85). 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.
Other teams ASU faced that qualified for 2022 postseason play included road contests against Montana State (Nov. 15/NCAA First Round/W, 74-61), New Mexico (Nov. 20/WNIT Third Round, W, 83-77-OT), Grand Canyon (Nov. 30/WNIT First Round/W, 80-72) and Stephen F. Austin (Dec. 11/NCAA First Round/L, 60-75).
WHEN: Sunday at 12 p.m. MST
WHERE: Desert Financial Arena • Tempe, Ariz.
TV: Pac-12 Mountain
RADIO: KDUS AM 1060
LIVE STATS: Click here
PURCHASE TICKETS: Click here
UP NEXT
The Sun Devil women's basketball team (7-17, 0-15 Pac-12) closes out the home portion of its 2022-23 schedule on Sunday (12 p.m. MST) when it takes on No. 4/5 Utah (22-3, 12-3). Sunday's game vs. Utah (22-2, 12-2) will be Senior Day and the program's annual Pink Game for Breast Cancer Awareness. Senior Isadora Sousa and graduate student Kayla Mokwuah will be recognized prior to Sunday's game.
At the conclusion of Sunday's game, ASU will have played four of five games against ranked teams: No. 14 UCLA, No. 6 Stanford, No. 21 Colorado and No. 4 Utah. If going by the current rankings, it would be five ranked teams in six games as USC, not ranked when it defeated ASU on Feb. 3 in Los Angeles, entered the Top 25 (No. 25) in the most recent AP poll.
Like Friday's contest vs. Colorado, this will be ASU's first encounter with Utah this season after having to forfeit last month's road contests at Utah/Colorado due to not having enough healthy players to play.
After an impressive 6-1 start, first-year head coach Natasha Adair and her staff were suddenly inundated with an injury situation that became worse by the week. Injuries took such a toll on ASU's roster that it had to accept the aforementioned forfeits in only its third weekend of conference play.
Looking beyond the won-loss record, one of the biggest indicators of the improvement the Sun Devils have made came in Friday's near upset of the No. 21 Buffaloes. Trailing by as many as 15 points early in the third quarter, ASU fought back to get within two points before Colorado pulled away in the final three minutes to escape with the 70-62 win. Tyi Skinner had a game-high 27 points – two points short of tying her single-game career high and the most points scored vs. Colorado this season – and tied her career high for the second straight game with four steals.
ASU will conclude the regular season in Oregon where it will face Oregon State on Thursday and Oregon on Saturday. The following week it will travel to Las Vegas for the Pac-12 Women's Basketball Tournament (Mar. 1-5).
SERIES NOTES VERSUS UTAH
• ASU has won 11 of the last 15 meetings – or 11 of 16 counting ASU's forfeit last month. Utah has won 3 of the last 4 contests decided on the court, most recently a 72-63 win last season in Tempe, a contest in which ASU fell behind by 29 before getting within six with just over two minutes remaining.
• During a three-season stretch between 2018-20, the two teams played four consecutive games that were each decided by two points and a fifth in which the margin of victory was four.
• On Feb. 17, 2019, ASU pulled off the biggest comeback in school history when it scored the last 20 points of the game to erase an 18-point deficit.
• On New Year's Eve of 2017, Kianna Ibis had one of the best offensive days turned in by a Sun Devil in recent memory as she scored a career-high 30 points, becoming the first Sun Devil to score 30 or more points since Kylan Loney accomplished the feat vs. Arizona on January 31, 2004.
CURRENT STORYLINES (STATS LISTED ARE AS OF FEB. 18)
• ASU is ranked in the top half of the Pac-12 in FTs made (2nd/14.33) and attempted per game (2nd/19.71), fewest turnovers per game (2nd/12.5/14th in the nation), turnover margin (2nd/+2.33,) offensive rebounds per game (6th/13.0) and FT pct. (6th/72.7). In Pac-12 games, ASU is No. 2 in turnover margin (+3.85) and No. 5 in steals per game (7.08). On Friday, ASU forced a season-high 20 turnovers for the fifth time this season. All five instances have come in ASU's last nine games. ASU is +5.9 in turnover margin during that stretch.
• Tyi Skinner (22x/24 games) and Jaddan Simmons (20x/23 games), have combined to score in double figures 42x out of a possible 47 opportunities this season.
• Skinner scored 27 points vs. Colorado on Friday – two points shy of matching her career high for her 13th 20-point game of the season. Only Utah's Alissa Pili (15) has more 20-point games in the Pac-12 this season.
• Simmons has team's current longest streak of scoring in double figures (11 games). During that period, she is averaging 13.4 ppg and she leads the team in steals (2.1 spg) and assists (2.7 apg) and is 2nd in rebounds (4.5 rpg) and offensive rebounds (1.7).
• Only four players have played in all 24 games: Skinner (24 starts), Kayla Mokwuah (21 starts), Meg Newman (5 starts) and Trayanna Crisp (6 starts). Both Simmons and Treasure Hunt have missed one game due to illness/injury. Both have started all 23 games they have played in. As of Feb. 18, ASU has three of the top six players in the Pac-12 in minutes per game: 1. Simmons (36.85), 3. Skinner (36.21), 6. Hunt (33.87).
IF YOU HAVEN'T HEARD THE NAME TYI SKINNER YET... GET READY
Junior guard Tyi Skinner, who transferred to ASU from Delaware in the offseason, quickly ascended to 'must-see' status for all basketball fans. As of Feb. 18, Skinner, who has scored in double figures in all but two games (Jan. 23 vs. Arizona, Jan. 27 vs. Washington St.), is 2nd in the Pac-12 and 25th in the nation in scoring (19.3 ppg). She is also among the Pac-12's leaders in minutes per game (3rd/36.21/31st in the nation), 3-pointers per game (3rd/2.3), FTs made (2nd/108) and attempted (4th/137), steals (5th/1.83), 3-point FG pct. (6th/34.4) and FT pct. (8th/78.8). In ASU's contest at Cal (Jan. 2), Skinner scored 13 points and pulled down a team- and career-high 10 rebounds for the first double-double of her career.
Currently the owner 13 20-point games this season (2nd in the Pac-12), Skinner reached 1,000 career points vs. Arizona on Jan. 22. On Dec. 4 vs. Missouri, Skinner tied her career high in scoring for the second time in three games (29 points) and came one triple short of tying the single-game school record after knocking down six vs. the Tigers. Skinner again connected on six 3-pointers in her 28-point effort at UCLA (Feb. 5).
Skinner's current scoring average of 19.3 ppg, is No. 4 in program annals going back to 1979. Only one Sun Devil, ASU Sports Hall of Famer Kym Hampton, has ever averaged more than 20 points in a season. She did it in 1982 (21.3 ppg) and again in 1984 (20.2 ppg).
SUN DEVIL TOP SEASON POINTS PER GAME
21.3 -- Kym Hampton, 1981-82
20.2 -- Kym Hampton 20.2, 1983-84
19.5 -- Karen O'Connor, 1988-89
19.3 -- Tyi Skinner, 2022-23*
19.2 -- Olivia Jones, 1982-83
18.9 -- Kym Hampton 1982-83
*As of Feb. 18, 2023
Skinner's 20-point efforts include consecutive 24-point efforts at New Mexico (Nov. 20) and vs. American (Nov. 25), a pair of career-high 29-point games at Grand Canyon (Nov. 30) and vs. Missouri (Dec. 4), a 26-point showing at Arizona (Dec. 29), and a 28-point performance at UCLA (Feb 5th), also a game in which she tied her career high with six triples.
SIMMONS' SOLID, STEADY PLAY IMPORTANT FACTOR IN ASU'S SUCCESS
Among returning players, Jaddan Simmons is ASU's most experienced player (73 starts/73 games). As great as Simmons' play was her first two seasons in Tempe, she has taken it to an even higher level this season.
A starter in all 23 games she's played this season (DNP vs. Missouri on Dec. 4/illness), Simmons has scored in double figures in all but three games this season. She enters Sunday's game with the team's current longest streak of scoring in double figures (11 games). During that period, she's averaging 13.4 ppg and leads ASU in steals (2.1 spg) and assists (2.7 apg) and is 2nd in rebounds (4.5 rpg) and offensive rebounds (1.7 rpg).
Simmons, who has pulled down 5 or more rebounds 12x this season, currently leads ASU in assists (3.0 apg), minutes (36.85 mpg/1st in Pac-12/17th in nation) and steals (1.87 spg/4th in Pac-12) and is 2nd in FT pct. (75.0/10th in Pac-12) and FTs made (84/6th in Pac-12) and attempted (112/6th in Pac-12).
Simmons opened the 2022-23 campaign with nine straight double-digit scoring efforts, including a career high-tying 22 points in ASU's season opener vs. Northern Arizona (Nov. 7). She made a career-high 11 FTs as part of her 19 points vs. Arizona (Jan. 22) and led or tied for the team lead in scoring in ASU's near victories vs. WSU (Jan. 27 - scored 16 of her game-high 20 points in the second half) and vs. UW (Jan. 29 - tied for team lead with 11 points had team highs with 5 assists and 2 steals.
THIS TREASURE IS NOT HIDDEN
A starter in all 23 games she's played this season and currently ASU's leader in rebounds (6.3 rpg/10th in Pac-12), Treasure Hunt, joined ASU after playing her first two seasons at Kentucky (30 starts/45 games).
Hunt had a strong start to the season, averaging a double-double over the season's first four games (13.5 ppg/10.3 rpg). The opening sequence included 19 points in ASU's win at Montana State (Nov. 15). She averaged 4.5 ppg in her next four games, two of which came in the immediate aftermath of an injury she incurred in ASU's first loss to Notre Dame (Nov. 26). The injury caused Hunt to miss ASU's ensuing game at Grand Canyon (Nov. 30).
Hunt, who is third on the team in minutes (33.87/6th in Pac-12), has scored in double figures 13x, with 10 of those performances coming in ASU's last 15 games. She scored 22 points in ASU's non-conference finale vs. Prairie View A&M (Dec. 17). She added her third double-double of the season (17 points/12 rebs) vs. Oregon (Jan. 6). She again topped her career high in scoring with 24 points vs. Arizona (Jan. 22).
CONTRIBUTORS APLENTY RESPONSIBLE FOR ASU'S SUCCESS
• A starter in 21 games, TCU transfer Kayla Mokwuah leads the team in offensive rebs (2.1 rpg/14th in Pac-12) and blocks per game (0.8/12 of 18 blocks have come in last 10 games), is 3rd on the team in rebounds (4.8 rpg/6 or more rebounds 9x this season) and 4th in scoring (5.4 ppg). Mokwuah's second career double-double (16 points, 13 rebounds) proved critical in ASU's OT win at New Mexico (Nov. 20). She also scored in double figures (10 points) in win over Grambling (Nov. 11).
• In ASU's games vs. Prairie View A&M (Dec. 17) and at Arizona (Dec. 29), Meg Newman came off the bench and provided ASU with a pair of big-time efforts: 11.0 ppg/13.5 rpg. Newman had career highs in points (12) and rebounds (18) for her first career double-double in ASU's win over PVAM. Newman's 18 boards were the most by a Sun Devil since Ja'Tavia Tapley (also 18) in 2019 vs. BYU. Newman leads the team in FG pct. (45.9) and is is 2nd in rebounds (5.6 rpg/18th in Pac-12) and offensive rebounds (2.0 rpg).
• Freshman guard Trayanna Crisp, who has started 6 games, averaged double figures in scoring (11.5 ppg) and connected on 60 pct of her field goals (9-15) at the Goombay Splash (Nov. 25-26). Crisp, who made her first career start in place of Jaddan Simmons (illness) vs. Missouri on Dec. 4, is currently 3rd on the team in assists per game (1.5) and 4th in scoring (5.4 ppg). She's had a season-high 5 assists three times. Crisp averaged double figures in scoring in consecutive games for the second time this season vs. WSU (Jan. 27/11 points) and vs. UW (Jan. 29/9 points).
• Junior guard Sydney Erikstrup is 5th on the team in 3-pointers per game (0.4). She posted career highs in scoring (11 points) and 3-pointers (3) in ASU's comeback win at GCU (Nov. 30).
• In the 19 games Isadora Sousa has played in – missed five games due to injury, was injured less than three minutes into game vs. Oregon (Jan. 6) and was limited to only 10 minutes vs. Arizona (Jan. 22) – she has connected on 44 pct of her FGs. Sousa had a career-high 12 rebounds vs. American (Nov. 25) and scored a career high-tying 7 points in consecutive games (at Stanford/Dec. 31 and at Cal/Jan. 2). Sousa contributed 5.0 ppg and 3.0 rpg while averaging 20 minutes per game vs. WSU (Jan. 27) and UW (Jan. 29). She added 5 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists while playing a career-high 34 minutes vs. Stanford (Feb. 12).
INJURIES ALL TOO COMMON THEME IN 2022-23
On the last day of November, ASU found itself with a 6-1 record after they overcame an 11-point, fourth-quarter deficit in a dramatic 80-72 win at Grand Canyon. Three consecutive losses followed before ASU got win No. 7. During the three-game losing streak, the talented depth that was a major factor in the team's success was dramatically reduced due to an unlucky spate of injuries/illness. At the start of the month, ASU had eight players who were averaging double figures in minutes. And that number did not include junior center Imogen Greenslade and freshman forward Journey Thompson, two players who were gradually seeing increased playing time.
After accounting for 6 points, 4 rebounds and 1 block in the fourth quarter of ASU's comeback win at GCU (Nov. 30), Thompson had her first career double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds vs. UMass (Dec. 2). However, Thompson was injured prior to ASU's following game vs. Missouri (Dec. 4). In her first game back (also her first career starting assignment), Thompson accounted for 11 points and six rebounds in ASU's win over Prairie View A&M (Dec. 17). She only played in 14 minutes in ASU's first three Pac-12 contests, including a DNP at Stanford (Dec. 31), due to illness. The following week, Thompson pulled down a season-high 12 rebounds vs. Oregon State (Jan. 8). She has not played since the OSU game due to injury.
In addition to not having Thompson vs. Missouri (Dec. 4), ASU was without junior guard Jaddan Simmons (the team's second-leading scorer) and senior guard Isadora Sousa (averaged seven rebounds in three most recent outings in addition to providing ASU with an important defensive presence).
In ASU's 75-60 loss at SFA on Dec. 11, the Sun Devils had nearly as many players in uniform (eight) as players who were not suited up (six). The latter group was comprised of injured players and played a major factor in the outcome. Simmons was back in the lineup but Greenslade was not available in addition to Thompson and Sousa. Thus, for the second straight game, ASU had seven players who accounted for nearly all the minutes. Just like in its loss to Missouri, ASU looked every bit the team that had won six of its first seven games – for the first 20 minutes. The final result? Just like against Missouri, fresher bodies enabled the opposition to outscore and out rebound ASU.
In its non-conference finale, an 82-67 win over Prairie View A&M, freshman guard Jaylah Robinson made her first career appearance after missing the first 10 games. It remains Robinson's only appearance this season.
At the start of Pac-12 play, ASU was boosted by the return of Sousa, who played at Arizona for the first time since Nov. 30. After accounting for five points, five rebounds in her return, Sousa scored a season-high seven points in ASU's next two games at Stanford (Dec. 31) and at Cal (Jan. 2). Sousa once again went down with an injury less than three minutes into ASU's contest vs. Oregon (Jan. 6). She missed ASU's game vs. OSU (Jan. 8) before being limited to nine minutes vs. Arizona (Jan. 22).
ASU's injury situation reached its nadir the second week in January when it had to forfeit games at Utah (Jan. 13) and at Colorado (Jan. 15) due to not having enough healthy players to play.
Greenslade returned to play at USC (Feb. 3), her first action since Dec. 4. She had a season high in scoring (6 points) in the first half vs. Cal (Feb. 10), before being forced to leave the game due to injury.
DEVILS HAVE BEEN WITHOUT PAIR OF DIFFERENCE MAKERS ALL SEASON
In addition to all the injuries ASU has incurred throughout the regular season, there are two additional players – returning junior G/F Maggie Besselink and sophomore transfer G Morasha Wiggins (North Carolina) – who have not played this season due to injury. If healthy, both players would almost certainly be significant contributors.
A versatile scorer, Besselink started 21 of 30 games she played in her first two seasons at ASU and was among the team leaders in rebounds and offensive rebounds both seasons. A rising star in the Canadian national program, in the summer of 2019 Besselink was named to Canada's U19 national team. In February, 2020, Besselink traveled to the NBA All-Star Game in Chicago to participate in the Basketball Without Borders Global Camp, which invites the top international 64 girls and boys from 34 countries and regions.
ESPN ranked Wiggins as the nation's No. 18 prospect in the class of 2021. A three-time all-state selection at Kalamazoo Central, she one of five finalists for the 2021 Miss Basketball award and received Division 1 co-Player of Year honors from the Associated Press as a senior. She was part of signing class at UNC that was ranked No. 3 by ESPN.
CHALLENGING NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULE INCLUDED EIGHT TEAMS THAT QUALIFIED FOR POSTSEASON PLAY IN 2022
Contests against eight teams that qualified for postseason play last season highlighted ASU's 2022 non-conference schedule.
ASU played five of its non-conference games at home. Included in those games were tilts against 2022 NCAA Tournament participant and Atlantic-10 champion UMass (Dec. 2/L, 64-88) and 2022 WNIT participant Missouri (Dec. 4/L, 60-71) in the Briann January Classic. In the latter contest, a sudden spate of injuries proved too much for ASU to overcome. The Sun Devils led the Tigers 31-28 at the half. ASU's lack of depth due to its injury situation affected its ability to defend a Missouri squad with a proven knack for scoring the basketball. Ultimately, the Tigers came away with the win.
At the Goombay Splash (Nov. 25-26/Bimini, Bahamas) ASU faced two 2022 NCAA Tournament teams in the form of American (NCAA First Round and Patriot League Tournament champions, W, 70-61) and current No. 5 Notre Dame (NCAA Third Round/L, 65-85). 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.
Other teams ASU faced that qualified for 2022 postseason play included road contests against Montana State (Nov. 15/NCAA First Round/W, 74-61), New Mexico (Nov. 20/WNIT Third Round, W, 83-77-OT), Grand Canyon (Nov. 30/WNIT First Round/W, 80-72) and Stephen F. Austin (Dec. 11/NCAA First Round/L, 60-75).