THE GAME: Sun Devil WBB (7-18, 0-16 Pac-12) at Oregon State (11-16, 3-13 Pac-12)
WHEN: Thursday at 8 p.m. MST
WHERE: Gill Coliseum • Corvallis, Ore.
TV: Pac-12 Arizona
RADIO: KDUS AM 1060
LIVE STATS: Click here
UP NEXT
The Sun Devil women's basketball team (7-18, 0-16 Pac-12) hits the road to play its last two games of the 2022-23 regular season when it takes on Oregon State (11-16, 3-13) on Thursday (8 p.m. MST) and Oregon (14-13, 5-11) on Saturday (1 p.m. MST). The following week it will travel to Las Vegas for the Pac-12 Women's Basketball Tournament (Mar. 1-5).
The Sun Devils come into this weekend a much-improved team from the one that started Pac-12 play at Arizona on Dec. 29. Although its improvement has not shown in its record, it can't be lost that after losing its first six conference games by double digits, in four of its last eight contests, ASU was very much in play to claim victory: vs. WSU (L, 61-57), vs. UW (L, 55-53), then-No. 21 Colorado (70-62), then-No. 4 Utah (74-69).
The losses to the Buffaloes and Utes offered evidence of ASU's improvement, not only in that it nearly came away with wins in both games, but also the quality of competition in those contests. Against Colorado, 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. Jaddan Simmons finished with 11 points, her 11th consecutive game scoring in double figures, while Treasure Hunt added 10 points and a team-high eight rebounds for the Sun Devils who were down by as many as 15 points early in the third quarter. Simmons' jumper with just over seven minutes left ignited a 12-4 response by the Sun Devils. Kayla Mokwuah's layup with 3:22 remaining pulled ASU within two points 62-60. Unfortunately for the Sun Devils, the Buffaloes scored eight of game's last 10 points, to prevent ASU from pulling off the upset.
Two days later vs. Utah, Hunt tied the game at 65-65 with 1:51 remaining. The Utes answered with the next seven points to put the game out of reach. The star of ASU's near upset of the Utes was Sydney Erikstrup who posted her first career double-double with career-highs in scoring (15 points) and rebounds (10). Hunt had 13 points and Mokwuah, who along with teammate Isadora Sousa were honored in Senior Day ceremonies prior to the game, added 11 points and seven boards.
SERIES NOTES VERSUS OREGON STATE
• ASU has won 27 of the last 40 meetings, but the Beavers have gotten the better of it in recent years with wins in 10 of the last 15 games.
• The Beavers won the most recent meeting, 69-59, in the first meeting in Tempe. Skinner led the way with 22 points, while freshman Journey Thompson finished with a career-high 12 rebounds. Thompson, has not played since that game due to injury.
• ASU's 67-57 win on Feb. 4, 2022 in Tempe was the first meeting between the two squads since February, 2020, as both contests in 2021 were canceled due to Covid-19 as was the first of two scheduled regular season games (scheduled to be played at OSU) in 2022.
• ASU's 57-51 win in the 2018 Pac-12 Tournament quarterfinals snapped OSU's streak of seven straight wins. In 2018-19, ASU swept Oregon State for the first time since 2011 and became the first Pac-12 team to accomplish the feat since 2013.
CURRENT STORYLINES (STATS LISTED ARE AS OF FEB. 21)
• ASU is ranked in the top half of the Pac-12 in FTs made (2nd/14.32/45th in the nation) and attempted per game (2nd/19.8), fewest turnovers per game (2nd/12.3/12th in the nation), turnover margin (2nd/+2.56,) and offensive rebounds per game (6th/13.2). In Pac-12 games, ASU is No. 2 in turnover margin (+4.14) and No. 6 in steals per game (6.93). On Friday vs. Colorado, ASU forced a season-high 20 turnovers for the fifth time this season. All five instances have come in ASU's last 10 games. ASU is +6.1 in turnover margin during that stretch.
• ASU's current average of 12.3 turnovers per game is No. 2 in school history. ASU set the school record in 2018 (11.7) and followed that with 12.5 in 2019.
• Tyi Skinner (22x/25 games) and Jaddan Simmons (20/24 games), have combined to score in double figures 42x out of a possible 49 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.
• Only four players have played in all 25 games: Skinner (25 starts), Kayla Mokwuah (22 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 24 games they have played in. As of Feb. 21, ASU has three of the top six players in the Pac-12 in minutes per game: 2. Simmons (36.35), 3. Skinner (36.06), 6. Hunt (33.77).
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. 21, Skinner, who has scored in double figures in all but three games (Jan. 23 vs. Arizona, Jan. 27 vs. Washington St., Feb. 19 vs. Utah), is 2nd in the Pac-12 and 27th in the nation in scoring (18.8 ppg). She is also among the Pac-12's leaders in 3-pointers per game (3rd/2.28), FTs made (3rd/108) and attempted (3rd/139), minutes per game (3rd/36.06/34th in the nation), steals (4th/1.84), 3-point FG pct. (8th/33.3) and FT pct. (7th/77.7). 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 18.8 ppg, is No. 6 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).
1981-82 – Kym Hampton – 21.3 ppg
1983-84 – Kym Hampton – 20.2 ppg
1988-89 – Karen O'Connor – 19.5 ppg
1982-83 – Olivia Jones – 19.2 ppg
1982-83 – Kym Hampton – 18.9 ppg
2022-23 – Tyi Skinner – 18.8 ppg
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 (74 starts/74 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 24 games she's played this season (DNP vs. Missouri on Dec. 4/illness), Simmons has scored in double figures in all but four games this season. Her recent streak of scoring in double figures (11 games) came to an end on Feb. 19 versus Utah, when she had eight points. Simmons was still a factor in ASU's near upset of the then-No. 4 Utes as she tied her season high in assists (6) for the third time this season. During the aforementioned 11-game streak of scoring in double figures, Simmons averaged 13.4 ppg and led ASU in steals (2.1 spg) and assists (2.7 apg) and was 2nd in rebounds (4.5 rpg) and offensive rebounds (1.7 rpg).
Simmons, who has pulled down 5 or more rebounds 12x, currently leads ASU in assists (3.1 apg), minutes (36.35 mpg/2nd in P12/29th in nation) and steals (1.88 spg/3rd in P12) and is 2nd in FT pct. (74.6/10th in P12) and FTs made (85/6th in P12) and attempted (114/6th in P12).
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 24 games she's played this season and currently ASU's leader in rebounds (6.2 rpg/11th in P12), 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 (33.77/6th in P12), has scored in double figures 14x, with 11 of those performances coming in ASU's last 16 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 22 games, TCU transfer Kayla Mokwuah leads ASU in offensive rebs (2.1 rpg/14th in P12) and blocks per game (0.8/13 of 19 blocks have come in last 11 games), is 3rd on the team in rebs (4.8 rpg/6 or more rebs 10x this season) and 4th in scoring (5.6 ppg). Mokwuah's second career double-double (16 points, 13 rebs) proved critical in ASU's OT win at New Mexico (Nov. 20). She also scored in double figures vs. Grambling (Nov. 11 - 10 points) & vs. then-No. 4 Utah (Feb. 19 - 11 points).
• 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 2nd in rebounds (5.5 rpg/19th in Pac-12).
• 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 (1.4) and 5th in scoring (5.3 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 4th on the team in 3-pointers per game (0.5). She posted scored a then-career high 11 points 3 triples in ASU's comeback win at GCU (Nov. 30). On Feb. 19, Erikstrup recorded her first career double-double when she put career highs in points (15) and rebounds (10) and tied her career high in triples (3) vs. then-No. 4 Utah.
• In the 20 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). Sousa scored 9 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in ASU's near upset of then-No. 4 Utah (Feb. 5).
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.
WHEN: Thursday at 8 p.m. MST
WHERE: Gill Coliseum • Corvallis, Ore.
TV: Pac-12 Arizona
RADIO: KDUS AM 1060
LIVE STATS: Click here
UP NEXT
The Sun Devil women's basketball team (7-18, 0-16 Pac-12) hits the road to play its last two games of the 2022-23 regular season when it takes on Oregon State (11-16, 3-13) on Thursday (8 p.m. MST) and Oregon (14-13, 5-11) on Saturday (1 p.m. MST). The following week it will travel to Las Vegas for the Pac-12 Women's Basketball Tournament (Mar. 1-5).
The Sun Devils come into this weekend a much-improved team from the one that started Pac-12 play at Arizona on Dec. 29. Although its improvement has not shown in its record, it can't be lost that after losing its first six conference games by double digits, in four of its last eight contests, ASU was very much in play to claim victory: vs. WSU (L, 61-57), vs. UW (L, 55-53), then-No. 21 Colorado (70-62), then-No. 4 Utah (74-69).
The losses to the Buffaloes and Utes offered evidence of ASU's improvement, not only in that it nearly came away with wins in both games, but also the quality of competition in those contests. Against Colorado, 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. Jaddan Simmons finished with 11 points, her 11th consecutive game scoring in double figures, while Treasure Hunt added 10 points and a team-high eight rebounds for the Sun Devils who were down by as many as 15 points early in the third quarter. Simmons' jumper with just over seven minutes left ignited a 12-4 response by the Sun Devils. Kayla Mokwuah's layup with 3:22 remaining pulled ASU within two points 62-60. Unfortunately for the Sun Devils, the Buffaloes scored eight of game's last 10 points, to prevent ASU from pulling off the upset.
Two days later vs. Utah, Hunt tied the game at 65-65 with 1:51 remaining. The Utes answered with the next seven points to put the game out of reach. The star of ASU's near upset of the Utes was Sydney Erikstrup who posted her first career double-double with career-highs in scoring (15 points) and rebounds (10). Hunt had 13 points and Mokwuah, who along with teammate Isadora Sousa were honored in Senior Day ceremonies prior to the game, added 11 points and seven boards.
SERIES NOTES VERSUS OREGON STATE
• ASU has won 27 of the last 40 meetings, but the Beavers have gotten the better of it in recent years with wins in 10 of the last 15 games.
• The Beavers won the most recent meeting, 69-59, in the first meeting in Tempe. Skinner led the way with 22 points, while freshman Journey Thompson finished with a career-high 12 rebounds. Thompson, has not played since that game due to injury.
• ASU's 67-57 win on Feb. 4, 2022 in Tempe was the first meeting between the two squads since February, 2020, as both contests in 2021 were canceled due to Covid-19 as was the first of two scheduled regular season games (scheduled to be played at OSU) in 2022.
• ASU's 57-51 win in the 2018 Pac-12 Tournament quarterfinals snapped OSU's streak of seven straight wins. In 2018-19, ASU swept Oregon State for the first time since 2011 and became the first Pac-12 team to accomplish the feat since 2013.
CURRENT STORYLINES (STATS LISTED ARE AS OF FEB. 21)
• ASU is ranked in the top half of the Pac-12 in FTs made (2nd/14.32/45th in the nation) and attempted per game (2nd/19.8), fewest turnovers per game (2nd/12.3/12th in the nation), turnover margin (2nd/+2.56,) and offensive rebounds per game (6th/13.2). In Pac-12 games, ASU is No. 2 in turnover margin (+4.14) and No. 6 in steals per game (6.93). On Friday vs. Colorado, ASU forced a season-high 20 turnovers for the fifth time this season. All five instances have come in ASU's last 10 games. ASU is +6.1 in turnover margin during that stretch.
• ASU's current average of 12.3 turnovers per game is No. 2 in school history. ASU set the school record in 2018 (11.7) and followed that with 12.5 in 2019.
• Tyi Skinner (22x/25 games) and Jaddan Simmons (20/24 games), have combined to score in double figures 42x out of a possible 49 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.
• Only four players have played in all 25 games: Skinner (25 starts), Kayla Mokwuah (22 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 24 games they have played in. As of Feb. 21, ASU has three of the top six players in the Pac-12 in minutes per game: 2. Simmons (36.35), 3. Skinner (36.06), 6. Hunt (33.77).
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. 21, Skinner, who has scored in double figures in all but three games (Jan. 23 vs. Arizona, Jan. 27 vs. Washington St., Feb. 19 vs. Utah), is 2nd in the Pac-12 and 27th in the nation in scoring (18.8 ppg). She is also among the Pac-12's leaders in 3-pointers per game (3rd/2.28), FTs made (3rd/108) and attempted (3rd/139), minutes per game (3rd/36.06/34th in the nation), steals (4th/1.84), 3-point FG pct. (8th/33.3) and FT pct. (7th/77.7). 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 18.8 ppg, is No. 6 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).
1981-82 – Kym Hampton – 21.3 ppg
1983-84 – Kym Hampton – 20.2 ppg
1988-89 – Karen O'Connor – 19.5 ppg
1982-83 – Olivia Jones – 19.2 ppg
1982-83 – Kym Hampton – 18.9 ppg
2022-23 – Tyi Skinner – 18.8 ppg
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 (74 starts/74 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 24 games she's played this season (DNP vs. Missouri on Dec. 4/illness), Simmons has scored in double figures in all but four games this season. Her recent streak of scoring in double figures (11 games) came to an end on Feb. 19 versus Utah, when she had eight points. Simmons was still a factor in ASU's near upset of the then-No. 4 Utes as she tied her season high in assists (6) for the third time this season. During the aforementioned 11-game streak of scoring in double figures, Simmons averaged 13.4 ppg and led ASU in steals (2.1 spg) and assists (2.7 apg) and was 2nd in rebounds (4.5 rpg) and offensive rebounds (1.7 rpg).
Simmons, who has pulled down 5 or more rebounds 12x, currently leads ASU in assists (3.1 apg), minutes (36.35 mpg/2nd in P12/29th in nation) and steals (1.88 spg/3rd in P12) and is 2nd in FT pct. (74.6/10th in P12) and FTs made (85/6th in P12) and attempted (114/6th in P12).
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 24 games she's played this season and currently ASU's leader in rebounds (6.2 rpg/11th in P12), 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 (33.77/6th in P12), has scored in double figures 14x, with 11 of those performances coming in ASU's last 16 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 22 games, TCU transfer Kayla Mokwuah leads ASU in offensive rebs (2.1 rpg/14th in P12) and blocks per game (0.8/13 of 19 blocks have come in last 11 games), is 3rd on the team in rebs (4.8 rpg/6 or more rebs 10x this season) and 4th in scoring (5.6 ppg). Mokwuah's second career double-double (16 points, 13 rebs) proved critical in ASU's OT win at New Mexico (Nov. 20). She also scored in double figures vs. Grambling (Nov. 11 - 10 points) & vs. then-No. 4 Utah (Feb. 19 - 11 points).
• 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 2nd in rebounds (5.5 rpg/19th in Pac-12).
• 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 (1.4) and 5th in scoring (5.3 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 4th on the team in 3-pointers per game (0.5). She posted scored a then-career high 11 points 3 triples in ASU's comeback win at GCU (Nov. 30). On Feb. 19, Erikstrup recorded her first career double-double when she put career highs in points (15) and rebounds (10) and tied her career high in triples (3) vs. then-No. 4 Utah.
• In the 20 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). Sousa scored 9 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in ASU's near upset of then-No. 4 Utah (Feb. 5).
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.