Natasha Adair's first season came to a close with an overtime loss to UCLA in Las Vegas, as the Sun Devils almost overcame a 19-point deficit to take the win. A promising 6-1 start was hampered by injuries and a short roster once Pac-12 play began, but there were several solid moments in the 2022-23 campaign.
PAC-12 RECOGNITION
Junior guards Tyi Skinner and Jaddan Simmons were recognized by the Pac-12 as the conference announced its annual awards for the 2022-23 season as voted on by the league's head coaches. Skinner, who transferred to ASU after starting her career at the University of Delaware, earned All-Pac-12 honorable mention honors. Simmons, a three-year starter, earned honorable mention on the Pac-12's All-Defensive team.
DARN GOOD COMPANY: Tyi Skinner averaged 19.3 points per game this year, the best by a Sun Devil since Karen O'Connor average 19.5 points in 1989-89 and the fourth best-mark in Sun Devil history. Only O'Connor and Kym Hampton had better scoring seasons than Skinner.
Simmons Continues to Make an Impact
In her third year for the Sun Devils, Jaddan Simmons started in every game she appeared in, en route to an Honorable Mention on the Pac-12 All-Defensive team. Simmons made an impact on both ends of the floor, as she opened the season with nine straight double-digit performances, including a career-high 22 points on opening night against NAU. She also led the team and conference with 36.91 minutes per game.
Contributions from the Transfer Portal
Along with Skinner, the Sun Devils welcomed Treasure Hunt, Kaylah Mokwuah, and Morasha Wiggins to the squad. While Wiggins wasn't able to make an impact due to an injury, Hunt and Mokwuah were key players throughout the season.
Hunt played and started 27 games, averaging 34.1 minutes (third on the team) and 11.3 points and 6.1 rebounds in her first year at ASU. She made 28 three-pointers and had 22 blocks and 25 steals. The treasure had a career-high 24 points vs. Arizona on Jan. 22 and had a career-best 15 rebounds at New Mexico on Nov. 20. Hunt was the leading rebounder in nine games and the top scorer in two.
Mokwuah played in 28 games, appearing in the starting five for 25 of them. Kaylah led ASU in offensive rebounds (2.0 RPG/14th in Pac-12) and was third on the team in rebounds (4.9 RPG). She was one of four players who played in every game this season. Mokwuah recorded her second career double-double (16 pts 13 rebs) in ASU's OT win at New Mexico.
SUN DEVIL WBB AVERAGE PPG SINCE 1979
1981-82 – Kym Hampton – 21.3 ppg
1983-84 – Kym Hampton – 20.2 ppg
1988-89 – Karen O'Connor – 19.5 ppg
2022-23 – Tyi Skinner – 19.3 ppg
1982-83 – Olivia Jones – 19.2 ppg
TAKE CARE OF THE BALL: Despite a team with a small rotation and not having a lot of depth, the Sun Devils did a fantastic job of taking care of the ball. The Sun Devils averaged just 12.3 turnovers per game, second-best in school history.
SUN DEVIL FEWEST TURNOVERS PER GAME
11.7/2018-19
12.3/2022-23
12.5/2018-19
29 vs. Missouri (Dec. 4, 2022)
29 at Grand Canyon (Nov. 30, 2022)
28 at UCLA (Feb. 5, 2023)
27 at Oregon State (Feb. 23, 2023)
27 vs. Colorado (Feb. 17, 2023)
26 at Arizona (Dec. 29, 2022)
26 vs. UCLA (Mar. 1, 2022)
24 vs. American at Goombay Splash (Nov. 25, 2022)
24 at New Mexico (Nov. 20, 2022)
24 at Montana State (Nov. 14, 2022)
23 vs. Stanford (Feb. 12, 2023)
22 vs. Oregon State (Jan. 8, 2023)
22 at Stephen F. Austin (Dec. 11, 2022)
21 at Stanford (Dec. 31, 2022)
20 vs. Oregon (Jan. 6, 2023)
MOST THREE-POINTERS (SEASON)
76, Katie Hempen (2014-15)
68, Tyi Skinner (2022-23) 68
68, Courtney Ekmark (2018-19) 68
65, Katie Hempen (2015-16) 65
65, Briann January (2008-09) 65
PAC-12 SENDS SEVEN TO NCAAS
A league record-tying seven Pac-12 women's basketball teams are headed to the 2023 NCAA Tournament, with Arizona, Colorado, Stanford, UCLA, USC, Utah and Washington State chosen to represent the Conference in March Madness. At least half of the league has now earned berths in six consecutive NCAA Tournaments and this will be the ninth consecutive event to feature at least five Pac-12 programs. The seven Pac-12 teams in the bracket matches a Conference record from 2016-17.