THE GAME: Sun Devil WBB (7-2) vs. Grand Canyon (6-2)
WHEN: Friday at 1 p.m. MST
WHERE: Desert Financial Arena • Tempe, Ariz.
WATCH: ASU Live Stream
RADIO: KAZG 1440 AM (Pregame coverage starts at 12:30 p.m. MST)
LIVE STATS: Click here
PURCHASE TICKETS: Click here
UP NEXT
The Sun Devil women's basketball team (7-2) plays the first of consecutive games vs. in-state foes when it hosts Grand Canyon (6-2) on Friday at 1 p.m.
The Sun Devils will open Pac-12 play on Sun., Dec. 17 when Arizona visits Desert Financial Arena in the first of two meetings between the two teams this season.
Last week ASU started a month in which it was scheduled to play all six of its games in Tempe (five games) or downtown Phoenix (one game). That number was reduced to five games (now four in Tempe) after ASU's home game vs. Xavier – its second of two games as part of the second annual Briann January Classic) –scheduled for Sat., Dec. 9 was canceled due to Xavier not having enough players to compete.
In the one game it did play last week, ASU came out on top against a scrappy Pacific team, 76-66. Jaddan Simmons scored 17 of her career-high 26 points in the second half, including eight points in the final 94 seconds while Jalyn Brown contributed a career high-tying 20 points for the second straight game.
WATCH/LISTEN
Friday's game vs. Grand Canyon can be seen via ASU's Live Stream. The game can also be heard on KAZG 1440 AM (pregame coverage starts at 12:30 p.m.). Veteran broadcaster and the state of Arizona's 2010 & 2019 Broadcaster of the Year and currently a finalist for the 2023 award, Jeff Munn is in his 20th season as the voice of ASU women's basketball. He'll be joined by Maura McHugh (color analyst).
RANKINGS OF NOTE (AS OF DEC. 7, 2023)
• As a team, ASU leads the Pac-12 in FT attempts per game (23.89/15th in the nation) and FTs made per game (15.89/27th in the nation), is 3rd in 3-point FG pct. defense (3rd/28.5) and 5th in steals per game (8.6).
• Jaddan Simmons leads the Pac-12 lead in FT attempts (64/8th in the nation), is 2nd in FTs made (51/9th in the nation), 3rd in minutes per game (34.1), 5th in steals per game (2.11), 14th in FT pct. (79.7) and 20th in scoring (12.9 ppg).
• Trayanna Crisp is 8th in the Pac-12 in FT pct. (87.0) and 11th in minutes per game (30.95).
• Journey Thompson is 12th in offensive rebs per game (2.44).
SERIES NOTES VERSUS GRAND CANYON
The Sun Devils have won all three meetings with the most recent contest taking place Nov. 30, 2022/80-72, ASU@GCU. Tyi Skinner scored 15 of her game-high 29 points in the fourth quarter in helping the Sun Devils establish a program record for most points in a quarter (35) and come back to win after trailing by as many as 11 in the final nine-plus minutes.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
• ASU has had a pair of three-game winning streaks this season. A win over Grand Canyon would give ASU its longest winning streak of the season. Its longest string of successes going back to the start of last season is five (won first five games of 2022-23 season).
• In its first nine games, ASU has had five different players lead or tie for the team lead in scoring: Jaddan Simmons (4x), Kadidia Toure (3x), Trayanna Crisp (3x), Jalyn Brown (1x) and Treasure Hunt (1x). Simmons' career-high 26 points in ASU's win over Pacific (Dec. 1) represented the highest single-game point total by a Sun Devil this season.
• In the rebounding department, six different Sun Devils have led or tied for the team lead: Maggie Besselink (4x), Journey Thompson (3x), Toure (1x), Mallory Miller (1x), Sandra Magolico (1x), Hunt (1x).
• During its current three-game winning streak, the Sun Devils have come up with dominating third quarters on two occasions to help give ASU a big lead heading to the final quarter: 24-6 vs. South Florida (ASU led 24-21 at the half) and 27-13 vs. Pacific (28-28 at the half).
• The Sun Devils have averaged only 10.3 turnovers in their last three games (+6.5 fewer TOs than in their first six games.)
• ASU is averaging 17.6 ppg off opponent turnovers this season. It scored a season-high 31 points off TOs at Grambling State (Nov. 16).
• ASU has allowed 13 or fewer points in a quarter 13 times, including five instances in single digits.
• ASU has held the opposition under 25 pct from long distance six times in nine games with only one opponent shooting higher than 50 pct.
• Jalyn Brown has averaged 18.0 ppg and is shooting 54 percent in ASU's last three games.
• Simmons (961 points) is 39 points away from reaching 1000 for her career. Not including ASU's game vs. Texas, Simmons has 27 assists and only 11 turnovers in ASU's other eight games. Her career-high 26-point game vs. Pacific represents the most points by a Sun Devil this season.
• Crisp has scored a career-high 17 points twice this season and has scored in double figures in all but two games.
• In ASU's three games at the Virgin Islands Paradise Jam, Hunt averaged 14.7 ppg (+6.7 above season average) and shot 55.6 percent (+8.8 pct above percentage for the season) 19-34 FGs from the floor, including 50 percent from long range (5-10 3FGs).
• During earlier three-game stretch (game Nos. 2-4), Toure averaged 19.0 ppg and 9.3 rebs per game. She posted her first career double-double with career highs in points (22) and rebounds (14) to go with 3 steals vs. San Francisco (Nov. 13). Toure leads ASU in FG pct. (50.3).
• ASU scored a double-digit point total in each of first 20 quarters. Overall, it has scored in double figures in 34 of 36 quarters.
WELCOME BACK
Maggie Besselink and Morasha Wiggins have both provided ASU with significant contributions this season. What distinguishes them from the other returning players? Both missed all of last season due to injury.
Besselink, who had not played in a game since Feb. 6, 2022, was not only in the starting lineup in the season opener, but ignited ASU's offense after hitting back-to-back triples in the first quarter vs. UTSA. She scored 11 points and grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds to post her second career double-double at Grambling State on Nov. 16. She also scored 10 points in wins vs. UTSA and Idaho State and has grabbed six or more rebounds five times.
Wiggins made her Sun Devil debut in ASU's win over San Francisco (Nov. 13), scoring 8 points and hitting all 4 of her free throws. She is averaging 12.6 minutes per game in the 6 games she has played and has made 50 percent of her shots (6-12).
IN CASE YOU ARE JUST JOINING US
• ASU started 3-0 after home wins over UTSA (70-55/Nov. 6), Montana State (75-62/Nov. 10) & San Francisco (77-69/Nov. 13). In the first half of its first three wins, ASU averaged 45.3 points & hit 49.5 pct of its shots. In the win vs. UTSA, ASU tied last season's highest point total in a half on its way to a 49-23 halftime lead. Against Montana State (Nov. 30), ASU scored 30 points in the first quarter, representing the third time it has scored 30 or more points in a quarter under head coach Natasha Adair.
• In its loss at Grambling State (Nov. 16), ASU scored 32 points and shot 38 pct. in the first half while allowing the Tigers to score 45 points. Down by as many as 17, ASU came back to tie the game at 67-67 before the Tigers hit game-winning 3-pointer in final seconds.
• After Montana State cut a 20-point deficit to four with seven mins remaining in the game, ASU answered with a 10-0 run. It allowed the Bobcats to shoot just 17 percent (2-12) in the fourth quarter.
• After allowing 70 points in its first loss of the season at Grambling State (70-67 on Nov. 16), ASU responded with a 72-40 win over Idaho State. The Bengals' final point total was the fewest given up by ASU since a 49-40 win over VCU on November 27, 2020.
• The Sun Devils have won three straight games since dropping an 84-42 decision to Texas in its first game at the Paradise Jam (Nov. 23). Less than 24 hours later (Nov. 24) ASU had to face a South Florida squad that entered the game among the Top 50 teams in the nation in rebounding margin (+10.8). ASU rose to the challenge and outrebounded the Bulls 38-32 in its 66-49 win. In its 77-69 win over High Point (Nov. 25), ASU shot 50 percent for the game, the first time it shot 50 percent or higher since a win at San Diego on Dec. 18, 2021. Brown's 20 points represented a new career high, while Hunt just missed a double-double with season highs in points (19) and rebounds (game-high eight boards).
• ASU extended its current winning streak to three after defeating Pacific 76-66 (Dec. 1). Simmons scored 17 of her career-high 26 points in the second half, including eight points in the final 94 seconds while Jalyn Brown contributed a career high-tying 20 points for the second straight game.
ALL-PAC-12 STANDOUT TYI SKINNER TO MISS 2023-24 SEASON
Although the Sun Devil women's basketball team's overall health is a 180-degree difference from last season, the squad was dealt a tremendous blow when Natasha Adair announced Oct. 4, 2023 that senior guard Tyi Skinner will miss the 2023-24 season due to a knee injury.
Skinner, who last season earned All-Pac-12 honorable mention honors from the league's coaches and All-Pac-12 recognition from media who cover the league, quickly established herself as one of top scorers in the Pac-12 and one of the most exciting players in the nation to watch in her first season in Tempe.
In 2022-23, Skinner scored 20 or more points 15 times, including a career-high 29 points on two occasions. A starter in all 28 games, Skinner went on to average 19.3 points per game, the most by a Sun Devil since the 1988-89 season. She concluded her first campaign in the Maroon and Gold among the leaders in the Pac-12 in points per game (19.3/2nd/27th in the nation), 3-pointers per game (2.43 per game/2nd), minutes per game (36.59/3rd/29th in the nation), free throws made (79/3rd) and attempted (91/4th), steals per game (1.71/5th), 3-point FG percentage (34.7/6th) and free throw percentage (78.1/8th).
WHEN: Friday at 1 p.m. MST
WHERE: Desert Financial Arena • Tempe, Ariz.
WATCH: ASU Live Stream
RADIO: KAZG 1440 AM (Pregame coverage starts at 12:30 p.m. MST)
LIVE STATS: Click here
PURCHASE TICKETS: Click here
UP NEXT
The Sun Devil women's basketball team (7-2) plays the first of consecutive games vs. in-state foes when it hosts Grand Canyon (6-2) on Friday at 1 p.m.
The Sun Devils will open Pac-12 play on Sun., Dec. 17 when Arizona visits Desert Financial Arena in the first of two meetings between the two teams this season.
Last week ASU started a month in which it was scheduled to play all six of its games in Tempe (five games) or downtown Phoenix (one game). That number was reduced to five games (now four in Tempe) after ASU's home game vs. Xavier – its second of two games as part of the second annual Briann January Classic) –scheduled for Sat., Dec. 9 was canceled due to Xavier not having enough players to compete.
?? NEW @SotDPodcast ??
— Brad Denny (@BDenny29) December 7, 2023
A great talk with @SunDevilWBB's @CoachAdair on:
?? Good start to '23-'24
?? Culture building
?? Lessons from last year
& more
Stream https://t.co/5euGSJE49Q
Apple https://t.co/XAoTEThZnh
Spotify https://t.co/2OnJ6d3afq
YouTube https://t.co/mKRkkIFLBx pic.twitter.com/LATFIKDMgV
In the one game it did play last week, ASU came out on top against a scrappy Pacific team, 76-66. Jaddan Simmons scored 17 of her career-high 26 points in the second half, including eight points in the final 94 seconds while Jalyn Brown contributed a career high-tying 20 points for the second straight game.
WATCH/LISTEN
Friday's game vs. Grand Canyon can be seen via ASU's Live Stream. The game can also be heard on KAZG 1440 AM (pregame coverage starts at 12:30 p.m.). Veteran broadcaster and the state of Arizona's 2010 & 2019 Broadcaster of the Year and currently a finalist for the 2023 award, Jeff Munn is in his 20th season as the voice of ASU women's basketball. He'll be joined by Maura McHugh (color analyst).
RANKINGS OF NOTE (AS OF DEC. 7, 2023)
• As a team, ASU leads the Pac-12 in FT attempts per game (23.89/15th in the nation) and FTs made per game (15.89/27th in the nation), is 3rd in 3-point FG pct. defense (3rd/28.5) and 5th in steals per game (8.6).
• Jaddan Simmons leads the Pac-12 lead in FT attempts (64/8th in the nation), is 2nd in FTs made (51/9th in the nation), 3rd in minutes per game (34.1), 5th in steals per game (2.11), 14th in FT pct. (79.7) and 20th in scoring (12.9 ppg).
• Trayanna Crisp is 8th in the Pac-12 in FT pct. (87.0) and 11th in minutes per game (30.95).
• Journey Thompson is 12th in offensive rebs per game (2.44).
SERIES NOTES VERSUS GRAND CANYON
The Sun Devils have won all three meetings with the most recent contest taking place Nov. 30, 2022/80-72, ASU@GCU. Tyi Skinner scored 15 of her game-high 29 points in the fourth quarter in helping the Sun Devils establish a program record for most points in a quarter (35) and come back to win after trailing by as many as 11 in the final nine-plus minutes.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
• ASU has had a pair of three-game winning streaks this season. A win over Grand Canyon would give ASU its longest winning streak of the season. Its longest string of successes going back to the start of last season is five (won first five games of 2022-23 season).
• In its first nine games, ASU has had five different players lead or tie for the team lead in scoring: Jaddan Simmons (4x), Kadidia Toure (3x), Trayanna Crisp (3x), Jalyn Brown (1x) and Treasure Hunt (1x). Simmons' career-high 26 points in ASU's win over Pacific (Dec. 1) represented the highest single-game point total by a Sun Devil this season.
• In the rebounding department, six different Sun Devils have led or tied for the team lead: Maggie Besselink (4x), Journey Thompson (3x), Toure (1x), Mallory Miller (1x), Sandra Magolico (1x), Hunt (1x).
• During its current three-game winning streak, the Sun Devils have come up with dominating third quarters on two occasions to help give ASU a big lead heading to the final quarter: 24-6 vs. South Florida (ASU led 24-21 at the half) and 27-13 vs. Pacific (28-28 at the half).
• The Sun Devils have averaged only 10.3 turnovers in their last three games (+6.5 fewer TOs than in their first six games.)
• ASU is averaging 17.6 ppg off opponent turnovers this season. It scored a season-high 31 points off TOs at Grambling State (Nov. 16).
• ASU has allowed 13 or fewer points in a quarter 13 times, including five instances in single digits.
• ASU has held the opposition under 25 pct from long distance six times in nine games with only one opponent shooting higher than 50 pct.
• Jalyn Brown has averaged 18.0 ppg and is shooting 54 percent in ASU's last three games.
• Simmons (961 points) is 39 points away from reaching 1000 for her career. Not including ASU's game vs. Texas, Simmons has 27 assists and only 11 turnovers in ASU's other eight games. Her career-high 26-point game vs. Pacific represents the most points by a Sun Devil this season.
• Crisp has scored a career-high 17 points twice this season and has scored in double figures in all but two games.
• In ASU's three games at the Virgin Islands Paradise Jam, Hunt averaged 14.7 ppg (+6.7 above season average) and shot 55.6 percent (+8.8 pct above percentage for the season) 19-34 FGs from the floor, including 50 percent from long range (5-10 3FGs).
• During earlier three-game stretch (game Nos. 2-4), Toure averaged 19.0 ppg and 9.3 rebs per game. She posted her first career double-double with career highs in points (22) and rebounds (14) to go with 3 steals vs. San Francisco (Nov. 13). Toure leads ASU in FG pct. (50.3).
• ASU scored a double-digit point total in each of first 20 quarters. Overall, it has scored in double figures in 34 of 36 quarters.
WELCOME BACK
Maggie Besselink and Morasha Wiggins have both provided ASU with significant contributions this season. What distinguishes them from the other returning players? Both missed all of last season due to injury.
Besselink, who had not played in a game since Feb. 6, 2022, was not only in the starting lineup in the season opener, but ignited ASU's offense after hitting back-to-back triples in the first quarter vs. UTSA. She scored 11 points and grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds to post her second career double-double at Grambling State on Nov. 16. She also scored 10 points in wins vs. UTSA and Idaho State and has grabbed six or more rebounds five times.
Wiggins made her Sun Devil debut in ASU's win over San Francisco (Nov. 13), scoring 8 points and hitting all 4 of her free throws. She is averaging 12.6 minutes per game in the 6 games she has played and has made 50 percent of her shots (6-12).
IN CASE YOU ARE JUST JOINING US
• ASU started 3-0 after home wins over UTSA (70-55/Nov. 6), Montana State (75-62/Nov. 10) & San Francisco (77-69/Nov. 13). In the first half of its first three wins, ASU averaged 45.3 points & hit 49.5 pct of its shots. In the win vs. UTSA, ASU tied last season's highest point total in a half on its way to a 49-23 halftime lead. Against Montana State (Nov. 30), ASU scored 30 points in the first quarter, representing the third time it has scored 30 or more points in a quarter under head coach Natasha Adair.
• In its loss at Grambling State (Nov. 16), ASU scored 32 points and shot 38 pct. in the first half while allowing the Tigers to score 45 points. Down by as many as 17, ASU came back to tie the game at 67-67 before the Tigers hit game-winning 3-pointer in final seconds.
• After Montana State cut a 20-point deficit to four with seven mins remaining in the game, ASU answered with a 10-0 run. It allowed the Bobcats to shoot just 17 percent (2-12) in the fourth quarter.
• After allowing 70 points in its first loss of the season at Grambling State (70-67 on Nov. 16), ASU responded with a 72-40 win over Idaho State. The Bengals' final point total was the fewest given up by ASU since a 49-40 win over VCU on November 27, 2020.
• The Sun Devils have won three straight games since dropping an 84-42 decision to Texas in its first game at the Paradise Jam (Nov. 23). Less than 24 hours later (Nov. 24) ASU had to face a South Florida squad that entered the game among the Top 50 teams in the nation in rebounding margin (+10.8). ASU rose to the challenge and outrebounded the Bulls 38-32 in its 66-49 win. In its 77-69 win over High Point (Nov. 25), ASU shot 50 percent for the game, the first time it shot 50 percent or higher since a win at San Diego on Dec. 18, 2021. Brown's 20 points represented a new career high, while Hunt just missed a double-double with season highs in points (19) and rebounds (game-high eight boards).
• ASU extended its current winning streak to three after defeating Pacific 76-66 (Dec. 1). Simmons scored 17 of her career-high 26 points in the second half, including eight points in the final 94 seconds while Jalyn Brown contributed a career high-tying 20 points for the second straight game.
ALL-PAC-12 STANDOUT TYI SKINNER TO MISS 2023-24 SEASON
Although the Sun Devil women's basketball team's overall health is a 180-degree difference from last season, the squad was dealt a tremendous blow when Natasha Adair announced Oct. 4, 2023 that senior guard Tyi Skinner will miss the 2023-24 season due to a knee injury.
Skinner, who last season earned All-Pac-12 honorable mention honors from the league's coaches and All-Pac-12 recognition from media who cover the league, quickly established herself as one of top scorers in the Pac-12 and one of the most exciting players in the nation to watch in her first season in Tempe.
In 2022-23, Skinner scored 20 or more points 15 times, including a career-high 29 points on two occasions. A starter in all 28 games, Skinner went on to average 19.3 points per game, the most by a Sun Devil since the 1988-89 season. She concluded her first campaign in the Maroon and Gold among the leaders in the Pac-12 in points per game (19.3/2nd/27th in the nation), 3-pointers per game (2.43 per game/2nd), minutes per game (36.59/3rd/29th in the nation), free throws made (79/3rd) and attempted (91/4th), steals per game (1.71/5th), 3-point FG percentage (34.7/6th) and free throw percentage (78.1/8th).