THE GAME: Sun Devil WBB (8-9, 0-5 Pac-12) at Washington State (12-5, 1-3 Pac-12)
WHEN: Friday at 8 p.m. MST/7 p.m. PST
WHERE: Beasley Coliseum • Pullman, Wash.
WATCH: Pac-12 Washington
RADIO: KDUS AM 1060 (Pregame coverage starts at 7:30 p.m. MST)
LIVE STATS: Click here
UP NEXT
The Sun Devil women's basketball team (8-9, 0-5 Pac-12) makes the second of consecutive trips to the Pacific Northwest this week when it travels to the state of Washington to face Washington State (Friday 8 p.m. MST) and Washington on Sunday (1 p.m. MST).
The Sun Devils started their current road trip with losses to the Oregon schools last week: 65-53 at Oregon and 92-55 at Oregon State. Jalyn Brown led the team in scoring, averaging 15.5 ppg and knocking down 83 percent of her free throws (10-12) in the two games. Also providing major contributions last week was Journey Thompson, who averaged 14.0 points and 4.5 rebounds, the second time this season Thompson has scored in double figures in consecutive games.
Against Oregon, the Sun Devils were on the wrong end of a 16-6 third quarter that helped the Ducks break open a four-point game at the half. Thompson (12 points), Trayanna Crisp (11 points) and Brown (11 points) all reached double-figure scoring totals for the Sun Devils. Two days later at Oregon State, ASU found it difficult to score the basketball as it managed to connect on just 28 percent of its shots, including only 18 percent of their attempts from beyond the arc. Thompson scored a career-high 16 points at OSU.
Despite having already played 17 games this season, Friday's game will be just the fourth true road game for ASU. Up to this point, it has played 10 games in Desert Financial Arena (home arena), three away games: at Grambling (Nov. 16), at Oregon (Jan. 12), at Oregon State (Jan. 14) and four neutral site games: three at the Virgin Islands Paradise Jam (Nov. 23-25) and one at Footprint Center in Phoenix.
ASU started the new calendar year with home losses to then-No. 15 Utah (58-41) and then-No. 5 Colorado (81-68). In each game, the Sun Devils displayed both the flashes of brilliance necessary for success in the league and – with the team's health situation playing an increasingly bigger role in recent losses – the lulls on either side of the floor that can often make the difference between winning and losing.
ASU came through with an inspired defensive effort against Utah, holding the Utes (came into game No. 5 in the nation in scoring and No 1 in FG pct.) more than 33 points below their scoring average and nearly 16 points below their shooting percentage. ASU was not able to match Utah offensively as it scored in single digits in three of the four quarters. Brown notched her fourth 20-point game of the season with a career-high 21 points while Adison Novosel came off the bench and knocked down a trio of 3-pointers. Novosel had similar success on Friday at Oregon as she accounted for ASU's six third quarter points with a pair of 3-pointers.
Against Colorado, Brown raised her game to a whole different level, scoring 35 points, the most by a Sun Devil in the 21st century and the highest single-game total by a player this season in a game contested between two Pac-12 teams. Although the Sun Devils outscored the Buffaloes 43-31 in the second half, they fell into too big of a hole earlier in the game as CU led by as many as 28 late in the first half.
WATCH/LISTEN
Friday's game can be seen on Pac-12 Washington. The game can also be heard on KDUS AM 1060 (pregame starts at 7:30 p.m. in the Valley). Veteran broadcaster and the state of Arizona's 2010 & 2019 Broadcaster of the Year and a finalist for the 2023 award, Jeff Munn is in his 20th season as the voice of ASU women's basketball.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
• With a win at WSU, ASU would eclipse its win total from 2022-23 (8-20) and equal its conference win total from last season.
• Last weekend's games at Oregon (Jan. 12) and at Oregon State (Jan. 14) started ASU's most challenging stretch of the season from a road/logistics standpoint. Friday's game at Washington State is the third of seven games ASU is playing on the road in the span of nine games. After this weekend's road gamed at the Washington schools, ASU will return home to face Stanford (Fri., Jan. 26) and Cal (Sun., Jan. 28). ASU will then close out the challenging series with road contests at Arizona (Feb. 4) and at the Los Angeles schools (at USC on Fri., Feb. 9 and at UCLA on Sun., Feb. 11).
• ASU has had 6 players lead/tie for team lead in scoring: Brown (5x), Simmons (5x), Kadidia Toure (4x), Crisp (4x), Treasure Hunt (1x) and Journey Thompson. Brown's career-high 35 points vs. No. 5 Colorado on Jan. 7, is the highest single-game total by a Sun Devil this season.
• In the rebounding department, 8 Sun Devils have led/tied for the team lead: Journey Thompson (6x), Maggie Besselink (4x), Simmons (4x), Toure (3x), Mallory Miller (1x), Sandra Magolico (2x), Brown (2x), Hunt (1x) and Isadora Souza (1x). Toure's 14-rebound game vs. San Francisco (Nov. 13) represents the best rebounding game by a Sun Devil this season.
• On Dec. 20, Simmons (now with 1030 points) became the 25th Sun Devil to score more than 1000 points. In ASU's win over Fresno State (Dec. 20), Simmons had a career-high 8 assists with zero turnovers.
• In her last 10 games, Brown is averaging 19.0 ppg and is shooting 85.4 pct. (35-41) from the line. In the 13 games Brown has started, she has scored in double figures 12x. She has scored 20 or more points 6x in that sequence: 20-20-20-21-35-20
• In ASU's games vs. Colorado (Jan. 7) and at Oregon (Jan. 12), Isadora Sousa shot 73 percent (8-11 FGs) and averaged 9.0 points in the two contests.
• Crisp scored a then-career high 17 points 2x in ASU's first seven games. She surpassed that with 18 points vs. GCU (Dec. 8). Crisp has scored in double figures in all but 4 games averaged 14.0 ppg in 4 games prior to Utah game in which she left early due to injury. During that stretch: led team in assists (2.75 apg) and was tied with J. Simmons for lead in steals (2.5 spg).
• ASU has allowed 13 or fewer points in a quarter 22x, including 7x in single digits.
• ASU scored a double-digit point total in each of the first 20 quarters of the season. Overall, it has scored in double figures in 54 of 68 quarters.
SERIES NOTES VERSUS WASHINGTON STATE
• The Sun Devils have been victorious in 38 of their last 47 meetings against WSU, including the last 11 of the last 13. This will be the first time ASU and WSU will play two regular season games after playing just once each of the last three seasons. In 2021-22, ASU's games vs. the Washington schools (scheduled to be played in Tempe) and the 2021 games vs. the Washington schools (scheduled to be played in Washington) were all postponed and eventually canceled due to Covid-19 protocols.
• WSU claimed a 61-57 win last season in Tempe. Jaddan Simmons (20 points) Trayanna Crisp (11 points) combined for 31 of ASU's points.
• WSU's 65-58 win in Pullman, Wash., in 2022 ended ASU's 11-game winning streak in the series. Jaddan Simmons led all scorers with 22 points, 19 of which came in the second half. Seven of the 10 shots Simmons attempted in the final 20 minutes swished through the net, including a trio of triples.
• In the only meeting between the two squads in 2021 in Tempe, Simmons (15 points, 6-6 FTs) led ASU in a 67-61 win over the Cougars.
RANKINGS OF NOTE (AS OF JAN. 17, 2024)
• As a team, ASU leads the Pac-12 in FT attempts per game (19.00), is 3rd in FTs made per game (12.94), 4th in offensive rebounds per game (12.2), turnover margin (+2.71) and fewest turnovers per game (13.5/36th in the nation) and 6th in turnovers forced per game (16.31).
• Jaddan Simmons is among the leaders in both the Pac-12 and the nation in minutes per game (2nd in the Pac-12/35.59/29th in the nation) and free throws made (70/4th in Pac-12/30th in the nation) and attempted (90/5th in Pac-12/33rd in the nation). Simmons is also among the leaders in the Pac-12 in steals per game (9th/1.88), FT pct. (13th/77.8) and 15th in assists (3.0).
• Jalyn Brown is 8th in the Pac-12 in scoring (15.64 ppg) and minutes per game (32.85), 12th in FT pct. (79.6).
• Journey Thompson is 11th in O-rebs (2.75 rpg), Kadidia Toure is tied for 14th in offensive rebounds (2.06) and Trayanna Crisp is 11th in minutes per game (31.45).
WHEN: Friday at 8 p.m. MST/7 p.m. PST
WHERE: Beasley Coliseum • Pullman, Wash.
WATCH: Pac-12 Washington
RADIO: KDUS AM 1060 (Pregame coverage starts at 7:30 p.m. MST)
LIVE STATS: Click here
UP NEXT
The Sun Devil women's basketball team (8-9, 0-5 Pac-12) makes the second of consecutive trips to the Pacific Northwest this week when it travels to the state of Washington to face Washington State (Friday 8 p.m. MST) and Washington on Sunday (1 p.m. MST).
The Sun Devils started their current road trip with losses to the Oregon schools last week: 65-53 at Oregon and 92-55 at Oregon State. Jalyn Brown led the team in scoring, averaging 15.5 ppg and knocking down 83 percent of her free throws (10-12) in the two games. Also providing major contributions last week was Journey Thompson, who averaged 14.0 points and 4.5 rebounds, the second time this season Thompson has scored in double figures in consecutive games.
Against Oregon, the Sun Devils were on the wrong end of a 16-6 third quarter that helped the Ducks break open a four-point game at the half. Thompson (12 points), Trayanna Crisp (11 points) and Brown (11 points) all reached double-figure scoring totals for the Sun Devils. Two days later at Oregon State, ASU found it difficult to score the basketball as it managed to connect on just 28 percent of its shots, including only 18 percent of their attempts from beyond the arc. Thompson scored a career-high 16 points at OSU.
Despite having already played 17 games this season, Friday's game will be just the fourth true road game for ASU. Up to this point, it has played 10 games in Desert Financial Arena (home arena), three away games: at Grambling (Nov. 16), at Oregon (Jan. 12), at Oregon State (Jan. 14) and four neutral site games: three at the Virgin Islands Paradise Jam (Nov. 23-25) and one at Footprint Center in Phoenix.
ASU started the new calendar year with home losses to then-No. 15 Utah (58-41) and then-No. 5 Colorado (81-68). In each game, the Sun Devils displayed both the flashes of brilliance necessary for success in the league and – with the team's health situation playing an increasingly bigger role in recent losses – the lulls on either side of the floor that can often make the difference between winning and losing.
ASU came through with an inspired defensive effort against Utah, holding the Utes (came into game No. 5 in the nation in scoring and No 1 in FG pct.) more than 33 points below their scoring average and nearly 16 points below their shooting percentage. ASU was not able to match Utah offensively as it scored in single digits in three of the four quarters. Brown notched her fourth 20-point game of the season with a career-high 21 points while Adison Novosel came off the bench and knocked down a trio of 3-pointers. Novosel had similar success on Friday at Oregon as she accounted for ASU's six third quarter points with a pair of 3-pointers.
Against Colorado, Brown raised her game to a whole different level, scoring 35 points, the most by a Sun Devil in the 21st century and the highest single-game total by a player this season in a game contested between two Pac-12 teams. Although the Sun Devils outscored the Buffaloes 43-31 in the second half, they fell into too big of a hole earlier in the game as CU led by as many as 28 late in the first half.
WATCH/LISTEN
Friday's game can be seen on Pac-12 Washington. The game can also be heard on KDUS AM 1060 (pregame starts at 7:30 p.m. in the Valley). Veteran broadcaster and the state of Arizona's 2010 & 2019 Broadcaster of the Year and a finalist for the 2023 award, Jeff Munn is in his 20th season as the voice of ASU women's basketball.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
• With a win at WSU, ASU would eclipse its win total from 2022-23 (8-20) and equal its conference win total from last season.
• Last weekend's games at Oregon (Jan. 12) and at Oregon State (Jan. 14) started ASU's most challenging stretch of the season from a road/logistics standpoint. Friday's game at Washington State is the third of seven games ASU is playing on the road in the span of nine games. After this weekend's road gamed at the Washington schools, ASU will return home to face Stanford (Fri., Jan. 26) and Cal (Sun., Jan. 28). ASU will then close out the challenging series with road contests at Arizona (Feb. 4) and at the Los Angeles schools (at USC on Fri., Feb. 9 and at UCLA on Sun., Feb. 11).
• ASU has had 6 players lead/tie for team lead in scoring: Brown (5x), Simmons (5x), Kadidia Toure (4x), Crisp (4x), Treasure Hunt (1x) and Journey Thompson. Brown's career-high 35 points vs. No. 5 Colorado on Jan. 7, is the highest single-game total by a Sun Devil this season.
• In the rebounding department, 8 Sun Devils have led/tied for the team lead: Journey Thompson (6x), Maggie Besselink (4x), Simmons (4x), Toure (3x), Mallory Miller (1x), Sandra Magolico (2x), Brown (2x), Hunt (1x) and Isadora Souza (1x). Toure's 14-rebound game vs. San Francisco (Nov. 13) represents the best rebounding game by a Sun Devil this season.
• On Dec. 20, Simmons (now with 1030 points) became the 25th Sun Devil to score more than 1000 points. In ASU's win over Fresno State (Dec. 20), Simmons had a career-high 8 assists with zero turnovers.
• In her last 10 games, Brown is averaging 19.0 ppg and is shooting 85.4 pct. (35-41) from the line. In the 13 games Brown has started, she has scored in double figures 12x. She has scored 20 or more points 6x in that sequence: 20-20-20-21-35-20
• In ASU's games vs. Colorado (Jan. 7) and at Oregon (Jan. 12), Isadora Sousa shot 73 percent (8-11 FGs) and averaged 9.0 points in the two contests.
• Crisp scored a then-career high 17 points 2x in ASU's first seven games. She surpassed that with 18 points vs. GCU (Dec. 8). Crisp has scored in double figures in all but 4 games averaged 14.0 ppg in 4 games prior to Utah game in which she left early due to injury. During that stretch: led team in assists (2.75 apg) and was tied with J. Simmons for lead in steals (2.5 spg).
• ASU has allowed 13 or fewer points in a quarter 22x, including 7x in single digits.
• ASU scored a double-digit point total in each of the first 20 quarters of the season. Overall, it has scored in double figures in 54 of 68 quarters.
SERIES NOTES VERSUS WASHINGTON STATE
• The Sun Devils have been victorious in 38 of their last 47 meetings against WSU, including the last 11 of the last 13. This will be the first time ASU and WSU will play two regular season games after playing just once each of the last three seasons. In 2021-22, ASU's games vs. the Washington schools (scheduled to be played in Tempe) and the 2021 games vs. the Washington schools (scheduled to be played in Washington) were all postponed and eventually canceled due to Covid-19 protocols.
• WSU claimed a 61-57 win last season in Tempe. Jaddan Simmons (20 points) Trayanna Crisp (11 points) combined for 31 of ASU's points.
• WSU's 65-58 win in Pullman, Wash., in 2022 ended ASU's 11-game winning streak in the series. Jaddan Simmons led all scorers with 22 points, 19 of which came in the second half. Seven of the 10 shots Simmons attempted in the final 20 minutes swished through the net, including a trio of triples.
• In the only meeting between the two squads in 2021 in Tempe, Simmons (15 points, 6-6 FTs) led ASU in a 67-61 win over the Cougars.
RANKINGS OF NOTE (AS OF JAN. 17, 2024)
• As a team, ASU leads the Pac-12 in FT attempts per game (19.00), is 3rd in FTs made per game (12.94), 4th in offensive rebounds per game (12.2), turnover margin (+2.71) and fewest turnovers per game (13.5/36th in the nation) and 6th in turnovers forced per game (16.31).
• Jaddan Simmons is among the leaders in both the Pac-12 and the nation in minutes per game (2nd in the Pac-12/35.59/29th in the nation) and free throws made (70/4th in Pac-12/30th in the nation) and attempted (90/5th in Pac-12/33rd in the nation). Simmons is also among the leaders in the Pac-12 in steals per game (9th/1.88), FT pct. (13th/77.8) and 15th in assists (3.0).
• Jalyn Brown is 8th in the Pac-12 in scoring (15.64 ppg) and minutes per game (32.85), 12th in FT pct. (79.6).
• Journey Thompson is 11th in O-rebs (2.75 rpg), Kadidia Toure is tied for 14th in offensive rebounds (2.06) and Trayanna Crisp is 11th in minutes per game (31.45).