THE GAME: Sun Devil WBB (10-13, 2-11 Pac-12) at No. 9/10 UCLA (18-4, 7-4 Pac-12)
WHEN: Sunday at 1 p.m. MST
WHERE: Pauley Pavilion • Los Angeles
WATCH: Pac-12 Arizona/Los Angeles
RADIO: KDUS AM 1060
LIVE STATS: Click here
UP NEXT
The Sun Devil women's basketball team (10-13, 2-9 Pac-12) concludes an unforgiving stretch of playing seven of nine games on the road on Sunday (1 p.m. MST) when they play at No. 9 UCLA (18-4, 7-4).
SETTING THE SCENE IN SONG
If there was one song that would best describe the Sun Devil women's basketball team's current plight, one of the fastest that would come to mind would be Willie Nelson's, 'On the Road Again.' The reason? Because this weekend's games in the City of Angels concludes a stretch in which ASU will have completed the undesirable assignment of playing seven of nine games on the road. The numbers 4-2-3 do not relate to any sort of top-secret combination, but rather the sequence of road/home/road games of ASU's current nine-game stretch.
The series of games started with ASU traveling to the second furthest state out of all their possible conference road trips: ASU lost at Oregon 65-53 and 92-55 at Oregon State. After returning to Tempe, ASU traveled back to the Pacific Northwest – less than a week later – only this time for its longest Pac-12 road trip for games at Washington State (lost 79-64) and at Washington where it came up with one of its best performances in a 73-65 win. To come away with its first success in league play, it had to overcome a Washington squad that had lost only once at home (coming into the game) and came into the game first in the Pac-12 and seventh in the nation in scoring defense (52.4 ppg).
Jalyn Brown (11-20 FGs, 4-5 3FGs, 8-8 FTs) posted her second 30-point game of the season, finishing with 34 points (scored 35 vs. Colorado on Jan. 7). ASU's 73 points represented the most given up by UW (at the time). Furthermore, ASU tied a Washington opponent high (at the time) by hitting eight triples. ASU was 61.5 percent (8-13) from downtown against the Pac-12's top team/No. 13 in the nation in 3-point FG percentage defense (24.8 percent coming into the game).
In between losses vs Stanford (80-50 on Jan. 26) and at Arizona (63-52 on Feb. 4), ASU had its finest offensive performance in recent memory in a 76-71 win over Cal (Jan. 28). Five players scored in double figures led by Brown, who had a game-high 21 points to help ASU accumulate its season-high point total in conference play. Jaddan Simmons scored 15 points to go with a game-high four steals; Journey Thompson (game high-tying eight rebounds) and Trayanna Crisp had 13 points each and Isadora Sousa scored all 12 of her points via the long ball (4-4 3FGs).
ASU was remarkable throughout the game on the offensive end as it shot 54.8 pct, its highest FG pct. since shooting 56 pct vs. SIU on Nov. 24, 2018. It was its highest percentage in a Pac-12 game since a 55.6-percent effort vs. Arizona on February 16, 2018. On top of those feats, ASU set a school record for 3-point FG pct (minimum of 10 attempts) as it hit 80 pct (8-10) of its attempts.
The Sun Devils were unable to keep up with No. 10 USC, 81-63 on Friday night.
WATCH/LISTEN
Sunday's game can be seen on Pac-12 Arizona/Los Angeles (Ann Schatz, Tammy Blackburn). The game can also be heard on KDUS AM 1060. 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.
JALYN BROWN ASCENDING TO SUPERSTAR STATUS
• As the season has progressed, Jalyn Brown has evolved into one of the top performers in the Pac-12. In league games, Brown is currently 2nd in the Pac-12 in scoring (21.3 ppg) & 6th in scoring in all games (17.5 ppg).
• Brown has scored in double figures 18 times, including 16 times in the last 17 games. During that 17-game stretch, she is leading the team in scoring (19.6 ppg), 3FGs per game (1.6) and free throws made (71), attempted (87) and FT percentage (81.6), is second in 3FG pct. (37.1) and minutes (36.6 mpg) and 3rd in assists (1.65 apg).
• In contest vs. No. 5 Colorado on Jan. 7, Brown scored 35 points, the most points by a Sun Devil in the 21st century.
• Added a second 30-point game, scoring 34 points (11-20 FGs, 4-5 3FGs, 8-8 FTs) in ASU's first Pac-12 win at Washington (Jan. 21).
MOST POINTS IN A GAME BY A SUN DEVIL SINCE 2000
35 - Jalyn Brown vs. Colorado (1/7/24)
34 - Jalyn Brown at Washington (1/21/24)
34 - Jade Loville at San Diego (12/18/21)
33 - Jade Loville vs. Oregon St. (2/4/22)
32 - Kylan Loney vs. Arizona (1/31/04)
30 - Kianna Ibis at Utah (12/31/17)
30 - Amanda Levens vs St. Peter's (11/17/01)
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
• As of Feb. 10, 2024, ASU is ranked in the top half of the Pac-12 in FT attempts per game (1st/18.83), is 4th in offensive rebounds per game (11.6), turnover margin (+2.57) and fewest turnovers per game (13.1/28th in the nation) and 5th in FTs made per game (12.87) and 6th in steals per game (7.5) and turnovers forced per game (15.65).
• Individually, Jaddan Simmons is ranked 18th in the nation in minutes per game (36.35), 32nd in FTs made (97) and 43rd in FT attempts (122).
• ASU has had 6 players lead/tie for team lead in scoring: Brown (11x), Simmons (5x), Kadidia Toure (4x), Crisp (4x), Treasure Hunt (1x) and Journey Thompson (1). Brown's career-high 35 points vs. No. 5 Colorado (Jan. 7), is the highest single-game total by a Sun Devil this season.
• In the rebounding department, 9 players have led/tied for the team lead: Thompson (9x), Simmons (5x), Maggie Besselink (4x), Toure (3x), Mallory Miller (2x), Sandra Magolico (2x), Brown (2x), Isadora Souza (2x) and Hunt (1x). Toure's 14-rebound game vs. San Francisco (Nov. 13) represents the most rebounds by a Sun Devil this season.
• ASU has averaged only 11.8 turnovers (+3.2 turnover margin) in its last 17 games. It has had 11 or fewer turnovers 8x during that stretch.
• Crisp has scored in double figures in all but 5 games. Crisp's last 5 games: played all 200 mins (leads team), 15.4 ppg, 1.4 spg (leads team), 3.6 rpg (2nd on team).
• On Dec. 20, Simmons (now with 1090 points) became the 25th Sun Devil to score more than 1000 points. Simmons played all 80 minutes on Washington road trip – at WSU (Jan. 19) & at UW (Jan. 21) – and averaged 11.0 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 5.0 apg, 3.0 spg & 87.5 from FT line (14-16).
• Since returning from injury, Isadora Sousa has been one of the team's top 3FG shooters: 12-22/54.5 pct.
• ASU has connected on 43.5 (30-69) of its 3-pointers in its last 5 games. Brown (11-22), Crisp (10-27) and Sousa (7) have combined for 28 of those triples.
• In ASU's last two games, Kadidia Toure has averaged 6.0 ppg coming off the bench. She is shooting 50 percent in the two games (5-10).
• Simmons (9 assists), Crisp (9), Brown (7), Thompson (6) and Sousa 6) have combined for 37 assists in ASU's last three games.
• Thompson has averaged 7.8 rebounds in ASU's last 4 games.
SERIES NOTES VS. UCLA
• Including its win on over ASU in last year's Pac-12 Tournament contest, UCLA has won the last 14 meetings.
• In last year's Pac-12 Tournament first round contest, the Sun Devils staged a furious rally to take a two-point lead in regulation after falling behind by 19 points in the third quarter. The Bruins were able to force overtime and went on to win the game 81-70.
SEASON SUMMARY
• ASU has had a pair of season-best three-game winning streaks in 2023-24. It 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 first 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 tied the game at 67-67 before the Tigers hit game-winning 3-pointer in final seconds.
• ASU responded with a 72-40 win over Idaho State. The Bengals' final point total represented the fewest given up by ASU since a 49-40 win over VCU on November 27, 2020.
• After dropping an 84-42 decision to Texas in its first game at the Virgin Islands Paradise Jam (Nov. 23), ASU once again rebounded with a 3-game winning streak. Less than 24 hours after the setback to Texas, ASU had to face a South Florida squad (Nov. 24) 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 had her first 20-point game, while Hunt just missed a double-double with season highs in points (19) and rebounds (game-high 8 boards).
• ASU made it three straight wins after a 76-66 triumph over Pacific (Dec. 1). Simmons scored 17 of her career-high 26 points in the 2nd half, including 8 points in the final 94 seconds while Brown contributed 20 points for the second straight game.
• The Sun Devils nearly came back from 14 down in the 4th quarter (got within 4 points 2x) before falling to Grand Canyon, 66-59 on Dec. 8. Simmons (20 points), Crisp (18 points) and Brown (16 points) scored all but 5 of ASU's points.
• ASU dropped consecutive games for the first time this season after falling to Arizona 91-52 in the Pac-12 opener for both teams.
• ASU got back on the winning track scoring a season high in an 80-76 win over Fresno State as part of the Jerry Colangelo Hall of Fame Series played at Footprint Series in Phoenix. Toure scored 12 of her career high-tying 22 points in the second half while Brown continued her streak of scoring in double figures in games she has started (eight) with 20 points. Crisp scored 12 points while Simmons and Thompson (career-high four steals) scored 10 points each. ASU shot 49 percent for the game, its second-highest mark of the season. Simmons, who went over 1,000 career points in the fourth quarter of the win, set a career high with eight assists and hit a pair of free throws with six seconds remaining to help clinch the win.
• The short-handed Sun Devils nearly came back from a double-digit deficit but in the end did not have enough to get over the hump in 65-55 loss to Santa Clara (Dec. 30). Crisp and (12 points), Simmons (11 points) and Toure (10 points) led the way for the Sun Devils (8-5), who were without key contributors Maggie Besselink and Treasure Hunt. The Sun Devils trailed by as many as 12 in the first half before transforming their defense into a riddle Santa Clara had no answers for during the latter stages of the first half and for the entire third quarter. The net result was a game tied at 44-44 entering the fourth quarter. Santa Clara outscored ASU 21-11 in the 4th Q.
• ASU came through with one of its most inspired defensive efforts of the season in holding one of the most prolific offenses in the country more than 30 points below its scoring average. Unfortunately, ASU was not able to do enough on the offensive end in a 58-41 loss to No. 15 Utah (Jan. 5).
• Brown scored 35 points, the most by a Sun Devil in the 21st century in ASU's 81-68 loss to No. 5 Colorado on Jan. 7.
• The Sun Devils dropped both of their contests at the Oregon schools: 65-53 at Oregon and 92-55 at Oregon State. 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 was Thompson, who averaged 14.0 points and 4.5 rebounds, the second time this season Thompson scored in double figures in consecutive games.
• After falling at WSU 79-64 (Jan. 19), ASU captured its first Pac-12 win at Washington, 73-65 on Jan. 21. Brown posted her second 30-point game of the season, finishing with 34 points to lead the Sun Devils to the win.
• ASU came through with its best offensive performance in recent memory in a 76-71 win over Cal on Jan. Five players scored in double figures led by Jalyn Brown, who had a game-high 21 points to help ASU accumulate its season-high point total in conference play.
ASU was remarkable throughout the game on the offensive end as it shot 54.8 pct, its highest FG pct. since shooting 56 pct vs. SIU on Nov. 24, 2018. It was its highest percentage in a Pac-12 game since a 55.6-percent effort vs. Arizona on February 16, 2018. On top of those feats, ASU set a school record for 3-point FG pct (minimum of 10 attempts) as it hit 80 pct (8-10) of its attempts.
• In a game in which the final score belied the closeness of the game, the Sun Devils came up short at Arizona, 63-52 on Feb. 4. Crisp (15 points, five rebounds) led the Sun Devils, who were looking to win back-to-back road games in league play for the first time since January of 2020. Any hope the Sun Devils had of squaring this year's edition of the Territorial Cup Series was extinguished less than four minutes into the final period as the Wildcats added on to the four-point spurt at the end of the third quarter by scoring the first nine points of the final one to extend out to a 54-41 lead. The Wildcats were never threatened after what ended up being an 18-2 run that put ASU into a 59-43 hole with under four minutes remaining.
ASU WITHOUT ALL-PAC-12 STANDOUT TYI SKINNER IN 2023-24
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 would 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).
RECAPPING THE 2022-23 SEASON
Despite a spate of unlucky injuries to key personnel, the Sun Devils had several noteworthy accomplishments during Adair's inaugural season in Tempe. The accomplishments included...
• Starting 5-0 for the first time since 2002-03.
• Finishing the season No. 2 in the Pac-12 and 10th in the nation in fewest turnovers per game (12.3). Only ASU's 2017-18 squad averaged fewer turnovers per game (11.7) in a season.
• Even with all its injuries, ASU nearly pulled off three Top 25 upsets in the season's final five games: vs. No. 21 Colorado (62-70), vs. No. 4 Utah (69-74) and vs. No. 19 UCLA (70-81-OT) in the first round of the Pac-12 Tournament. After trailing the Bruins by as many as 19 points in the third quarter, the Sun Devils staged a furious rally to take a two-point lead in regulation before falling in overtime. The win would have been ASU's biggest comeback in school history.
• In their 75-73 win at Oregon State, the Sun Devils overcame their second-largest deficit in school history (17 points). The victory was also No. 175 of Adair's career.
• Individually, Sun Devil guards Jaddan Simmons (Pac-12 All-Defense honorable mention) and Tyi Skinner (All-Pac-12 honorable mention) comprised one of the most talented backcourts in the country. Both players earned Pac-12 honors as voted on by the league's head coaches. Skinner, who finished second in the Pac-12 and 27th in the nation in scoring (19.2 ppg), was also named to the media's 15-member All-Pac-12 team.
WHEN: Sunday at 1 p.m. MST
WHERE: Pauley Pavilion • Los Angeles
WATCH: Pac-12 Arizona/Los Angeles
RADIO: KDUS AM 1060
LIVE STATS: Click here
UP NEXT
The Sun Devil women's basketball team (10-13, 2-9 Pac-12) concludes an unforgiving stretch of playing seven of nine games on the road on Sunday (1 p.m. MST) when they play at No. 9 UCLA (18-4, 7-4).
SETTING THE SCENE IN SONG
If there was one song that would best describe the Sun Devil women's basketball team's current plight, one of the fastest that would come to mind would be Willie Nelson's, 'On the Road Again.' The reason? Because this weekend's games in the City of Angels concludes a stretch in which ASU will have completed the undesirable assignment of playing seven of nine games on the road. The numbers 4-2-3 do not relate to any sort of top-secret combination, but rather the sequence of road/home/road games of ASU's current nine-game stretch.
The series of games started with ASU traveling to the second furthest state out of all their possible conference road trips: ASU lost at Oregon 65-53 and 92-55 at Oregon State. After returning to Tempe, ASU traveled back to the Pacific Northwest – less than a week later – only this time for its longest Pac-12 road trip for games at Washington State (lost 79-64) and at Washington where it came up with one of its best performances in a 73-65 win. To come away with its first success in league play, it had to overcome a Washington squad that had lost only once at home (coming into the game) and came into the game first in the Pac-12 and seventh in the nation in scoring defense (52.4 ppg).
Jalyn Brown (11-20 FGs, 4-5 3FGs, 8-8 FTs) posted her second 30-point game of the season, finishing with 34 points (scored 35 vs. Colorado on Jan. 7). ASU's 73 points represented the most given up by UW (at the time). Furthermore, ASU tied a Washington opponent high (at the time) by hitting eight triples. ASU was 61.5 percent (8-13) from downtown against the Pac-12's top team/No. 13 in the nation in 3-point FG percentage defense (24.8 percent coming into the game).
In between losses vs Stanford (80-50 on Jan. 26) and at Arizona (63-52 on Feb. 4), ASU had its finest offensive performance in recent memory in a 76-71 win over Cal (Jan. 28). Five players scored in double figures led by Brown, who had a game-high 21 points to help ASU accumulate its season-high point total in conference play. Jaddan Simmons scored 15 points to go with a game-high four steals; Journey Thompson (game high-tying eight rebounds) and Trayanna Crisp had 13 points each and Isadora Sousa scored all 12 of her points via the long ball (4-4 3FGs).
ASU was remarkable throughout the game on the offensive end as it shot 54.8 pct, its highest FG pct. since shooting 56 pct vs. SIU on Nov. 24, 2018. It was its highest percentage in a Pac-12 game since a 55.6-percent effort vs. Arizona on February 16, 2018. On top of those feats, ASU set a school record for 3-point FG pct (minimum of 10 attempts) as it hit 80 pct (8-10) of its attempts.
The Sun Devils were unable to keep up with No. 10 USC, 81-63 on Friday night.
WATCH/LISTEN
Sunday's game can be seen on Pac-12 Arizona/Los Angeles (Ann Schatz, Tammy Blackburn). The game can also be heard on KDUS AM 1060. 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.
JALYN BROWN ASCENDING TO SUPERSTAR STATUS
• As the season has progressed, Jalyn Brown has evolved into one of the top performers in the Pac-12. In league games, Brown is currently 2nd in the Pac-12 in scoring (21.3 ppg) & 6th in scoring in all games (17.5 ppg).
• Brown has scored in double figures 18 times, including 16 times in the last 17 games. During that 17-game stretch, she is leading the team in scoring (19.6 ppg), 3FGs per game (1.6) and free throws made (71), attempted (87) and FT percentage (81.6), is second in 3FG pct. (37.1) and minutes (36.6 mpg) and 3rd in assists (1.65 apg).
• In contest vs. No. 5 Colorado on Jan. 7, Brown scored 35 points, the most points by a Sun Devil in the 21st century.
• Added a second 30-point game, scoring 34 points (11-20 FGs, 4-5 3FGs, 8-8 FTs) in ASU's first Pac-12 win at Washington (Jan. 21).
MOST POINTS IN A GAME BY A SUN DEVIL SINCE 2000
35 - Jalyn Brown vs. Colorado (1/7/24)
34 - Jalyn Brown at Washington (1/21/24)
34 - Jade Loville at San Diego (12/18/21)
33 - Jade Loville vs. Oregon St. (2/4/22)
32 - Kylan Loney vs. Arizona (1/31/04)
30 - Kianna Ibis at Utah (12/31/17)
30 - Amanda Levens vs St. Peter's (11/17/01)
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
• As of Feb. 10, 2024, ASU is ranked in the top half of the Pac-12 in FT attempts per game (1st/18.83), is 4th in offensive rebounds per game (11.6), turnover margin (+2.57) and fewest turnovers per game (13.1/28th in the nation) and 5th in FTs made per game (12.87) and 6th in steals per game (7.5) and turnovers forced per game (15.65).
• Individually, Jaddan Simmons is ranked 18th in the nation in minutes per game (36.35), 32nd in FTs made (97) and 43rd in FT attempts (122).
• ASU has had 6 players lead/tie for team lead in scoring: Brown (11x), Simmons (5x), Kadidia Toure (4x), Crisp (4x), Treasure Hunt (1x) and Journey Thompson (1). Brown's career-high 35 points vs. No. 5 Colorado (Jan. 7), is the highest single-game total by a Sun Devil this season.
• In the rebounding department, 9 players have led/tied for the team lead: Thompson (9x), Simmons (5x), Maggie Besselink (4x), Toure (3x), Mallory Miller (2x), Sandra Magolico (2x), Brown (2x), Isadora Souza (2x) and Hunt (1x). Toure's 14-rebound game vs. San Francisco (Nov. 13) represents the most rebounds by a Sun Devil this season.
• ASU has averaged only 11.8 turnovers (+3.2 turnover margin) in its last 17 games. It has had 11 or fewer turnovers 8x during that stretch.
• Crisp has scored in double figures in all but 5 games. Crisp's last 5 games: played all 200 mins (leads team), 15.4 ppg, 1.4 spg (leads team), 3.6 rpg (2nd on team).
• On Dec. 20, Simmons (now with 1090 points) became the 25th Sun Devil to score more than 1000 points. Simmons played all 80 minutes on Washington road trip – at WSU (Jan. 19) & at UW (Jan. 21) – and averaged 11.0 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 5.0 apg, 3.0 spg & 87.5 from FT line (14-16).
• Since returning from injury, Isadora Sousa has been one of the team's top 3FG shooters: 12-22/54.5 pct.
• ASU has connected on 43.5 (30-69) of its 3-pointers in its last 5 games. Brown (11-22), Crisp (10-27) and Sousa (7) have combined for 28 of those triples.
• In ASU's last two games, Kadidia Toure has averaged 6.0 ppg coming off the bench. She is shooting 50 percent in the two games (5-10).
• Simmons (9 assists), Crisp (9), Brown (7), Thompson (6) and Sousa 6) have combined for 37 assists in ASU's last three games.
• Thompson has averaged 7.8 rebounds in ASU's last 4 games.
SERIES NOTES VS. UCLA
• Including its win on over ASU in last year's Pac-12 Tournament contest, UCLA has won the last 14 meetings.
• In last year's Pac-12 Tournament first round contest, the Sun Devils staged a furious rally to take a two-point lead in regulation after falling behind by 19 points in the third quarter. The Bruins were able to force overtime and went on to win the game 81-70.
SEASON SUMMARY
• ASU has had a pair of season-best three-game winning streaks in 2023-24. It 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 first 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 tied the game at 67-67 before the Tigers hit game-winning 3-pointer in final seconds.
• ASU responded with a 72-40 win over Idaho State. The Bengals' final point total represented the fewest given up by ASU since a 49-40 win over VCU on November 27, 2020.
• After dropping an 84-42 decision to Texas in its first game at the Virgin Islands Paradise Jam (Nov. 23), ASU once again rebounded with a 3-game winning streak. Less than 24 hours after the setback to Texas, ASU had to face a South Florida squad (Nov. 24) 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 had her first 20-point game, while Hunt just missed a double-double with season highs in points (19) and rebounds (game-high 8 boards).
• ASU made it three straight wins after a 76-66 triumph over Pacific (Dec. 1). Simmons scored 17 of her career-high 26 points in the 2nd half, including 8 points in the final 94 seconds while Brown contributed 20 points for the second straight game.
• The Sun Devils nearly came back from 14 down in the 4th quarter (got within 4 points 2x) before falling to Grand Canyon, 66-59 on Dec. 8. Simmons (20 points), Crisp (18 points) and Brown (16 points) scored all but 5 of ASU's points.
• ASU dropped consecutive games for the first time this season after falling to Arizona 91-52 in the Pac-12 opener for both teams.
• ASU got back on the winning track scoring a season high in an 80-76 win over Fresno State as part of the Jerry Colangelo Hall of Fame Series played at Footprint Series in Phoenix. Toure scored 12 of her career high-tying 22 points in the second half while Brown continued her streak of scoring in double figures in games she has started (eight) with 20 points. Crisp scored 12 points while Simmons and Thompson (career-high four steals) scored 10 points each. ASU shot 49 percent for the game, its second-highest mark of the season. Simmons, who went over 1,000 career points in the fourth quarter of the win, set a career high with eight assists and hit a pair of free throws with six seconds remaining to help clinch the win.
• The short-handed Sun Devils nearly came back from a double-digit deficit but in the end did not have enough to get over the hump in 65-55 loss to Santa Clara (Dec. 30). Crisp and (12 points), Simmons (11 points) and Toure (10 points) led the way for the Sun Devils (8-5), who were without key contributors Maggie Besselink and Treasure Hunt. The Sun Devils trailed by as many as 12 in the first half before transforming their defense into a riddle Santa Clara had no answers for during the latter stages of the first half and for the entire third quarter. The net result was a game tied at 44-44 entering the fourth quarter. Santa Clara outscored ASU 21-11 in the 4th Q.
• ASU came through with one of its most inspired defensive efforts of the season in holding one of the most prolific offenses in the country more than 30 points below its scoring average. Unfortunately, ASU was not able to do enough on the offensive end in a 58-41 loss to No. 15 Utah (Jan. 5).
• Brown scored 35 points, the most by a Sun Devil in the 21st century in ASU's 81-68 loss to No. 5 Colorado on Jan. 7.
• The Sun Devils dropped both of their contests at the Oregon schools: 65-53 at Oregon and 92-55 at Oregon State. 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 was Thompson, who averaged 14.0 points and 4.5 rebounds, the second time this season Thompson scored in double figures in consecutive games.
• After falling at WSU 79-64 (Jan. 19), ASU captured its first Pac-12 win at Washington, 73-65 on Jan. 21. Brown posted her second 30-point game of the season, finishing with 34 points to lead the Sun Devils to the win.
• ASU came through with its best offensive performance in recent memory in a 76-71 win over Cal on Jan. Five players scored in double figures led by Jalyn Brown, who had a game-high 21 points to help ASU accumulate its season-high point total in conference play.
ASU was remarkable throughout the game on the offensive end as it shot 54.8 pct, its highest FG pct. since shooting 56 pct vs. SIU on Nov. 24, 2018. It was its highest percentage in a Pac-12 game since a 55.6-percent effort vs. Arizona on February 16, 2018. On top of those feats, ASU set a school record for 3-point FG pct (minimum of 10 attempts) as it hit 80 pct (8-10) of its attempts.
• In a game in which the final score belied the closeness of the game, the Sun Devils came up short at Arizona, 63-52 on Feb. 4. Crisp (15 points, five rebounds) led the Sun Devils, who were looking to win back-to-back road games in league play for the first time since January of 2020. Any hope the Sun Devils had of squaring this year's edition of the Territorial Cup Series was extinguished less than four minutes into the final period as the Wildcats added on to the four-point spurt at the end of the third quarter by scoring the first nine points of the final one to extend out to a 54-41 lead. The Wildcats were never threatened after what ended up being an 18-2 run that put ASU into a 59-43 hole with under four minutes remaining.
ASU WITHOUT ALL-PAC-12 STANDOUT TYI SKINNER IN 2023-24
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 would 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).
RECAPPING THE 2022-23 SEASON
Despite a spate of unlucky injuries to key personnel, the Sun Devils had several noteworthy accomplishments during Adair's inaugural season in Tempe. The accomplishments included...
• Starting 5-0 for the first time since 2002-03.
• Finishing the season No. 2 in the Pac-12 and 10th in the nation in fewest turnovers per game (12.3). Only ASU's 2017-18 squad averaged fewer turnovers per game (11.7) in a season.
• Even with all its injuries, ASU nearly pulled off three Top 25 upsets in the season's final five games: vs. No. 21 Colorado (62-70), vs. No. 4 Utah (69-74) and vs. No. 19 UCLA (70-81-OT) in the first round of the Pac-12 Tournament. After trailing the Bruins by as many as 19 points in the third quarter, the Sun Devils staged a furious rally to take a two-point lead in regulation before falling in overtime. The win would have been ASU's biggest comeback in school history.
• In their 75-73 win at Oregon State, the Sun Devils overcame their second-largest deficit in school history (17 points). The victory was also No. 175 of Adair's career.
• Individually, Sun Devil guards Jaddan Simmons (Pac-12 All-Defense honorable mention) and Tyi Skinner (All-Pac-12 honorable mention) comprised one of the most talented backcourts in the country. Both players earned Pac-12 honors as voted on by the league's head coaches. Skinner, who finished second in the Pac-12 and 27th in the nation in scoring (19.2 ppg), was also named to the media's 15-member All-Pac-12 team.