THE GAME: 2024 Briann January Classic – Sun Devil WBB (1-2) vs. SMU (2-1)
WHEN: Saturday at 3:30 p.m. MST
WHERE: Desert Financial Arena • Tempe, Ariz.
WATCH: ESPN+
RADIO: KDUS AM 1060
LIVE STATS: Click Here
PURCHASE TICKETS: Click Here
UP NEXT
The Sun Devil women's basketball team returns to Desert Financial Arena this weekend for the annual Briann January Classic. The Sun Devils will play two games in two days: vs. SMU (3:30 p.m. on Saturday) and vs. former Pac-12 foe Oregon State (2:30 p.m on Sunday).
After this weekend's games, the Sun Devils will not return to Desert Financial Arena until Dec. 30 when they hosts Penn.
In the interim, the Sun Devils will play current No. 20 Kentucky (Nov. 26) and South Dakota (Nov. 27) at the Coast2Coast Music City Classic in Nashville, Tenn., at Coppin State (Dec. 5), vs. Maryland Eastern Shore in the Coaches vs Racism Classic played in Washington D.C. (Dec. 7), at UC Davis (Dec. 15), and at San Francisco (Dec. 17). The Sun Devils will conclude the seven-game stretch away from home when it opens Big 12 play at Utah (Dec. 21).
ABOUT THE BRIANN JANUARY CLASSIC
The third edition of this annual event is named for Briann January, a four-year member of the Sun Devil Women's Basketball program (2006-09). Her play helped catapult ASU into one of the nation's best on an annual basis.
The winner of the first two Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year awards (2008 and 2009), January earned honorable mention All-America recognition from the Associated Press and WBCA in 2009. During her career, the Sun Devils won 77 percent of their overall games (104-32), 82 percent of their Pac-10 games (59-13) and qualified for the NCAA Tournament all four years, including ASU's only two Elite Eight appearances (2007, '09).
January was drafted by the Indiana Fever with the sixth overall pick in the 2009 WNBA draft. She won a WNBA championship with the Fever in 2012 and was selected to play in the 2014 WNBA All-Star Game. January also played for the Phoenix Mercury, Connecticut Sun and Seattle Storm during her 14-year WNBA career. She earned WNBA All-Defensive first-team recognition five times and second-team honors twice.
In November 2021, January, became the third Sun Devil women's basketball player to have her jersey – No. 20 – honored and hung from the rafters of Desert Financial Arena. In October 2022, January became the most recent women's basketball player inducted into the Sun Devil Athletics Hall of Fame.
WATCH/LISTEN
• Saturday's game can be seen on ESPN+. Braiden Bell (play-by-play) and former Sun Devil Arnecia Hawkins (color analyst) will be on the call.
• The game can also be heard on KDUS AM 1060. Pregame coverage of will begin at 3 p.m. Veteran broadcaster and the state of Arizona's 2010 & 2019 Broadcaster of the Year Jeff Munn is in his 21st season as the voice of ASU women's basketball. He will be joined by former Sun Devil head coach Maura McHugh.
STATE OF PLAY
The Sun Devils (1-2), who have eight new players on this season's roster, are currently experiencing the growing pains that can sometimes go with combining the talents of several outstanding players in the early stages of the season.
ASU opened the 2024-25 campaign with a 74-66 win over Jacksonville State (Nov. 4). In her first game since the end of the 2022-23 season, Tyi Skinner, who missed the entire 2023-24 season due to injury, scored a career-high 30 points to go with a team-high five assists. Jalyn Brown just missed scoring in double figures with 9 points to go with 6 boards. Two of the newest members of the team – local product Kennedy Basham (8 points, game-high 10 rebounds, 4 blocks) and Nevaeh Parkinson (8 points) – combined for 16 points.
Despite scoring 96 points – the most scored by ASU during head coach Natasha Adair's time at ASU – the Sun Devils were edged in a 100-96 decision to Arkansas State. Five players scored in double figure against the Red Wolves: Brown (24 points), Parkinson (18 points), Skinner (16 points), Basham (14 points) and Kennedy Fauntleroy (13 points).
At the conclusion of this weekend, the Sun Devils will have played three games in four days. The current stretch started with a 70-59 loss against Grand Canyon in the Hall of Fame Series played at Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix. ASU led by as many as 12 in the first half and went to the locker room with a nine-point advantage, 42-33. Unfortunately for ASU, it experienced a 180-degree turnaround on both ends of the floor as it was outscored 37-17 over the final 20 minutes.
SERIES NOTES
The Sun Devils have won two of the three all-time meetings vs. SMU. The Mustangs claimed the first meeting, 74-59, played on Dec. 5 1997 as part of the Southwestern Bell Cotton Bowl Classic played in Dallas. The two teams did not cross paths again until a home-and-home series played in 2014 (ASU won 77-42 in Tempe on Dec. 6) and 2015 (ASU won 64-57 on Nov. 21 in Dallas).
DYNAMIC DUO DEBUT
The 2023-24 Sun Devils were dealt a serious blow when it was announced a month before the start of the season that superstar guard Tyi Skinner would miss the entire season due to a knee injury.
Skinner, who played her first two seasons at Delaware, joined Natasha Adair in Tempe after Adair was named ASU's head coach. In 2022-23, Skinner (2023 All-Pac-12 honorable mention) scored 20 or more points 15 times, including a career-high 29 points twice. A starter in all 28 games, Skinner averaged 19.3 ppg, 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), FTss made (79/3rd) and attempted (91/4th), steals per game (1.71/5th), 3-point FG percentage (34.7/6th) and FT percentage (78.1/8th).
The 2023-24 Sun Devils were left pondering, 'what might have been,' had Skinner been able to share the court with Louisville transfer Jalyn Brown. Much like Skinner did in 2022-23, Brown would emerge as one of the top performers in the Pac-12. In league games, Brown finished 3rd in the Pac-12 in scoring (19.6 ppg), 9th in FT percent (80.6) and tied for 14th in 3-pointers per game (1.56). She scored in double figures 26 times (12 20-point games) including a pair of outings in which she had the two highest-scoring games by a Sun Devil since 2000: 35 vs. Colorado (Jan. 7, 2024) and 34 points at Washington (Jan. 21).
Brown, who earned All-Pac-12 honorable mention honors from the league's coaches and All-Pac-12 recognition from media who cover the league, went on to lead the team in scoring (17.3 ppg) and 3-pointers per game (1.4), was 2nd in FT pct. (76.9), 3-pointers (1.3 per game), minutes (35.54 mpg) and FTs made (103) and attempted (134), 3rd in assists (1.6 apg), tied for 3rd in steals (0.9 spg) and 4th in O-rebounds (1.1 rpg).
With Skinner recovered from her injury, Adair is excited to see what the Sun Devils are capable of with both Skinner and Brown on the court.
"It's poetry in motion; those two have known each other even prior to coming here from the Washington, DC area so they know each other's game, and more importantly it's about every other piece in addition to them," Adair said. I'm excited for our fans to see our size inside, it's going be hard to guard (us because) who are you going to sag off on and who are you going to double?
"Watching us work on that every day you can see it coming together. I'm excited about every piece because as much as they are talented there are so many other players and parts. I want to know how opponents are going to stop us."
In her first game since the end of the 2022-23 season, Skinner scored a career-high 30 points – the 17th time she scored 20 or more points in a Sun Devil uniform – in ASU's 74-66 win over Jacksonville State on Nov. 4. Brown led ASU in scoring (24 points) in vs. Arkansas State (Nov. 8). Combined with Skinner's 16 points, the duo combines for 40 points in the game. Skinner had a team-high 15 points in ASU's contest vs. Grand Canyon (Nov. 14).
MEET THE NEWCOMERS
Half the players on 2024-25 Sun Devil Squad will be making their debut in the Maroon and Gold this season. Read on for a thumbnail summary of each player.
#0 /// Kennedy Basham /// F /// 6-7 /// Jr. /// Phoenix, Ariz.
• Kennedy Basham will be returning home after playing two seasons at the University of Oregon where she played in 47 games with 24 starting assignments (all 24 starts came sophomore season).
• Led team with 48 blocks and led or tied for team lead in 13 games, finishing with multiple blocks 15 times.
• Scored a season-high 15 points at Washington (Feb. 23) and followed that up with 14 points at Washington State (Feb. 25) for her first career games in double figures.
AT ASU IN 2024-25
• Currently leads ASU in rebounds per game (9.7), blocks per game (3.0) and is in both 3rd in scoring (10.7 ppg) and FG pct. (58.3)... Had strong Sun Devil debut scoring 8 points, grabbing a game-high 10 rebounds and blocking 4 shots vs. Jacksonville State (Nov. 4)... Accounted for 14 points and tied for the team lead in rebounds (6) vs. Arkansas State (Nov. 8)... Had her first double-double as a Sun Devil (10 points, 13 rebounds) and had 3 blocks vs. Grand Canyon (Nov. 14).
#4 /// Jyah LoVett /// G /// 5-8 /// So. /// San Gabriel, Calif.
• LoVett is coming to ASU from San Jose State where she earned Mountain West All-Freshman Team honors for a season in which she played and started in 17 games as the team's primary point guard.
•Earned Mountain West Freshman of the Week honors three times.
• Averaged 18 ppg in her six Mountain West appearances.
• Scored a career-high 26 points twice: against Fresno State in the Mountain West opener (Jan. 3) and again at UNLV (Jan. 10).
AT ASU IN 2024-25
Has played in all three games and is currently averaging 7.7 points per game... Scored a season-high 10 points vs. Grand Canyon (Nov. 14)
#7 /// Jazion Jackson /// G /// 5-9 /// Grad. /// Dallas, Texas
• Jackson will be bringing an abundance of experience to Tempe.
• Transferred to ASU from Texas Tech. Unfortunately, Jackson didn't play after a a season-ending injury prior to the season.
• Played her first three seasons for North Texas where she started 72 of 81 games. Raised her scoring average each season while playing for North Texas: 5.9 ppg, 8.6 ppg, 9.2 ppg.
• Had the best season of her career playing for UTEP in 2022-23. Earned First-Team All-Conference USA honors after she started all 32 of UTEP's games and led the team in steals (2.06 per game/fourth in the conference) and was second on the squad in scoring (11.6 ppg), rebounds per game (5.8) and assists per game (2.3).
AT ASU IN 2024-25
Made her Sun Devil debut in the season's third game vs. Grand Canyon (Nov. 14)... Went over the 1,000-point mark in career points (had 999 coming in) after scoring 4 points to go with 5 rebounds and 2 steals.
#10 /// Kennedy Fauntleroy /// G /// 5-7 /// Jr. /// Upper Marlboro, Md.
• Had outstanding freshman campaign at Georgetown where she was unanimously named the 2023 Big East Freshman of the Year and was named to the league's all-freshman team.
• Started 29 of the 30 games she played in 2022-23 and was named the Big East Freshman of the Week six times. In Big East play, averaged 11.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.7 steals and 2.9 assists per outing.
• Transferred to ASU from Oklahoma State where she played in five games last season. Opened season scoring 14 points in helping OSU defeat SIUE (Nov. 6). Also added four steals in the victory.
• Produced a solid all-around debut in her Sun Devil debut, scoring 7 points, grabbing 6 rebounds to go with 3 assists and 4 steals in win over Jacksonville State (Nov. 4)... Scored 13 points and dished out 7 assists vs. Arkansas State Nov. (9).
AT ASU IN 2024-25
Has played in all 3 games with 2 starts... currently leads the team in steals per game (2.3), is 2nd in assists per game (2.3) and is tied for 4th in points per game (9.3)... Had season high in points (13) and assists (7) and tied her season high with 6 rebounds vs. Arkansas State (Nov. 8).
#12 /// Makayla Moore /// G /// 6-0 /// Jr. /// San Jose, Calif.
• Transferred to ASU from Seattle U where she played 49 games (28 starts) in two seasons.
• Started all 28 games she played last season and averaged a career-best 11.3 points while playing 29.2 minutes per game.
• Posted a career-high 23 points on a career-best 11 made field goals against UTRGV (Jan. 11, 2024).
• Pulled down career-high 10 rebounds against UT Arlington (Jan. 13, 2024).
AT ASU IN 2024-25
Has played in two games and pulled down a pair of rebounds in both appearances.
#15 /// Heavenly Greer /// F /// 6-3 /// Sr. /// Phoenix, Ariz.
• Like fellow first-year Sun Devil Kennedy Basham, Greer will be returning to her hometown of Phoenix.
• Greer will be familiar with many of ASU's conference opponents as played all three of her seasons in the Big 12: one season at Oklahoma (played 10 games) and two seasons at Kansas State (played 46 contests).
• Played in a career-high 30 contests in her first season playing for Kansas State (2022-23).
• Kansas State made it to the postseason in each of Greer's two seasons playing for the Wildcats (WNIT in 2023 and NCAA Tournament in 2024).
AT ASU IN 2024-25
Has played in all 3 games and has connected on 60 percent of her shots (3-5)... Pulled down a season-high 6 rebounds in season opener vs. Jacksonville State (Nov. 4).
#22 /// Timya Grice /// C /// 6-5 /// Fr. /// Katy, Texas
• The lone freshman on ASU's 2024-25 roster, Grice led her Taylor high school squad to the No. 3 (28-7; 12-4 in district) spot in 2024, its first playoff berth since the 2018-19 season.
• In 2023-24, was named one of the Top 26 girls' basketball players in the state of Texas by SB Live and was selected to the TGCA All-State team.
• Prior to the 2023-24 season, was named No. 8 in Vype's Top 30 players in Houston.
• Scored 34 points and a pulled down a school-record 24 rebounds in a victory over district counterpart Seven Lakes.
Joined Taylor's squad in January of 2023, after moving from Mauldin, S.C.
• Averaged 8.7 points and 6.1 rebounds in her three seasons playing for Mauldin (S.C.).
#32 /// Nevaeh Parkinson /// C /// 6-3 /// Grad. /// Dallas, Texas
• Parkinson is another player who will be toting plenty of experience to Tempe. After playing 20 games in two seasons at New Mexico, had a pair of breakout seasons at UC Irvine in helping the squad earn postseason berths in both 2023 and 2024.
• In 2022-23, was named the Big West's Best Sixth Player and also received All-Big West honorable mention recognition.
• After helping lead UC Irvine to the WNIT in her first season, helped her squad ascend even higher in earning a berth to the NCAA Tournament last season.
• Scored a career-high 18 points (8-10 FGs) and grabbed 10 rebounds in UC Irvine's NCAA Tournament first round game at Gonzaga (Mar. 23).
AT ASU IN 2024-25
• Currently leads the team in FG pct. (66.7) and is tied for 4th in points per game (9.3). Scored 8 points in Sun Devil debut vs. Jacksonville St. (Nov. 4)... Tied career high with 18 points (8-10 FGs, 2-2 FTs) to go with 6 rebounds vs. Arkansas State (Nov. 9).
BACK FOR MORE
Eight players are back from last year's squad, each with the ability to help the Sun Devils climb even higher in the first season of the Big 12. Note: See page 2 for notes on Jalyn Brown and Tyi Skinner
#1 /// Kadidia Toure /// F /// 6-3 /// Jr. /// Silver Spring, Md.
• Transferred to ASU in 2023 after playing freshman season at James Madison.
• Has played in 53 career games with 7 starts (all 7 with ASU) .
• In her first season at ASU, played in every game (7 starts) and led the team in FG pct. (43.5/among players who averaged 5.0 or more FG att per game), was 2nd in O-rebs (1.5 rpg), and 4th in scoring (5.7 ppg/among players who played in at least half the games).
#3 /// Tyi Skinner /// G /// 5-5 /// Grad. /// Washington, D.C.
• Transferred to ASU after the 2021-22 season and made in immediate impact averaging 19.3 ppg in 2022-23, the most by a Sun Devil since the 1988-89 season.
• Missed entire 2023-24 season due to injury.
• Has started 62 of 93 games, including all 31 she has played at ASU.
• Currently leads the team in scoring (20.3 ppg), 3-pointers (2.0 per game), assists per game (5.7), FTs made (15) and attempted (18) and 3FG pct (42.3).
• In her first game since the end of the 2022-23 season (missed entire 2023-24 season due to injury), Skinner scored a career-high 30 points – the 17th time she scored 20 or more points in a Sun Devil uniform – in ASU's 74-66 win over Jacksonville State on Nov. 4.
#13 /// Maggie Besselink /// G/F /// 6-3 /// Grad. /// Kingston, Ontario
• Versatile scorer and outstanding rebounder.
• Has been limited to 43 games (32 starts) because of injuries.
• Played in 12 games (11 starts) before suffering season-ending injury at Washington State (Jan. 19). At time of injury, was 2nd on the team in rebs per game (4.6) and 4th in O-rebs (1.3 rpg).
• Made her 2024-25 debut vs. Grand Canyon (Nov. 14).
#21 /// Hanna Miller /// F /// 6-2 /// Jr. /// Aberdeen, S.D.
• Transferred to ASU from Dodge City CC (Dodge City, Kan.) where Miller played one season.
• Older sister of current Sun Devil Mallory Miller.
• Played in 3 games as a freshman and accounted for first points of career (4/1-1 3FG/1-2 FTs) in win vs. Idaho State (Nov. 19).
• Has played in 2 games this season.
#23 /// Jalyn Brown /// G /// 6-1 /// Jr. /// Baltimore, Md.
• Transferred to ASU in 2023 after playing freshman season at Louisville.
• As the 2023-24 season progressed, evolved into one of the top performers in the Pac-12. In league games, finished 3rd in scoring (19.6 ppg), 9th in FT percent (80.6) and tied for 14th in 3-pointers per game (1.56).
• Is the owner of the two highest-scoring games by a Sun Devil since 2000: 35 vs. Colorado (Jan. 7, 2024) and 34 points at Washington (Jan. 21, 2024).
• Is currently 2nd on the team in scoring (13.7 ppg), FT pct (90.0/9-10), FTs made (9) and attempted (10) and is 3rd in assists per game (2.7) and steals per game (1.3).
#24 /// Mallory Miller /// F /// 6-4 /// So. /// Aberdeen, S.D.
• Had solid freshman campaign, making important contributions as the season progressed.
• Younger sister Hanna plays for the Sun Devils.
• Played in 27 contests (four starts - all coming in last four games of the season).
• All 3 of her double-figure scoring games came in Pac-12 play.
• In ASU's 5 games prior to final weekend of regular season, averaged 8.4 ppg (3rd on team), 5.6 rpg and 1.2 bpg (led team in both).
#25 /// Adison Novosel /// G /// 5-11 /// Sr. /// Richfield, Ohio
• Transferred to ASU in 2023 after playing first two seasons at Saint Francis University (played in 35 contests with 25 starts).
• After appearing in seven games off the bench as a freshman, started 25 of 28 games in 2022-23.
• Played in 21 games (9.0 mins per game) in her first season as a Sun Devil. Six of her seven 3-pointers came in Pac-12 play.
• Played 30 mins and hit season-high 3 FGs vs. No. 15 Utah (Jan. 5).
#30 • Morasha Wiggins /// G /// 6-0 /// Sr. /// Kalamazoo, Mich.
• Transferred to ASU after playing her freshman season (2021-22) at North Carolina.
• Ranked 18th in the ESPNW Class of 2021 rankings, Wiggins was expected to be an impact player for ASU before suffering a preseason injury that forced her to miss the entire 2022-23 campaign.
NOTES ON ASU'S FIRST SEASON IN THE BIG 12
Big 12 Transfers: Three Sun Devil newcomers were on a Big 12 campus in the past year. Heavenly Greer played the past two years at Kansas State, Dallas native Jazion Jackson was at Texas Tech last year and Kennedy Fauntleroy was at Oklahoma State last year after earning 2022-23 Big East Freshman of the Year at Georgetown.
The Big 12 format: Teams will play three opponents home and away while facing six teams only at home and six opponents only on the road for a total of 18 Conference games. Opponents were selected based on a combination of geography, historical results and a poll of the coaches to best balance the schedule in terms of travel and competitiveness.
ASU's Big 12 opponent breakdown: Home: Baylor (2024 NCAA Tournament Team), Cincinnati (2024 WNIT Team), Iowa State (2024 NCAA Tournament Team), TCU (2024 WBIT Team), Texas Tech, West Virginia (2024 NCAA Tournament Team). Away: Central Florida, Colorado (2024 NCAA Tournament Team), Houston, Kansas (2024 NCAA Tournament Team), Kansas State (2024 NCAA Tournament Team), Oklahoma State. Home and Away: Arizona (2024 NCAA Tournament Team), BYU (2024 WBIT Team), Utah (2024 NCAA Tournament Team)
When it starts/ends: League play begins Saturday, Dec. 21 with six games and concludes Sunday, March 2. The regular season will be followed by the 2025 Phillips 66 Big 12 Women's Basketball Championship, which will take place in Kansas City's T-Mobile Center for the second consecutive season.
About the league: The current league members combined to go 8-0 in their first game of the 2024 NCAA Tournament while 15 of the 16 teams finished the 2023-24 season in the top 101 of the NET rankings. Four Big 12 teams are ranked in the top 16 of ESPN's Women's Basketball Way-Too-Early Top 25, tied for the most of any league.
WHEN: Saturday at 3:30 p.m. MST
WHERE: Desert Financial Arena • Tempe, Ariz.
WATCH: ESPN+
RADIO: KDUS AM 1060
LIVE STATS: Click Here
PURCHASE TICKETS: Click Here
UP NEXT
The Sun Devil women's basketball team returns to Desert Financial Arena this weekend for the annual Briann January Classic. The Sun Devils will play two games in two days: vs. SMU (3:30 p.m. on Saturday) and vs. former Pac-12 foe Oregon State (2:30 p.m on Sunday).
After this weekend's games, the Sun Devils will not return to Desert Financial Arena until Dec. 30 when they hosts Penn.
In the interim, the Sun Devils will play current No. 20 Kentucky (Nov. 26) and South Dakota (Nov. 27) at the Coast2Coast Music City Classic in Nashville, Tenn., at Coppin State (Dec. 5), vs. Maryland Eastern Shore in the Coaches vs Racism Classic played in Washington D.C. (Dec. 7), at UC Davis (Dec. 15), and at San Francisco (Dec. 17). The Sun Devils will conclude the seven-game stretch away from home when it opens Big 12 play at Utah (Dec. 21).
ABOUT THE BRIANN JANUARY CLASSIC
The third edition of this annual event is named for Briann January, a four-year member of the Sun Devil Women's Basketball program (2006-09). Her play helped catapult ASU into one of the nation's best on an annual basis.
The winner of the first two Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year awards (2008 and 2009), January earned honorable mention All-America recognition from the Associated Press and WBCA in 2009. During her career, the Sun Devils won 77 percent of their overall games (104-32), 82 percent of their Pac-10 games (59-13) and qualified for the NCAA Tournament all four years, including ASU's only two Elite Eight appearances (2007, '09).
January was drafted by the Indiana Fever with the sixth overall pick in the 2009 WNBA draft. She won a WNBA championship with the Fever in 2012 and was selected to play in the 2014 WNBA All-Star Game. January also played for the Phoenix Mercury, Connecticut Sun and Seattle Storm during her 14-year WNBA career. She earned WNBA All-Defensive first-team recognition five times and second-team honors twice.
In November 2021, January, became the third Sun Devil women's basketball player to have her jersey – No. 20 – honored and hung from the rafters of Desert Financial Arena. In October 2022, January became the most recent women's basketball player inducted into the Sun Devil Athletics Hall of Fame.
WATCH/LISTEN
• Saturday's game can be seen on ESPN+. Braiden Bell (play-by-play) and former Sun Devil Arnecia Hawkins (color analyst) will be on the call.
• The game can also be heard on KDUS AM 1060. Pregame coverage of will begin at 3 p.m. Veteran broadcaster and the state of Arizona's 2010 & 2019 Broadcaster of the Year Jeff Munn is in his 21st season as the voice of ASU women's basketball. He will be joined by former Sun Devil head coach Maura McHugh.
STATE OF PLAY
The Sun Devils (1-2), who have eight new players on this season's roster, are currently experiencing the growing pains that can sometimes go with combining the talents of several outstanding players in the early stages of the season.
ASU opened the 2024-25 campaign with a 74-66 win over Jacksonville State (Nov. 4). In her first game since the end of the 2022-23 season, Tyi Skinner, who missed the entire 2023-24 season due to injury, scored a career-high 30 points to go with a team-high five assists. Jalyn Brown just missed scoring in double figures with 9 points to go with 6 boards. Two of the newest members of the team – local product Kennedy Basham (8 points, game-high 10 rebounds, 4 blocks) and Nevaeh Parkinson (8 points) – combined for 16 points.
Despite scoring 96 points – the most scored by ASU during head coach Natasha Adair's time at ASU – the Sun Devils were edged in a 100-96 decision to Arkansas State. Five players scored in double figure against the Red Wolves: Brown (24 points), Parkinson (18 points), Skinner (16 points), Basham (14 points) and Kennedy Fauntleroy (13 points).
At the conclusion of this weekend, the Sun Devils will have played three games in four days. The current stretch started with a 70-59 loss against Grand Canyon in the Hall of Fame Series played at Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix. ASU led by as many as 12 in the first half and went to the locker room with a nine-point advantage, 42-33. Unfortunately for ASU, it experienced a 180-degree turnaround on both ends of the floor as it was outscored 37-17 over the final 20 minutes.
SERIES NOTES
The Sun Devils have won two of the three all-time meetings vs. SMU. The Mustangs claimed the first meeting, 74-59, played on Dec. 5 1997 as part of the Southwestern Bell Cotton Bowl Classic played in Dallas. The two teams did not cross paths again until a home-and-home series played in 2014 (ASU won 77-42 in Tempe on Dec. 6) and 2015 (ASU won 64-57 on Nov. 21 in Dallas).
DYNAMIC DUO DEBUT
The 2023-24 Sun Devils were dealt a serious blow when it was announced a month before the start of the season that superstar guard Tyi Skinner would miss the entire season due to a knee injury.
Skinner, who played her first two seasons at Delaware, joined Natasha Adair in Tempe after Adair was named ASU's head coach. In 2022-23, Skinner (2023 All-Pac-12 honorable mention) scored 20 or more points 15 times, including a career-high 29 points twice. A starter in all 28 games, Skinner averaged 19.3 ppg, 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), FTss made (79/3rd) and attempted (91/4th), steals per game (1.71/5th), 3-point FG percentage (34.7/6th) and FT percentage (78.1/8th).
The 2023-24 Sun Devils were left pondering, 'what might have been,' had Skinner been able to share the court with Louisville transfer Jalyn Brown. Much like Skinner did in 2022-23, Brown would emerge as one of the top performers in the Pac-12. In league games, Brown finished 3rd in the Pac-12 in scoring (19.6 ppg), 9th in FT percent (80.6) and tied for 14th in 3-pointers per game (1.56). She scored in double figures 26 times (12 20-point games) including a pair of outings in which she had the two highest-scoring games by a Sun Devil since 2000: 35 vs. Colorado (Jan. 7, 2024) and 34 points at Washington (Jan. 21).
Brown, who earned All-Pac-12 honorable mention honors from the league's coaches and All-Pac-12 recognition from media who cover the league, went on to lead the team in scoring (17.3 ppg) and 3-pointers per game (1.4), was 2nd in FT pct. (76.9), 3-pointers (1.3 per game), minutes (35.54 mpg) and FTs made (103) and attempted (134), 3rd in assists (1.6 apg), tied for 3rd in steals (0.9 spg) and 4th in O-rebounds (1.1 rpg).
With Skinner recovered from her injury, Adair is excited to see what the Sun Devils are capable of with both Skinner and Brown on the court.
"It's poetry in motion; those two have known each other even prior to coming here from the Washington, DC area so they know each other's game, and more importantly it's about every other piece in addition to them," Adair said. I'm excited for our fans to see our size inside, it's going be hard to guard (us because) who are you going to sag off on and who are you going to double?
"Watching us work on that every day you can see it coming together. I'm excited about every piece because as much as they are talented there are so many other players and parts. I want to know how opponents are going to stop us."
In her first game since the end of the 2022-23 season, Skinner scored a career-high 30 points – the 17th time she scored 20 or more points in a Sun Devil uniform – in ASU's 74-66 win over Jacksonville State on Nov. 4. Brown led ASU in scoring (24 points) in vs. Arkansas State (Nov. 8). Combined with Skinner's 16 points, the duo combines for 40 points in the game. Skinner had a team-high 15 points in ASU's contest vs. Grand Canyon (Nov. 14).
MEET THE NEWCOMERS
Half the players on 2024-25 Sun Devil Squad will be making their debut in the Maroon and Gold this season. Read on for a thumbnail summary of each player.
#0 /// Kennedy Basham /// F /// 6-7 /// Jr. /// Phoenix, Ariz.
• Kennedy Basham will be returning home after playing two seasons at the University of Oregon where she played in 47 games with 24 starting assignments (all 24 starts came sophomore season).
• Led team with 48 blocks and led or tied for team lead in 13 games, finishing with multiple blocks 15 times.
• Scored a season-high 15 points at Washington (Feb. 23) and followed that up with 14 points at Washington State (Feb. 25) for her first career games in double figures.
AT ASU IN 2024-25
• Currently leads ASU in rebounds per game (9.7), blocks per game (3.0) and is in both 3rd in scoring (10.7 ppg) and FG pct. (58.3)... Had strong Sun Devil debut scoring 8 points, grabbing a game-high 10 rebounds and blocking 4 shots vs. Jacksonville State (Nov. 4)... Accounted for 14 points and tied for the team lead in rebounds (6) vs. Arkansas State (Nov. 8)... Had her first double-double as a Sun Devil (10 points, 13 rebounds) and had 3 blocks vs. Grand Canyon (Nov. 14).
#4 /// Jyah LoVett /// G /// 5-8 /// So. /// San Gabriel, Calif.
• LoVett is coming to ASU from San Jose State where she earned Mountain West All-Freshman Team honors for a season in which she played and started in 17 games as the team's primary point guard.
•Earned Mountain West Freshman of the Week honors three times.
• Averaged 18 ppg in her six Mountain West appearances.
• Scored a career-high 26 points twice: against Fresno State in the Mountain West opener (Jan. 3) and again at UNLV (Jan. 10).
AT ASU IN 2024-25
Has played in all three games and is currently averaging 7.7 points per game... Scored a season-high 10 points vs. Grand Canyon (Nov. 14)
#7 /// Jazion Jackson /// G /// 5-9 /// Grad. /// Dallas, Texas
• Jackson will be bringing an abundance of experience to Tempe.
• Transferred to ASU from Texas Tech. Unfortunately, Jackson didn't play after a a season-ending injury prior to the season.
• Played her first three seasons for North Texas where she started 72 of 81 games. Raised her scoring average each season while playing for North Texas: 5.9 ppg, 8.6 ppg, 9.2 ppg.
• Had the best season of her career playing for UTEP in 2022-23. Earned First-Team All-Conference USA honors after she started all 32 of UTEP's games and led the team in steals (2.06 per game/fourth in the conference) and was second on the squad in scoring (11.6 ppg), rebounds per game (5.8) and assists per game (2.3).
AT ASU IN 2024-25
Made her Sun Devil debut in the season's third game vs. Grand Canyon (Nov. 14)... Went over the 1,000-point mark in career points (had 999 coming in) after scoring 4 points to go with 5 rebounds and 2 steals.
#10 /// Kennedy Fauntleroy /// G /// 5-7 /// Jr. /// Upper Marlboro, Md.
• Had outstanding freshman campaign at Georgetown where she was unanimously named the 2023 Big East Freshman of the Year and was named to the league's all-freshman team.
• Started 29 of the 30 games she played in 2022-23 and was named the Big East Freshman of the Week six times. In Big East play, averaged 11.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.7 steals and 2.9 assists per outing.
• Transferred to ASU from Oklahoma State where she played in five games last season. Opened season scoring 14 points in helping OSU defeat SIUE (Nov. 6). Also added four steals in the victory.
• Produced a solid all-around debut in her Sun Devil debut, scoring 7 points, grabbing 6 rebounds to go with 3 assists and 4 steals in win over Jacksonville State (Nov. 4)... Scored 13 points and dished out 7 assists vs. Arkansas State Nov. (9).
AT ASU IN 2024-25
Has played in all 3 games with 2 starts... currently leads the team in steals per game (2.3), is 2nd in assists per game (2.3) and is tied for 4th in points per game (9.3)... Had season high in points (13) and assists (7) and tied her season high with 6 rebounds vs. Arkansas State (Nov. 8).
#12 /// Makayla Moore /// G /// 6-0 /// Jr. /// San Jose, Calif.
• Transferred to ASU from Seattle U where she played 49 games (28 starts) in two seasons.
• Started all 28 games she played last season and averaged a career-best 11.3 points while playing 29.2 minutes per game.
• Posted a career-high 23 points on a career-best 11 made field goals against UTRGV (Jan. 11, 2024).
• Pulled down career-high 10 rebounds against UT Arlington (Jan. 13, 2024).
AT ASU IN 2024-25
Has played in two games and pulled down a pair of rebounds in both appearances.
#15 /// Heavenly Greer /// F /// 6-3 /// Sr. /// Phoenix, Ariz.
• Like fellow first-year Sun Devil Kennedy Basham, Greer will be returning to her hometown of Phoenix.
• Greer will be familiar with many of ASU's conference opponents as played all three of her seasons in the Big 12: one season at Oklahoma (played 10 games) and two seasons at Kansas State (played 46 contests).
• Played in a career-high 30 contests in her first season playing for Kansas State (2022-23).
• Kansas State made it to the postseason in each of Greer's two seasons playing for the Wildcats (WNIT in 2023 and NCAA Tournament in 2024).
AT ASU IN 2024-25
Has played in all 3 games and has connected on 60 percent of her shots (3-5)... Pulled down a season-high 6 rebounds in season opener vs. Jacksonville State (Nov. 4).
#22 /// Timya Grice /// C /// 6-5 /// Fr. /// Katy, Texas
• The lone freshman on ASU's 2024-25 roster, Grice led her Taylor high school squad to the No. 3 (28-7; 12-4 in district) spot in 2024, its first playoff berth since the 2018-19 season.
• In 2023-24, was named one of the Top 26 girls' basketball players in the state of Texas by SB Live and was selected to the TGCA All-State team.
• Prior to the 2023-24 season, was named No. 8 in Vype's Top 30 players in Houston.
• Scored 34 points and a pulled down a school-record 24 rebounds in a victory over district counterpart Seven Lakes.
Joined Taylor's squad in January of 2023, after moving from Mauldin, S.C.
• Averaged 8.7 points and 6.1 rebounds in her three seasons playing for Mauldin (S.C.).
#32 /// Nevaeh Parkinson /// C /// 6-3 /// Grad. /// Dallas, Texas
• Parkinson is another player who will be toting plenty of experience to Tempe. After playing 20 games in two seasons at New Mexico, had a pair of breakout seasons at UC Irvine in helping the squad earn postseason berths in both 2023 and 2024.
• In 2022-23, was named the Big West's Best Sixth Player and also received All-Big West honorable mention recognition.
• After helping lead UC Irvine to the WNIT in her first season, helped her squad ascend even higher in earning a berth to the NCAA Tournament last season.
• Scored a career-high 18 points (8-10 FGs) and grabbed 10 rebounds in UC Irvine's NCAA Tournament first round game at Gonzaga (Mar. 23).
AT ASU IN 2024-25
• Currently leads the team in FG pct. (66.7) and is tied for 4th in points per game (9.3). Scored 8 points in Sun Devil debut vs. Jacksonville St. (Nov. 4)... Tied career high with 18 points (8-10 FGs, 2-2 FTs) to go with 6 rebounds vs. Arkansas State (Nov. 9).
BACK FOR MORE
Eight players are back from last year's squad, each with the ability to help the Sun Devils climb even higher in the first season of the Big 12. Note: See page 2 for notes on Jalyn Brown and Tyi Skinner
#1 /// Kadidia Toure /// F /// 6-3 /// Jr. /// Silver Spring, Md.
• Transferred to ASU in 2023 after playing freshman season at James Madison.
• Has played in 53 career games with 7 starts (all 7 with ASU) .
• In her first season at ASU, played in every game (7 starts) and led the team in FG pct. (43.5/among players who averaged 5.0 or more FG att per game), was 2nd in O-rebs (1.5 rpg), and 4th in scoring (5.7 ppg/among players who played in at least half the games).
#3 /// Tyi Skinner /// G /// 5-5 /// Grad. /// Washington, D.C.
• Transferred to ASU after the 2021-22 season and made in immediate impact averaging 19.3 ppg in 2022-23, the most by a Sun Devil since the 1988-89 season.
• Missed entire 2023-24 season due to injury.
• Has started 62 of 93 games, including all 31 she has played at ASU.
• Currently leads the team in scoring (20.3 ppg), 3-pointers (2.0 per game), assists per game (5.7), FTs made (15) and attempted (18) and 3FG pct (42.3).
• In her first game since the end of the 2022-23 season (missed entire 2023-24 season due to injury), Skinner scored a career-high 30 points – the 17th time she scored 20 or more points in a Sun Devil uniform – in ASU's 74-66 win over Jacksonville State on Nov. 4.
#13 /// Maggie Besselink /// G/F /// 6-3 /// Grad. /// Kingston, Ontario
• Versatile scorer and outstanding rebounder.
• Has been limited to 43 games (32 starts) because of injuries.
• Played in 12 games (11 starts) before suffering season-ending injury at Washington State (Jan. 19). At time of injury, was 2nd on the team in rebs per game (4.6) and 4th in O-rebs (1.3 rpg).
• Made her 2024-25 debut vs. Grand Canyon (Nov. 14).
#21 /// Hanna Miller /// F /// 6-2 /// Jr. /// Aberdeen, S.D.
• Transferred to ASU from Dodge City CC (Dodge City, Kan.) where Miller played one season.
• Older sister of current Sun Devil Mallory Miller.
• Played in 3 games as a freshman and accounted for first points of career (4/1-1 3FG/1-2 FTs) in win vs. Idaho State (Nov. 19).
• Has played in 2 games this season.
#23 /// Jalyn Brown /// G /// 6-1 /// Jr. /// Baltimore, Md.
• Transferred to ASU in 2023 after playing freshman season at Louisville.
• As the 2023-24 season progressed, evolved into one of the top performers in the Pac-12. In league games, finished 3rd in scoring (19.6 ppg), 9th in FT percent (80.6) and tied for 14th in 3-pointers per game (1.56).
• Is the owner of the two highest-scoring games by a Sun Devil since 2000: 35 vs. Colorado (Jan. 7, 2024) and 34 points at Washington (Jan. 21, 2024).
• Is currently 2nd on the team in scoring (13.7 ppg), FT pct (90.0/9-10), FTs made (9) and attempted (10) and is 3rd in assists per game (2.7) and steals per game (1.3).
#24 /// Mallory Miller /// F /// 6-4 /// So. /// Aberdeen, S.D.
• Had solid freshman campaign, making important contributions as the season progressed.
• Younger sister Hanna plays for the Sun Devils.
• Played in 27 contests (four starts - all coming in last four games of the season).
• All 3 of her double-figure scoring games came in Pac-12 play.
• In ASU's 5 games prior to final weekend of regular season, averaged 8.4 ppg (3rd on team), 5.6 rpg and 1.2 bpg (led team in both).
#25 /// Adison Novosel /// G /// 5-11 /// Sr. /// Richfield, Ohio
• Transferred to ASU in 2023 after playing first two seasons at Saint Francis University (played in 35 contests with 25 starts).
• After appearing in seven games off the bench as a freshman, started 25 of 28 games in 2022-23.
• Played in 21 games (9.0 mins per game) in her first season as a Sun Devil. Six of her seven 3-pointers came in Pac-12 play.
• Played 30 mins and hit season-high 3 FGs vs. No. 15 Utah (Jan. 5).
#30 • Morasha Wiggins /// G /// 6-0 /// Sr. /// Kalamazoo, Mich.
• Transferred to ASU after playing her freshman season (2021-22) at North Carolina.
• Ranked 18th in the ESPNW Class of 2021 rankings, Wiggins was expected to be an impact player for ASU before suffering a preseason injury that forced her to miss the entire 2022-23 campaign.
NOTES ON ASU'S FIRST SEASON IN THE BIG 12
Big 12 Transfers: Three Sun Devil newcomers were on a Big 12 campus in the past year. Heavenly Greer played the past two years at Kansas State, Dallas native Jazion Jackson was at Texas Tech last year and Kennedy Fauntleroy was at Oklahoma State last year after earning 2022-23 Big East Freshman of the Year at Georgetown.
The Big 12 format: Teams will play three opponents home and away while facing six teams only at home and six opponents only on the road for a total of 18 Conference games. Opponents were selected based on a combination of geography, historical results and a poll of the coaches to best balance the schedule in terms of travel and competitiveness.
ASU's Big 12 opponent breakdown: Home: Baylor (2024 NCAA Tournament Team), Cincinnati (2024 WNIT Team), Iowa State (2024 NCAA Tournament Team), TCU (2024 WBIT Team), Texas Tech, West Virginia (2024 NCAA Tournament Team). Away: Central Florida, Colorado (2024 NCAA Tournament Team), Houston, Kansas (2024 NCAA Tournament Team), Kansas State (2024 NCAA Tournament Team), Oklahoma State. Home and Away: Arizona (2024 NCAA Tournament Team), BYU (2024 WBIT Team), Utah (2024 NCAA Tournament Team)
When it starts/ends: League play begins Saturday, Dec. 21 with six games and concludes Sunday, March 2. The regular season will be followed by the 2025 Phillips 66 Big 12 Women's Basketball Championship, which will take place in Kansas City's T-Mobile Center for the second consecutive season.
About the league: The current league members combined to go 8-0 in their first game of the 2024 NCAA Tournament while 15 of the 16 teams finished the 2023-24 season in the top 101 of the NET rankings. Four Big 12 teams are ranked in the top 16 of ESPN's Women's Basketball Way-Too-Early Top 25, tied for the most of any league.