March 14, 2006
TEMPE, Ariz. - Arizona State women's basketball coach Charli Turner Thorne was named the Russell Athletic/Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Region 8 Coach of the Year, according to an announcement by the WBCA on Tuesday.
Currently in her 10th season with the Sun Devils, Turner Thorne has led ASU to a school record seven consecutive postseason appearances, including NCAA Tournament bids the last two years and four of the last six years.
Despite losing six players - including the starting backcourt - from last year's team which made it to the Sweet Sixteen and with the addition of six freshmen, Turner Thorne led the Sun Devils to a regular season record of 24-6, including a school record 14 Pac-10 victories. The 14 conference victories came in a season in which the Pac-10 received an unprecedented six invitations to the NCAA Tournament. Earlier this season, the Sun Devils ascended into the Top 10 of a major poll for the first time in 22 years, eventually tying the school's highest ever ranking of No. 9 in early January.
During the first half of the season, Turner Thorne led the Sun Devils on a school record-tying nine-game winning streak. In the second half of the season, the Sun Devils would break that record by winning 10 consecutive games. In addition, ASU also went undefeated at home for the first time in school history, winning a school record 15 games on its home floor.
With 24 wins this season, Turner Thorne has now led the Sun Devils to 20 or more wins four times in the last six seasons. With another win the 2005-06 Sun Devils will tie the school record for most wins in a season with 25 and they would also set the school mark for the most wins in a two-season span (49).
The Sun Devils begin NCAA Tournament play this weekend as the No. 4 seed in the Albuquerque Region, which ties ASU's highest ever placement in the NCAA Tournament. ASU will face the No. 13 seed, Stephen F. Austin, on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. For ticket information fans can contact the Sun Devil ticket office at 480-727-0000.