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Sun Devils Hit the Road Again
Women's hoops travels to Bay Area
Feb. 24, 1998
ASU Sun Devils (10-13 overall, 6-8 Pac-10/6th) at Stanford Cardinal (17-5, 13-1/1st)
Thursday, Feb. 26 - 7:30 p.m. PST/8:30 p.m. MST
Maples Pavilion (7,391) - Palo Alto, Calif.
KMVP 860 AM - Tape Delay 9 p.m. MST
ASU at California Golden Bears (5-19/1-13/9th)
Saturday, Feb. 28 - 2 p.m. PST/3 p.m. MST
Kaiser Arena (4,685) - Oakland, Calif.
KTAR 620 AM - FOX Sports Bay Area
QUICK NOTES
- ASU has notched 10 overall wins to improve on last year's total (9). The Sun Devils have posted more than nine wins for the first time since going 17-10 in 1992-93.
- Picked to finish ninth in the conference by a preseason poll of Pac-10 media, ASU sits in sixth place with a 6-8 league record - its best in five years.
- Senior forward Stephanie Freeman recorded a career-high tying seven steals Feb. 21 vs. Oregon State to surpass Molly Tuter (1994-97) for second on the ASU all-time list. Freeman has 222 career thefts.
SUN DEVILS WRAP UP ROAD SLATE WITH BAY AREA SWING
Arizona State travels to the Bay Area this weekend for matchups with fifth-ranked Stanford and California in its final road games of the season. Currently in sixth place in the Pac-10 at 6-8, the Sun Devils are battling for a top-five league finish for the first time in five seasons. ASU has already clinched its best conference record in five years - since going 10-8 (17-10 overall) and finishing fourth in 1993. ASU is coming off a split versus the Oregon schools last weekend, taking the Ducks to overtime before losing 69-67 and cruising past the Beavers 69-49. Senior Stephanie Freeman continues to pace the Sun Devils with 13.8 points per game, while sophomore Rachel Holt posts a team-high 5.1 rebounds a game.
MEDIA INFO
KMVP 860 AM will air the Stanford contest on a tape-delay basis beginning at 9 p.m. MST. The California game can be heard live on KTAR 620 AM. Kevin Ray will call all the action. FOX Sports Bay Area will televise the ASU-Cal game.
PROBABLE STARTERS ASU Sun Devils P. Cl. Ht. PPG RPG NOTES #55 Stephanie Freeman F Sr. 5-10 13.8 4.5 leads Pac-10 w/ 3.1 steals #20 Kisha White F Jr. 6-0 8.1 4.2 career-high 24pts. vs. Oregon #54 Rachel Holt C So. 6-3 10.9 5.1 51.9 FG%, 1.17 blocks #21 Rameeka Lowe G Sr. 5-7 6.3 3.7 4.23 assists #32 Michelle Tom G Jr. 5-8 8.4 2.6 34.9 3PT%; 7 assists @ WSU Stanford Cardinal P. Cl. Ht. PPG RPG #00 Olympia Scott F Sr. 6-2 18.1 7.8 #13 Vanessa Nygaard F Sr. 6-1 14.7 6.1 #44 Heather Owen C Sr. 6-4 10.1 5.3 #15 Regan Freuen G Sr. 6-0 4.8 1.0 #20 Milena Flores G So. 5-6 9.8 6.1* Cal Golden Bears P. Cl. Ht. PPG RPG #33 Paige Bowie F So. 5-11 9.9 4.1 #42 Amber Lacey F Sr. 6-0 9.9 6.3 #50 Jennie Leander C Jr. 6-3 8.6 6.8 #3 Masa Radovic G Fr. 6-1 11.2 3.1* #23 Sherrise Smith G Jr. 5-5 3.9 1.8 * - assists per game OFF THE BENCH ASU Sun Devils P. Cl. Ht. PPG RPG NOTES #14 Kristine Sand F So. 6-0 7.3 3.5 13pts. vs. Cal & WSU #4 Leaf Newman G Fr. 5-9 7.1 3.3 started @ Oregon #50 Kellie McDanal F Fr. 6-4 1.3 1.1 13-for-13 FTs #30 Spring Steed G Sr. 5-10 1.3 0.8 15.2 min. in conf. games
INJURY REPORT
Junior point guard Rechelle Lang has missed ASU's last seven games with a swollen left knee. Lang's status is week to week and she is listed as doubtful for this weekend Freshman center Jennifer Bennett will sit out the remainder of the season while she applies for a medical redshirt. Bennett continues to nurse a stress fracture (left leg) that was discovered on Dec. 16. Freshman guard Ebony Edwards is out for the season after tearing her (left) ACL and lateral meniscus against Long Island on Dec. 20. Edwards underwent reconstructive surgery on Dec. 26. She had surgery to remove scar tissue on Feb. 19.
ASU-STANFORD SERIES
Stanford holds a 25-7 edge in the 32-game series that dates back to 1978-79. The Cardinal have won the last 11 contests and 20 of the last 21. Stanford's average margin of victory in the last 11 meetings is 25.4 points. Arizona State is 1-15 in Palo Alto.
ASU-CAL SERIES
The Bears lead the all-time series 16-12. Arizona State is 5-9 at Cal and will look to stop a five-game losing skid versus the Bears on the road. The teams split in 1996-97, with the home teams emerging victorious. ASU has won the last two meetings.
LAST TIME OUT
Senior forward Stephanie Freeman scored a game-high 17 points and recorded a career-high tying seven steals to lead ASU to a 69-49 victory over Oregon State Feb. 21 at the University Activity Center.
Freeman's seven steals moved her to second place on the ASU all-time chart (222) surpassing Molly Tuter (1994-97). With the win, ASU surpassed its overall win total (9) from last season and notched a season sweep of the Beavers.
Sophomore center Rachel Holt added 14 points and a game-high seven rebounds to the ASU win, and junior forward Kisha White added 11 points for the Devils.
Senior forward Monica Watts led the Beavers with 13 points and five rebounds.
Arizona State used a 15-2 run to begin the second half and pull ahead 45-29 with just under 15 minutes to play. The Beavers did not come closer than 14 points the rest of the way. The Sun Devils led by as many as 27 points at the 6:39-mark.
Oregon State started the scoring in the first stanza and built its lead to nine with 8:21 remaining in the first half. Fueled by an 18-0 run, the Sun Devils turned a 21-12 deficit into a 30-21 lead with 2:48 left in the first half. Freeman added 10 of her 12 first-half points in the run.
The Beavers fought back, but ASU never relinquished its lead and went into the break with a 30-27 edge.
OSU outrebounded the Sun Devils 35-30, but ASU had 17 steals compared to Oregon State's 12. The Sun Devils also had 22 turnovers, while Oregon State committed 31.
SCOUTING THE CARDINAL
Sitting atop the Pac-10 standings with a 13-1 conference mark, Stanford (15-5 overall) has won 11 in a row since falling to Arizona on Jan. 12. The Cardinal are coming off wins over then-No. 21 Washington (71-59) and Washington State (92-74) last weekend. Kristin Folkl paces the squad with 18.4 points and 8.9 rebounds through 14 games. Olympia Scott posts a team second-best 18.1 points and 7.8 boards per centest.
PAC-10 STANDINGS
Conference Overall
Pl. School W L Pct. W L Pct.
1. Stanford 13 1 .929 17 5 .773
2. Arizona 11 3 .786 18 5 .783
UCLA 11 3 .786 16 7 .696
4. Oregon 11 4 .733 15 8 .652
5. Washington 8 7 .533 17 7 .708
6. Arizona St 6 8 .429 10 13 .435
7. USC 5 9 .357 10 13 .435
8. WSU 5 10 .333 11 13 .458
9. California 1 13 .071 5 19 .208
10. Oregon St 1 14 .067 6 18 .250
ASU RECORD WHEN
Outrebound its opponent 5-2
Outscore opponent bench 6-3
Lead at halftime 8-0
Trail at halftime 2-12
Are tied at halftime 0-1
Shoot better from field than opponent 7-1
Shoot worse from field than opponent. 2-12
Shoot 50% or better from field 2-0
Shoot less than 50% from field 8-12
Opp. shoots 50% or better from field 2-7
Opp. shoots less than 50% from field 8-6
Make more free throws than opponent 9-4
Commit less turnovers than opponent 7-3
Commit more turnovers than opponent 2-9
Commit same number of TOs as opp. 0-1
Play at Home 7-6
Play Away 2-7
Play on Neutral Court 1-0
Play in Conference Games 6-8
Play in Televised Games 5-7
Play in White Uniforms 8-6
Play in Maroon Uniforms 2-7
ASU's 7 STARTING LINEUPS:
Sand, Freeman, Holt, Lowe, Lang: 1-3
Bennett, Freeman, Holt, Lowe, Lang: 1-1
White, Freeman, Holt, Lowe, Lang: 3-4
White, Tom, Holt, Lowe, Lang: 1-0
Sand, Freeman, Holt, Lowe, Tom: 1-0
White, Freeman, Holt, Newman, Tom: 0-1
White, Freeman, Holt, Lowe, Tom: 3-4
DID YOU KNOW?
This year's Sun Devil lineup features just 6 1/2 years of Division I experience:
SR Stephanie Freeman - 3 yrs.
SO Rachel Holt - 1 yr.
SO Kristine Sand - 1 yr.
SR Spring Steed - 1 yr.
SR Rameeka Lowe - 1/2 yr.
6 1/2 yrs.
WE MEET AGAIN
ASU Coach Charli Turner Thorne played at Stanford under Tara VanDerveer from 1985-88 and co-captained the 1988 Cardinal squad that advanced to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen. Turner Thorne received her bachelor's degree in psychology in 1988 and was awarded Stanford's H-Block Award for the senior female student-athlete with the highest GPA.
SCOUTING THE BEARS
In ninth place in the Pac-10 at 1-13, Cal nearly upset then-No. 21 Washington on Feb. 21. The Bears battled the Huskies to overtime before falling 83-78. Cal is looking to put an end to a 12-game losing streak. Masa Radovic averages a team-high 11.2 points and 3.1 assists per game, while Jennie Leander grabs a team-high 6.8 rebounds per contest. Cal freshman Courtney Johnson is the younger sister of former Sun Devil Stacey Jonhson(1992-93), a 1992 Pac-10 All-Freshman selection.
BALANCED ATTACK
In ASU's 23 games this season, eight different Sun Devils have led the squad (or tied for the lead) in scoring, while nine players have paced the squad (or tied for the lead) on the glass. Stephanie Freeman has led the team in scoring 11 times (two ties), followed by Rachel Holt eight times (three ties), Kisha White four times (two ties) and one each from Rechelle Lang, Ebony Edwards, Michelle Tom, Kristine Sand and Leaf Newman. In the rebounding department, Holt has notched the team-high nine times, followed by White (five times), Freeman, Newman and Rameeka Lowe (four times), Lang (three times), Sand (twice) and Bennett and Edwards (once).
GET OUT THE BROOMS
ASU's 69-49 win over Oregon State completed its season sweep of the Beavers. The sweep is the Sun Devils' second on the year after going 2-0 against Washington State. The last time ASU swept more than one Pac-10 team was in 1993 when it went 2-0 against four teams. Here's a look at the Sun Devils' year-by-year sweeps over the last seven seasons:
Year # Teams 1991-92 3 Arizona, California, Oregon State 1992-93 4 Arizona, Oregon, Washington, Washington State 1993-94 1 Washington State 1994-95 - 1995-96 1 Washington 1996-97 - 1997-98 2 Oregon State, Washington State
TIMES ARE CHANGING
With four games still left on the schedule the Sun Devils have already surpassed their overall (9) win total and have doubled their Pac-10 win total (3) from a year ago. ASU has averaged 2.8 conference wins and 7.25 overall wins over the last four seasons.
Year Overall Conf. Coach 1997-98* 10-13 6-8/6th Charli Turner Thorne 1996-97 9-19 3-15/9th Charli Turner Thorne 1995-96 8-19 4-14/9th Jacquie Hullah 1994-95 8-19 2-16/10th Jacquie Hullah 1993-94 4-22 2-16/T9th Jacquie Hullah 1992-93 17-10 10-8/T4th Maura McHugh * - four games remaining
THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED...
The last time ASU ended the first half of Pac-10 play with a 4-5 slate, it finished fifth in the league with a record of 11-7 (1992) and earned an NCAA Tournament berth. The last time the Sun Devils notched at least five Pac-10 wins was 1993, when they finished 10-8 and tied for fourth in the league.
ASU-STANFORD GAME-BY-GAME
Sun Devils Won 7 Lost 25
Year W-L ASU SU S Diff.
1978-79 L 67 69 A -2
1982-83 L 56 66 A -10
W 79 53 H +26
1983-84 W 83 71 H +12
W 84 72 A +12
1984-85 L 67 68 A -1
W 84 56 H +8
1985-86 W 70 58 H +12
L 69 75 A -6
1986-87 L 77 92 A -15
W 81 71 H +10
1987-88 L 66 84 A -8
L 79 84 H -5
1988-89 L 68 87 A -19
L 72 108 H -36
1989-90 L 63 90 A -27
L 64 106 H -42
1990-91 L 65 79 H -14
L 61 109 A -48
1991-92 L 66 89 A -23
W 77 65 H +12
1992-93 L 80 85 A -5
L 76 86 H -10
1993-94 L 61 113 A -52
L 59 85 H -26
1994-95 L 59 83 H -24
L 51 102 A -51
1995-96 L 71 88 H -17
L 63 79 A -16
1996-97 L 64 96 A -22
L 62 81 H -19
1997-98 L 54 81 H -27
ASU-CAL GAME-BY-GAME
Sun Devils Won 12 Lost 16
Year W-L ASU CAL S Diff.
1978-79 W 75 68 A -13
1979-80 L 67 79 A -12
1984-85 W 73 72 H +1
1985-86 W 95 86 A +9
1986-87 W 86 80 A +6
L 77 95 H -18
1987-88 L 68 74 A +14
L 67 74 H -7
1988-89 W 81 78 A +3
L 75 77 H -2
1989-90 L 74 83 A -9
L 77 83 H -6
1990-91 W 84 77 H +7
L 78 80 A -2
1991-92 W 92 88 A -4
W 63 52 H -11
1992-93 L 66 70 A -4
L 74 79 H -5
1993-94 L 69 79 A -10
L 94 104 H -10
1994-95 W 77 62 H +15
L 73 98 A -25
1995-96 L 79 101 H -22
L 68 77 A -9
1996-97 L 58 88 A -30
W 65 54 H +11
1997-98 W 75 54 H +21
BIGGEST PAC-10 WINS SINCE...
ASU's 75-54 win over Cal on Jan. 31 was it's largest margin of victory in a Pac-10 game (21 points) in five years, dating back to a 37-point win over Oregon in 1993. ASU has notched two other 20-point Pac-10 wins this year: vs. Washington State (80-60) and California (75-54).
ANOTHER OBSTACLE OVERCOME
ASU's 85-79 win over Oregon State on Jan. 22 qualified as its first Pac-10 road win since Feb. 3, 1995. The Sun Devils snapped a 15-game losing streak with the win and picked up another road win at Washington State on Feb. 5.
THE BEST OF TIMES, THE WORST OF TIMES
The Sun Devils showed two different sides during their two-game road trip to the state of Washington earlier this month. ASU shot a season-high 62.5 percent (30-of-48) from the field Feb. 5 at Washington State, but then bottomed out with a season-low 20.0 percent-effort at Washington (12-of-60). The Sun Devils posted 79 points versus the Cougars, but combined for just 39 points against the Huskies, tying their season-low output.
EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS
Currently in sixth place in the Pac-10, ASU was picked to finish ninth in the league in a preseason poll of Pac-10 Media.
PRESSURE DEFENSE
In a stretch of three games vs. Washington State, Arizona and at Oregon State (Jan. 10-22), ASU forced its opponents to commit an average of 33.0 turnovers per game (WSU 30; Arizona 36; OSU 33). In fact, 13 of the Sun Devils' 23 opponents have committed at least 25 miscues this season, with a season-high 40 turnovers by Long Island on Dec. 20.
TEMPE TURNAROUND
After 51 games at the helm of the ASU women's basketball program, Head Coach Charli Turner Thorne has the Sun Devils heading in the right direction. ASU had not recorded more than eight wins in a season for three straight years before she arrived in Tempe in June of 1996. Here's what has been changing since then...
In 1997-98 Turner Thorne has guided ASU to:
- Its best Pac-10 start (4-5) since the 1992-93 season when it started out 5-4.
- Its most Pac-10 wins (6) in five years.
- Its largest margin of victory in a Pac-10 game (+21) since 1992-93.
- Its first back-to-back conference wins since 1995-96.
- Its first Pac-10 road win in almost three years.
- Its first season sweep of a Pac-10 team in two years.
- Its first sweep of at least two Pac-10 teams in five years.
- One of its biggest upsets (77-76 win vs. then-No. 7 Washington).
- Its first 100-point game since the 1992-93 season (118 points vs. Long Island).
- The second-highest scoring output by a Sun Devil women's team (118 points).
In 1996-97 Turner Thorne:
- Coached ASU to its most victories (9) since it went 17-10 in 1992-93.
AT THE LINE
Bolstered by an 11-of-12 performance (91.7 percent) at Washington on Feb. 5, ASU posts a Pac-10 second-best 70.8 free-throw percentage (378-of-538). Six Sun Devils are connecting on at least 70.0 percent of their free throws: Freeman, Newman, Lowe, Lang, White and Tom.
DEVILS SURPASS CENTURY MARK
The Sun Devils recorded their third win in record-setting fashion, (with five players tallying career- or season-high point totals) in an opening-round 118-56 victory over Long Island in the Wells Fargo Classic. The 118-point effort marked the first time an ASU women's team has reached the century mark since the 1992-93 season. That squad posted a 119-72 win over Marquette (also in ASU's tournament). The offensive output also tied as the second-most points
ever by Sun Devil women, and was just three points off of the UAC record (121 points by the ASU men during the 1988-89 season).
SR o F o STEPHANIE FREEMAN o AUSTIN, TEXAS
Senior forward Stephanie Freeman (Austin, Texas), ASU's sole three-year letterwinner, continues to lead the squad offensively with 13.8 points per game. Freeman has paced the Sun Devils in scoring in 11 games, tying Ebony Edwards with a team-high 18 points vs. UCSB and tying Rachel Holt with 15 points vs. Cal on Jan. 31. She put together a string of five straight games scoring in double figures to start the 1997-98 season. Two days after serving a one-game suspension for breaking a team rule, Freeman notched her career high of 25 points vs. Washington State on Jan. 10. She leads the Pac-10 in steals (3.1spg) and has 15 double-figure scoring games on the year. With her career-high tying seven steals vs. Oregon State on Feb. 21, Freeman moved to second (222) on the ASU all-time steals chart.
SO o C o RACHEL HOLT o BUCKEYE, ARIZ.
Sophomore center Rachel Holt (Buckeye, Ariz.), the sole Sun Devil to start all 23 games this year, is shooting 76.9 percent from the line and averaging 11.1 points in Pac-10 games. The Sun Devils' 6-foot-3 starting center was averaging 13.6 points and 6.6 rebounds in a stretch of seven games from Dec. 10 to Jan. 8. During that span, Holt shot 58.1 percent (36-of-62) from the field. Her numbers of late are the opposite of those from the first five games of the season, where she averaged just 6.8 points and 3.8 rebounds. Holt posted her second double-double on the season (and of her career) against Washington on Jan. 8, finishing with 13 points and 10 boards vs. the Huskies. Her first double-double came in just 23 minutes of action Dec. 20 against Long Island as she poured in 24 points and grabbed 11 rebounds.
JR o F o KISHA WHITE o PHOENIX, ARIZ.
Junior forward Kisha White, a walkon from Phoenix, Ariz. (South Mountain HS), earned herself a spot among ASU's starting five back on Dec. 20. An injury to freshman Jennifer Bennett on Dec. 16 opened the door for White, who has come on strong to post seven double-figure scoring efforts in her 16 games as a starter - including a career-high 24 points vs. Oregon on Feb. 19. Coming in off the bench, she posted 12-point efforts versus Dayton and Oregon State. White grabbed a career-high nine rebounds vs. Oregon on Jan. 24 and posted eight against Arizona (Jan. 17) and Cal (Jan. 31). She was named to the ASU Wells Fargo Classic All-Tournament Team on Dec. 21.
JR o G o MICHELLE TOM o WINSLOW, ARIZ.
Since becoming eligible on Dec. 20, junior point guard Michelle Tom has had an immeasurable impact on the Sun Devil offense. The 5-8 Winslow, Ariz., native is averaging a team third-best 8.4 points through 17 games. She has started a string of nine straight games since Jan. 22, when Rechelle Lang's role became limited due to a swollen left knee. Tom was the Sun Devil who launched "the shot" - a 20-foot buzzer-beater that lifted ASU to a 77-76 victory over then-No. 7 Washington on Jan. 8. The toss made CNN/SI's "Plays of the Day." Earning her first start versus the Huskies, Tom finished with a team-high 19 points, six rebounds and five assists, playing at the two position. She was named the Pac-10 Player of the Week on Jan. 12, ASU's first such honor since March of 1996. A transfer from Central Florida at mid-season a year ago, Tom is a cousin of former ASU standout Ryneldi Becenti, a two-time honorable mention All-American who directed ASU to the NCAA Tournament in 1992.
SR o G o RAMEEKA LOWE o SEATTLE, WASH.
"Versatile" best describes Rameeka Lowe (Seattle, Wash.), ASU's starter at the two position. Lowe has notched ASU's single-game highs this season in assists (10 vs. UC Santa Barbara) and steals (8, twice, vs. Long Island and Jan. 22 vs. Oregon State) and she paced the squad in rebounding vs. Auburn (7), at Oregon State (6), at Washington (10) and at Arizona (6). Lowe recorded her first double-double vs. UCSB, finishing with 10 points and a career-high 10 assists. Six of her points came from beyond the arc, as she went 2-for-2 from three-point range. Lowe is shooting 74.5 percent from the line and averages 3.7 rebounds to go along with 6.4 points and 4.2 assists (fourth in the Pac-10).
JR o G o RECHELLE LANG o TEKUITI, NEW ZEALAND
ASU has been without the services of starting point guard Rechelle Lang (left knee) for seven games, dating back to Jan. 29. Before her knee injury, Lang had stepped up as the team's quiet leader. The 5-foot-9 TeKuiti, New Zealand native dished out at least six assists five times this year, with a career-high nine vs. Long Island. Lang contributed eight assists vs. Dayton and Washington, seven vs. Oklahoma and six vs. WSU. On the year, she has two double figure scoring games: 11 points vs. UC Santa Barbara; 10 points vs. Auburn. Lang underwent orthoscopic surgery on Feb. 12.
ASU SIGNS 3 FOR 1998-99
A pair of 6-foot-2 forwards in Leah Combs (Yorba Linda, Calif./Esperanza HS) and Theresa Jantzen (Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada/Medicine Hat HS) and a 5-foot-7 shooting guard in Arbatisha "Kitch" Kitchen (Newark, N.J./San Jose City College) comprise Charli Turner Thorne's 1998-99 incoming class. In addition, Turner Thorne's new players next season will include Division
I transfers Natalie Tucker (Texas A&M) and Aubrey McFadyen (Colorado State), who will have three years of eligibility beginning in 1998-99.
As a junior in 1996-97, Combs averaged 16.5 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.8 blocks for Esperanza High School in Yorba Linda, Calif. She helped Esperanza to a 22-6 record - including a 9-1 Sunset League mark - en route to being named the league MVP last season. Esperanza won the league championship in 1997.
Jantzen, from Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada, scored 27.7 points a game in 1996-97 season, shooting 66.9 percent from the field. She garnered 1997 "Miss Alberta Basketball" honors and was named MVP of the league and province last season. Jantzen grabbed 14.7 boards and recorded 5.6 steals per game, guiding the Kwahomies to a 16-1 overall record, a 15-1 league slate and the Provincial Championship. It was Medicine Hat's third trip to the provincial finals in four years.
Kitchen, a native of Newark, New Jersey (Newark Central HS), was named MVP of the Coast Conference as a freshman at San Jose (Calif.) City College in 1996-97. "Kitch" averaged 20.4 points, 9.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game as a rookie and connected on 85 treys, shooting 40.0 percent from three-point range. An all-state selection last year, she helped lead the Lady Jags to the third round of the state championship and a 26-6 record.
ON THE TUBE
The Sun Devils will appear on television at least 14 times in 1997-98, a record for the program and second in the Pac-10:
Nov. 20 UC Santa Barbara, (83-92) FOX Sports Arizona
Nov. 30 Dayton, (68-55) FOX Sports Arizona
Dec. 21 #23 Auburn, (52-56) FOX Sports Arizona
Dec. 29 Oklahoma, (87-76) FOX Sports Arizona
Jan. 8 #7 Washington, (77-76) COX Sports
Jan. 17 #9 Arizona, (60-70) FOX Sports Net
Jan. 22 at Oregon State, (85-79) FOX Sports Northwest
Jan. 24 at Oregon, (61-100) FOX Sports Net
Jan. 29 Stanford, (51-84) COX Sports
Jan. 31 California, (75-54) FOX Sports Arizona
Feb. 7 at #21 Washington, (39-62) FOX Sports Northwest
Feb. 14 at #8 Arizona, (57-92) FOX Sports Arizona
Feb. 28 at California, 2 p.m. FOX Sports Bay Area
Mar. 7 USC, 7 p.m. FOX Sports Arizona
WHAT THEY'VE BEEN SAYING...
"This is the best ASU team we've played against. ... I was surprised how intense the game was from the get-go. They came out really pressing our guards and forced us into doing things we don't normally do." - Arizona forward Adia Barnes, Jan. 17, 1998.
"This game we'll take with us for the rest of the season. We faced adversity from every angle... I was very impressed with Arizona State's pressure on the ball." - Auburn Coach Joe Ciampi, Dec. 21, 1997
MAXIMUM EXPOSURE
A full radio contract, which includes coverage of each of the Sun Devils' 28 regular-season contests, is part of the ASU women's basketball package for the first time ever this season. Twenty-four games will be carried on KMVP (860 AM), and the remaining four will air on KTAR (620 AM). All but four of the games will be broadcast live.
HEAD COACH CHARLI TURNER THORNE
Turner Thorne (Stanford '88), who is in her second year as the Sun Devil mentor, arrived at ASU after a three-year stint as head coach at Northern Arizona University. Turner Thorne's ASU record is 19-32(.373/2 years) and her career record stands at 59-72 (.450/5 years). She guided ASU to one of its biggest upsets, beating No. 7 Washington on Jan. 8, 1998, and led ASU to its most wins (9) since the 1992-93 season last year. At NAU, she took the Lumberjacks to consecutive winning seasons in 1994-95 and 1995-96, the first coach in NAU history to accomplish that feat. Turner Thorne was 40-40 overall in her three years in Flagstaff. She previously worked as an assistant at Santa Clara and Washington. Turner Thorne, who signed a four-year contract with ASU in 1996, is assisted by Mark Lewis (Southern Mississippi '82), Laura Hughes (Santa Clara '92) and Erika Hardwick (Washington '93).
1997-98 SEASON & CAREER HIGHS
#3 RECHELLE LANG
Career Highs
Points: 11 vs. UCSB, 11-20-97
3-Pointers: 2 (twice), last vs. UCLA, 1-4-98
Rebounds: 7 vs. NMSU, 12-6-97
Assists: 9 vs. Long Island, 12-20-97
Steals: 4 vs. Long Island, 12-20-97
Blocks: 2 vs. Dayton, 11-30-97
#4 LEAF NEWMAN
Career Highs
Points: 18 vs. Dayton, 11-30-97
3-Pointers: 2 (four times), last vs. Washington St., 1-10-98
Rebounds: 7 (twice), last vs. Washington St., 1-10-98
Assists: 2 (twice), last vs. Cal, 1-31-98
Steals: 4 vs. Dayton, 11-30-97
Blocks: 2 vs. Long Island, 12-20-97
#10 EBONY EDWARDS
Career Highs
Points: 18 vs. UCSB, 11-20-97
3-Pointers:2 vs. UCSB, 11-20-97
Rebounds: 6 vs. UCSB, 11-20-97
Assists: 2 (twice), last vs. Marquette, 11-29-97
Steals: 3 vs. Long Island, 12-20-97
Blocks: none
#14 KRISTINE SAND
Season Highs
Points: 13 (twice), last vs. Washington State, 2-5-98
3-Pointers: 3 vs. Cal, 1-31-98
Rebounds: 7 (twice), last vs. Washington State, 2-5-98
Assists: 3 vs. UCSB, 11-20- 97
Steals: 3 vs. Marquette, 11-29-97
Blocks: 1 (twice), last vs. Washington, 2-7-98
Career Highs
Points: 17 at Washington State, 3-1-97
3-Pointers: 3 vs. Cal, 1-31-98
Rebounds: 7 (twice), last vs. Washington State, 2-5-98
Assists: 3 vs. UCSB, 11-20- 97
Steals: 3 vs. Marquette, 11-29-97
Blocks: 2 vs. Oregon State, 2-20-97
#20 KISHA WHITE
Career Highs
Points: 24 vs. Oregon, 2-19-98
Rebounds: 9 vs. Oregon, 1-24-98
Assists: 3 (three times), last vs. Oregon State, 1-22-98
Steals: 3 (twice), last vs. Arizona, 1-17-98
Blocks: 2 vs. Washington, 1-8-98
#21 RAMEEKA LOWE
Season Highs
Points: 15 vs. NMSU, 12-6-97
3-Pointers: 2 vs. UCSB, 11-20-97
Rebounds: 10 vs. Washington, 2-7-98
Assists: 10 vs. UCSB, 11-20-97
Steals: 8 (twice), last vs. Oregon State, 1-22-98
Blocks: 1 (four times), last vs. Arizona, 1-17-98
Career Highs
Points: 12 at USC, 2-24-97
3-Pointers: 2 vs. UCSB, 11-20-97
Rebounds: 10 vs. Washington, 2-7-98
Assists: 10 vs. UCSB, 11-20-97
Steals: 8 (twice), last vs. Oregon State, 1-22-98
Blocks: 3 vs. Arizona, 2-8-97
#30 SPRING STEED
Season Highs
Points: 5 (twice), last vs. Arizona, 2-14-98
3-Pointers: 1 (three times), last vs. Arizona, 2-14-98
Rebounds: 3 vs. Cal, 1-31-98
Assists: 3 vs. Long Island, 12-20-97
Steals: 2 vs. Long Island, 12-20-97
Blocks: none
Career Highs
Points: 14 vs. Puerto Rico-Mayaguez, 11-30-96
3-Pointers: 1 (twice), last vs. Washington State, 2-5-98
Rebounds: 5 vs. Puerto Rico-Mayaguez, 11-30-96
Assists: 3 vs. Long Island, 12-20-97
Steals: 2 (twice), last vs. Long Island, 12-20-97
Blocks: none
#32 MICHELLE TOM
Career Highs
Points: 19 vs. Washington, 1-8-98
3-Pointers: 3 vs. Washington, 1-8-98
Rebounds: 6 vs. Washington, 1-8-98
Assists: 7 vs. Washington State, 2-5-98
Steals: 4 vs. Washington, 1-8-98
Blocks: 1 vs. Cal, 1-31-98
#40 JENNIFER BENNETT
Career Highs
Points: 4 vs. Marquette, 11-29-97
3-Pointers: none
Rebounds: 7 vs. NMSU, 12-6-97
Assists: none
Steals: 2 (three times), last vs. New Mexico, 12-10-97
Blocks: 2 vs. UCSB, 11-20-97
#50 KELLIE MCDANAL
Career Highs
Points: 8 vs. Long Island, 12-20-97
3-Pointers: none
Rebounds: 5 vs. Washington St., 1-10-98
Assists: 1 vs. Arizona, 2-14-98
Steals: 1 vs. Long Island, 12-20-97
Blocks: 1 (three times), last vs. Oregon State, 2-21-98
#54 RACHEL HOLT
Season Highs
Points: 24 vs. Long Island, 12-20-97
3-Pointers: none
Rebounds: 11 vs. Long Island, 12-20-97
Assists: 1 (four times), last vs. Arizona, 2-14-98
Steals: 4 vs. Arizona, 2-14-98
Blocks: 3 vs. Marquette, 11-29-97
Career Highs
Points: 24 vs. Long Island, 12-20-97
3-Pointers: none
Rebounds: 7 vs. New Mexico, 12-10-97
Assists: 1 (seven times), last vs. Arizona, 2-14-98
Steals: 4 vs. Arizona, 2-14-98
Blocks: 3 vs. Marquette, 11-29-97
#55 STEPHANIE FREEMAN
Season Highs
Points: 25 vs. Washington St., 1-10-98
3-Pointers: 3 (tfour times), last vs. Oergon, 2-19-98
Rebounds: 9 vs. Washington, 2-7-98
Assists: 8 vs. Long Island, 12-20-97
Steals:7 vs. Oregon State, 2-21-98
Blocks: none
Career Highs
Points: 25 vs. Washington St., 1-10-98
3-Pointers: 3 (five times), last vs. Oregon, 2-19-98
Rebounds: 11 (twice), last vs. Oregon State, 1-26-95
Assists: 8 vs. Long Island, 12-20-97
Steals: 7 (twice), last vs. Oregon State, 2-21-98
Blocks: 2 vs. California, 3-6-97