 open the Pac-10 season against the L.A. schools. |
Sun Devils Hosts USC, UCLA
Women's basketball opens Pac-10 play.
December 31, 1998
ASU Sun Devils (6-3, 0-0) vs. USC Trojans (4-5, 0-0)
Wells Fargo Arena - Tempe, Ariz.
Saturday, Jan. 2 - 2 p.m. MT
FOX Sports Net - KMVP 860 AM
ASU vs. # 9 UCLA Bruins
Tuesday, Jan. 5 - 7 p.m. MT
COX Sports - KMVP 860 AM
Sun Devils Open Pac-10 Slate With Southern California Schools
Arizona State opens its Pac-10 slate at home for the first time since 1995-96 when USC visits Wells Fargo Arena on Saturday and No. 9 UCLA comes to Tempe on Monday. The Sun Devils have won four of their last five games, including the 83-46 victory over San Jose State Wendesday night which wrapped up the preseason schedule. The Spartans' 46 points tied the season low for an ASU opponent , and the win got ASU off to its best start through nine games since 1994-95, when it also started out 6-3. The Sun Devils last posted a better mark in 1992-93, when they started 7-2 and went on to win 17 games.
Media Exposure
FOX Sports Net will televise the USC game to a national audience with Paul Sunderland (play-by-play) and Ann Meyers (color) on the call. KMVP 860 AM will broadcast both games live with Kevin Ray (play-by-play) and Jenni Ruff (color) calling the action.
Probable Starters ASU Sun Devils (6-3) P Ht. Yr. PPG RPG #4 Leaf Newman F 5-9 So. 10.1 3.6 #14 Kristine Sand F 6-0 Jr. 8.8 4.6 #54 Rachel Holt C 6-3 Jr. 11.7 5.4 #15 Kitch Kitchen G 5-7 Jr. 8.4 4.1 #33 Natalie Tucker G 5-9 So. 9.0 5.22* USC Trojans (4-5) P Ht. Yr. PPG RPG #40 Tiffany Washington F 6-2 Jr. 8.2 8.0 #22 Tashara Carter F 6-0 So. 7.2 5.2 #30 Adrain Williams C 6-4 Sr. 15.3 10.1 #3 Tiffany Elmore G 5-10 Fr. 14.0 3.8 #32 Kristin Clark G 5-7 Sr. 16.9 3.33*UCLA Bruins (8-4) P Ht. Yr. PPG RPG #5 Marie Philman F 6-0 Jr. 11.0 5.0 #13 Maylana Martin F 6-3 Jr. 18.1 10.7 #34 Janae Hubbard C 6-4 Jr. 14.5 8.3 #10 Erica Gomez G 5-9 Sr. 7.5 8.1* #45 LaCresha Flannigan G 5-7 So. 9.9 3.2
* - assists average ** - steals average
Injury Woes Strike Again
ASU was dealt more bad news in the injuries department this week when it was learned that starting forward Leah Combs is out indefinitely with stress fractures in both legs. On Monday, freshman forward Theresa Jantzen, who had been practicing with the team since Dec. 20 and was expected back in the lineup for the San Jose State game, began experiencing pain in her left foot. Jantzen has been out with a fractured left foot since Nov. 5. Jantzen, who was also a starter when she went down, is doubtful for the USC and UCLA games.
ASU in Pac-10 Openers
The Sun Devils are 1-11 in Pac-10 openers, with their lone victory over WSU (82-73) to start the 1990-91 conference schedule. ASU opened the conference slate with USC in Los Angeles last season, falling to the Trojans 68-55.
The Series
USC owns a 36-3 edge in the series versus ASU; the Trojans last lost to the Sun Devils in 1992-93 (64-55 in Los Angeles, March 11, 1993). USC has won 10 in a row over Arizona State. The Bruins are 31-9 all-time against ASU, however, two of the last five meetings have been decided by one point - both Sun Devil victories (71-70, Feb. 17, 1996 and 66-65, Jan. 16, 1997). UCLA has won the last three consecutive meetings.
Last Time Out
Four Arizona State players scored in double figures to lead the Sun Devils to an 83-46 win over San Jose State Wednesday night at Wells Fargo Arena. Junior forward Kristine Sand, earning her first start of the season in place of the injured Leah Combs, led all scorers with 15 points and grabbed six offensive rebounds. Sophomore Leaf Newman added 12 points, all in the first half, while teammates Rachel Holt and Rechelle Lang each recorded 11 points. Lang drained a career-high three three-pointers and Holt posted a game-high three blocked shots. ASU started the scoring and was down by two points at the 17:36-mark of the first half, but regained the lead and never gave it up. The Sun Devils took advantage of a 9-0 run to head into the break with a 47-22 edge. ASU did not lead by less than 27 in the second half. Dafina Dailey and Lois Harris led the Spartans with 11 points each, and Dailey also brought down 10 rebounds.
Connections to Southern California
ASU Head Coach Charli Turner Thorne (Mission Hills, Calif./Bishop Alemany HS), Assistant Coach Laura Hughes (San Diego/Orange Glen HS) and two Sun Devils hail from southern California - sophomore guard Leaf Newman (Perris, Calif./Perris HS) and freshman forward Leah Combs (Yorba Linda, Calif./Esperanza HS). In fact, Newman and UCLA junior Maylana Martin were high school teammates. In 1995-96, the duo helped lead Perris HS to a 24-3 record and the CIF Southern Section Division II semifinals.
About USC
The injury-plagued Trojans are paced by senior point guard Kristin Clark's 16.9 points per game. Senior center Adrain Williams' is contributing 15.3 points and a team-high 10.1 rebounds, while freshman guard Tiffany Elmore (14.0 ppg) is also averaging double figures in scoring. Coming off back-to-back losses to Western Kentucky and UC Santa Barbara, USC began the season with three straight wins (over Boise State, Fresno State and Drake) and picked up its fourth versus Cal State Northridge Dec. 12. USC Head Coach Chris Gobrecht is 16-20 at USC (second year) and 348-223 in her 19-year career.
Friendly Rivalry
ASU Head Coach Charli Turner Thorne was a graduate assistant coach under USC Head Coach Chris Gobrecht at the University of Washington for two seasons, from 1988 to 1990. During Turner Thorne's stint at UW, the Huskies advanced to the NCAA Tournament both seasons, reaching the Elite Eight in 1989-90.
About UCLA
The Bruins, ranked ninth in latest AP poll and 11th in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches' Poll, will face Arizona on Jan. 2 before venturing to Tempe. UCLA defeated Pepperdine 85-51 Dec. 30 at Pauley Pavilion. The Bruins had won seven on a row before meeting up with second-ranked Tennessee (77-10 loss) on Dec. 21 and falling to No. 17 Duke (80-85) Dec. 28. Junior Maylana Martin leads UCLA with 18.1 points and 10.7 boards per contest, while two other Bruins - Janae Hubbard and Marie Philman - average double-digits in scoring. Hubbard adds 14.5 points and 8.3 boards to Philman's 11.0 points and 5.0 rebounds.
Tuter Returns to Alma Mater
ASU's third-leading all-time scorer (1,374 pts.) Molly Tuter makes her return to Wells Fargo Arena Tuesday night as an assistant coach for UCLA. The former member of the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury is in her first year as a member of a collegiate coaching staff. Tuter ranks third on the ASU career steals chart (221), second in three-point field goals made (116), and is tied for fifth in blocked shots (59).
Three In A Row
The win at UC Irvine marked ASU's first string of three consecutive wins in more than two years. The last time ASU did so was in 1996-97, when the Sun Devils defeated the University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez (88-58) and Syracuse (72-67) in the San Juan Shootout and returned home to beat American University (90-82) in late November-early December 1996.
Pressure's On
Arizona State is forcing its opponents to commit an average of 24.9 turnovers per contest, with a season-high 32 forced against Texas Dec. 2. Sam Houston State turned the ball over 29 times and St. Joseph's committed 28 miscues. The Sun Devils committed a season-low 16 turnovers Dec. 18 at UC Irvine.
On the Money
Sophomore Natalie Tucker has missed just 2 of 26 freethrows on the season, and is shooting a sizzling 92.3 percent from the charity stripe. Tucker was named to the Wells Fargo Classic All-Tournament Team on Dec. 6. As a team, the Sun Devils are second in the Pac-10 in freethrow percentage.
Above the Rim
Arizona State is averaging 40.6 rebounds per game and is 6-0 on the year when beating other teams on the glass. The Sun Devils averaged 35.3 boards in 1997-98 and last averaged more than 40.0 boards in 1994-95 (43.4 per game).
Call Them the Comeback Kids
A "Never Give Up" mentality best describes the 1998-99 edition of ASU women's basketball. Down by 20 points (69-49) with 7:28 left to play against Texas on Dec. 2, the Sun Devils clawed back to tie the game at 75-75 with 0:14 left. Texas guard Kim Lummus sank a pair of freethrows with 11.2 seconds on the clock to lift the Longhorns to a 77-75 win. Said Texas Coach Jody Conradt after the game: "That was a really hard-fought game, and both teams played as hard as they can play. Arizona State was really aggressive defensively. They played very hard and had a 'Don't Quit' attitude, and it's petrifying to play that kind of team on the road because anything can happen - and almost did."
Sand Named Pac-10 Player of the Week
Junior forward Kristine Sand was named Pac-10 Player of the Week on Dec. 7, after scoring a career-high 22 points and grabbing a career-high nine boards in the ASU's overtime championship game win against St. Joseph's in the Wells Fargo Classic. Sand scored four points in the final 46 seconds of regulation, and then tallied seven of ASU's 14 points in OT. Sand is ASU's first Pac-10 Player of the Week since Michelle Tom on Jan. 12, 1998, and ASU's second selection since the 1995-1996 season.
Beyond the Arc
Arizona State ranks second in the Pac-10 in three-point percentage, while senior Michelle Tom is also second in the league from beyond the arc, shooting at a 50.0 percent clip (13-26). The Sun Devils connected on half of their treys at UC Irvine (6-of-12) Dec. 18, however, ASU has been either hot or cold from long range this season...
Jeckell & Hyde
Hot or cold best describes ASU's perimeter shooting this season. Arizona State made just 2 of 14 attempts (.143) at UC Santa Barbara Dec. 21. The Sun Devils shot 47 percent (7-of-15) from long range vs. Gonzaga on Dec. 5, but were 3-of-11 the next day against St. Joseph's. ASU displayed brilliant perimeter shooting in three of four halves at the Rutgers Coca-Cola Classic Nov. 28-29, draining a school record-tying nine three-pointers (9-of-17; 53 percent) against Southwestern Louisiana. ASU was red hot from beyond the arc in the first half vs. Rutgers, shooting 62.5 percent (5-of-8), but went 1-for-13 the rest of the way. In its season opener against Sam Houston State, ASU did not make at least one 3-pointer (0-7) for the first time since Dec. 5, 1996. In its two exhibition games, ASU shot a combined 26.5 percent from 3-point range (9-of-34).
Combs Offers Instant Impact
Freshman Leah Combs stepped into the starting lineup when her roommate, Theresa Jantzen, suffered a fractured foot after the Nov. 4 exhibition game. Combs has been phenomenal on the boards and was among the top-five in Pac-10 double-double leaders when she went out with stress fractures Dec. 30. She posted her fourth double-double of the year at UCSB Dec. 21 (15 pts./11 reb.). Combs totaled double figures in rebounding five times in eight games, and she scored a season-high 17 points in her homecoming at UC Irvine. She recorded her third double-double against Texas (10 pts./11 reb.) Dec. 2. Combs posted 10 points and 10 rebounds Nov. 28 vs. Southwestern Louisiana, and grabbed 15 of ASU's 55 rebounds and scored 12 points in the 68-46 win over Sam Houston State Nov. 21. Playing like anything but a rookie, Combs became the first ASU player to record more than 12 rebounds since Christine Garner posted 13 on Dec. 28, 1996. In ASU's second exhibition game Nov. 14, she scored 18 points and recorded 17 rebounds. Combs shot 80.0 percent from the field (8-of-10) at UC Irvine, tying for the second-best individual performance by a Pac-10 player this season.
Holt: ASU's Mark of Consistency
Junior Rachel Holt has been Arizona State's mark of consistency in the low post since last season. The 6-foot-3 center was named to the Rutgers Coca-Cola Classic All-Tournament team after averaging 11.5 points and 5.5 rebounds in ASU's two games. Twelve of Holt's 16 points vs. No. 11 Rutgers came from the charity stripe, and her 12 freethrows are the most by a Pac-10 player this year. Holt opened with 15 points, seven boards and a career-high four blocked shots against Sam Houston State Nov. 21. In her 15 minutes during the second half, she scored 12 points, blocked three shots and grabbed two boards. Against Gonzaga, she posted 14 points and grabbed five boards. Holt added 16 points and a game-high eight rebounds at UC Irvine, then scored a season-high 18 points at UC Santa Barbara Dec. 21. Her 8-of-9 shooting performance (88.9 percent) at UCSB is a Pac-10 individual high this season. Holt recorded a game-high three blocked shots versus San Jose State.
Lang Stages Comeback
Battling inflammatory arthritis in her left knee since January 1998, senior point guard Rechelle "Georgie" Lang saw her first minutes of the season in ASU's 71-48 win over Southwestern Louisiana Nov. 28. Although she played just five minutes, seeing #3's jersey on the hardwood marked a personal victory for Lang, who was forced to relinquish her role as ASU's starting point guard last season due to the condition. Lang gave ASU four quality minutes Dec. 2 vs. Texas, as she hit a three-pointer during the Sun Devils' second-half comeback. She scored a season-high seven points (including a three-pointer) and recorded a steal and a rebound against Gonzaga. Lang sparked ASU with a career-high tying 11 points on 4-of-6 shooting (including a career-high 3 three-pointers) Dec. 30 vs. San Jose State. She remains day-to-day with the arthritic knee.
Edwards Returns to the Lineup
Coming off an ACL injury suffered in December 1997, sophomore guard Ebony Edwards (Chandler, Ariz.) played in her first game of the season Dec. 5 against Gonzaga, in the opening game of the Wells Fargo Classic. Ironically, it was in ASU's first game of the 1997 tournament that Edwards injured her right knee. Over the past year, Edwards has undergone four surgeries on the knee, concluding with a final scope on Nov. 11, 1998. Edwards is a two-time Arizona High School Player of the Year (1997, 1996).
Injury Update
Freshman forward Leah Combs is out for the Jan. 2 USC game with what appear to be stress fractures in both shins. Combs will undergo an MRI on Thursday, and her condition is day-to-day. Theresa Jantzen, who has not seen action in the regular season, is doubtful for the Jan. 2 USC and Jan. 5 UCLA games. Jantzen has been rehabilitating a fractured left foot, which was discovered after ASU's Nov. 4 exhibition game, and is week-to-week. Jantzen will likely suit up for the USC game.
Expecting A Successful Season And...
ASU head coach Charli Turner Thorne (Stanford '88) is planning for a lot more than just a highly successful basketball season this year. The third-year head coach and her husband are expecting their first child, a son, on Feb. 6. Turner Thorne's due date also happens to be the date of ASU's home game against Washington.
Did You Know?
Just two Arizona State players - junior center Rachel Holt and junior forward Kristine Sand - have played at least two years of Division I basketball.
Moving Forward
Since Charli Turner Thorne took over the reigns of the program in 1996-97, the Sun Devils have began a climb back toward the prominence enjoyed by ASU teams in the early 1990s. After an NCAA Tournament appearance in 1991-1992 and a 17-win season in 1992-93, ASU had averaged just 2.7 conference wins and 6.7 overall wins in the three seasons before Turner Thorne was brought in.
Year Overall Conf. Coach 1997-98 10-17 6-12/T7th 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 1991-92 20-9 11-7/5th Maura McHugh
Tempe Turnaround
After 64 games at the helm of the ASU women's basketball program, Head Coach Charli Turner Thorne has the Sun Devils heading back in the winning direction. After enjoying an NCAA Tournament berth in 1991-92, ASU had not recorded more than eight wins in a season for three straight years (1993-94 to 1995-96) before Turner Thorne arrived in Tempe in June 1996. A lot has been changing since then. Last season Turner Thorne 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 sweeps of Pac-10 teams 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).
Exhibition #1 - Nov. 14
ASU 83, Slovan Bratislava 73
Five Sun Devils reached double figures in scoring Nov. 4, including Theresa Jantzen with 13 points and seven rebounds in just 15 minutes of play. ASU forced 30 turnovers and recorded 13 steals. Rachel Holt led the way for the Devils with 15 points and five rebounds, while Kristine Sand added 14 points and four boards. Natalie Tucker added seven assists and five rebounds.
Exhibition #2 - Nov. 4
ASU 97, Riverland Raiders 43
Six players scored in double figures Nov. 14, paced by Leah Combs' team-high 18 points (on 7-of-10 shooting) and 17 rebounds. Kristine Sand contributed 16 points and five rebounds. Leaf Newman added 12 points and posted seven rebounds. Rachel Holt, Aubrey McFadyen and Michelle Tom each scored 10 points. ASU forced 31 turnovers and outrebounded the Australians 59-28. The Devils shot 43.6 percent from the field (17-of-39).
Game 1 - Nov. 21
ASU 68, Sam Houston State 46
Freshman forward Leah Combs notched a double-double (12 points/15 rebounds) to lead Arizona State to a 68-46 win over Sam Houston State in its regular season opener at Wells Fargo Arena. The Sun Devils stormed out to a 15-2 lead, but found Sam Houston State within five points (43-38) with 9:15 left in the game. ASU made good on 11 of 12 freethrows and outscored the LadyKats 15-2 in the final 5:45 to put the game out of reach for good. Junior point-guard Natalie Tucker contributed a career high 16 points and six rebounds to go along with her career-high tying seven assists. Tucker was a perfect 8-for-8 from the free-throw line. Junior Rachel Holt added 15 points, seven rebounds and a career-high four blocked shots. The LadyKats were led by Andee Sheiron who tallied 15 points and grabbed two boards. Nine of Sheiron's points came on three pointers. ASU recorded 55 rebounds, its most since Dec. 5, 1996, when it notched 58 boards vs. American University. The Sun Devils were 0-for-7 from three-point range and committed 34 turnovers.
Game 2 - Nov. 28
ASU 71, Southwestern Louisiana 48
PISCATAWAY, N.J.-- Three players reached double figures in scoring, paced by sophomore guard Leaf Newman's 16 points, to help lead ASU past Southwestern Louisiana, 71-48, at the Rutgers Coca-Cola Classic. The Ragin' Cajuns narrowed the Sun Devil lead to 11 points with 8:24 to go, but Arizona State countered with a 15-2 run that included back-to-back three-pointers by New Jersey native Kitch Kitchen and a trey from Newman, who finished with a career-high three three-pointers and four assists. Southwestern Louisiana never threatened after that, and Arizona State owned a 39-21 lead at halftime. The Sun Devils jumped ahead 6-0, holding the Ragin' Cajuns scoreless until the 15:10 mark. USL closed the gap to five points once (13-8), but the Sun Devils outscored USL 26-13 the rest of the way. Freshman forward Leah Combs finished with her second consecutive double-double (10 points/10 rebounds). Sophomore Natalie Tucker dished out a game-high five assists and added nine points and a career-high seven rebounds. ASU owned the edge on the glass, 46-35, and drained a school record-tying nine three-pointers (9-of-17) to shoot 52.9 percent from the perimeter. USL was paced by Elizabeth Mosby's 15 points and nine rebounds.
Game 3 - Nov. 29
ASU 48, #11 Rutgers 67
PISCATAWAY, N.J.-- ASU took second place at the Rutgers Coca-Cola Classic, falling to No. 11 Rutgers 67-48 in the Championship Game. A three-pointer by Kristine Sand knotted the score at 10 early on, and Arizona State made five of seven three-point field goals in the first 12 minutes to keep pace with the Scarlet Knights, 29-21. But point guard Natalie Tucker picked up her second personal foul less than four minutes into the game and was forced to sit for most of the first half. A pair of freethrows by freshman Leah Combs brought the Sun Devils to within four points with under seven minutes to go in the first half, however, the Scarlet Knights settled down to take a 40-30 advantage into the locker room. In the second half, Rutgers held the Sun Devils scoreless for 9:10, as ASU managed just 18 points off four field goals and nine freethrows. The Sun Devils struggled on the perimeter to the tune of 7.7 percent shooting (1-13) in the second stanza. Rachel Holt scored 12 of her 16 points from the charity stripe and added six rebounds to pace ASU. Shawnetta Stewart led the Scarlet Knights with 15 points, eight rebounds and six assists, while Linda Miles and Davalyn Cunningham each chipped in 13 points. Rutgers controlled the boards, outrebounding the Sun Devils 42-27, including 28 defensive rebounds. The Scarlet Knights shot 49.1 percent from the field (28-of-57) to ASU's 27.1 percent (13-of-48).
Game 4 - Dec. 2
Texas 77, ASU 75
Texas guard Kim Lummus sank both ends of a two-shot foul with 11.2 seconds left to lift the Longhorns to a 77-75 win over Arizona State Dec. 2 at Wells Fargo Arena. The Sun Devils scored the first points of the game, but Texas took the lead after two minutes and would never relinquish it. The Longhorns owned a 44-28 advantage at halftime, largely on the strength of 65.6 percent shooting (21-of-32) in the first period. UT stormed ahead to take a 69-49 lead with 7:28 remaining, but Arizona State used a 26-6 run to tie the score at 75 with 14 seconds left. Kitch Kitchen added 10 points (including two three-pointers) in the run, Natalie Tucker scored six points and Michelle Tom added a three-pointer. Lummus was fouled by Tom at the :012-mark and made both freethrows, giving the Horns the two-point winning margin. A jump shot by Tucker fell short as the buzzer sounded. Kitchen scored a game-high 16 points, adding season-highs of six rebounds, six assists and three steals. Tucker posted 14 points and recorded four steals, while Kristine Sand added a season-high 10 points. Leah Combs notched her third double-double with 11 points and a game-high 11 rebounds. Edwina Brown paced Texas with 14 points, while Rashunda Johnson added 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Game 5 - Dec. 5
ASU 96, Gonzaga 52
The Sun Devils opened their home tournament by scoring a season-high 96 points to route Gonzaga 96-52 at the Wells Fargo Classic. Sophomore point guard Natalie Tucker scored a game- and career-high 17 points on 5-of-6 shooting, including three 3-pointers, all of which came in the first half. Senior Michelle Tom (Winslow, Ariz.) chipped in 11 points and a career-high nine assists, narrowly missing a double-double. ASU led 20-8 early on, but the Zags pulled to within five (21-16) at the 9:07-mark. The Sun Devils manufactured a 19-3 run to go up 40-19 with 3:49 left in the first half, and never looked back. ASU held a convincing 52-27 lead at the intermission, and owned a 27-13 edge on the glass. Arizona State led by as many as 49 points in the second period and outscored the Zags 44-25 in the second stanza, shooting at a 55.2 percent clip (16-for-29). On the night, ASU shot 53.2 percent, its best outing since shooting 62.5 percent at Washington State, Feb. 5, 1998. Junior center Rachel Holt (Buckeye, Ariz.) contributed 14 points and five rebounds, while junior guard Kitch Kitchen (Newark, N.J.) recorded 13 points and a career-high seven assists. ASU sophomore Ebony Edwards (Chandler, Ariz.) saw her first action since an ACL injury in the 1997 ASU Wells Fargo Classic. Edwards finished with four points and one rebound in six minutes of play. Tenille Jeffries chipped in a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds, while Jessica Malone added 10 points to lead Gonzaga.
Game 6 - Dec. 6
ASU 66, St. Joseph's 58 (OT)
Arizona State claimed the championship trophy in its home tournament with a 66-58 overtime win over St. Joseph's at the Wells Fargo Classic. Junior forward Kristine Sand scored a game- and career-high 22 points on 9-of-13 shooting, including two 3-pointers. Sand also grabbed a game- and career-high nine rebounds and was named the tournament MVP, scoring four points in the final 46 seconds and posting seven of ASU's 14 points in overtime. Sophomore Leaf Newman also contributed with 10 points and four boards. The Hawks, who have four starters back from a squad that went to the second round of the WNIT and won 19 games last season, controlled the first half leading ASU 17-10 at the 11:51-mark and shooting at a 51.7 percent clip (15-29). The Devils pulled within three (20-23) on a jumper by Newman with 4:52 remaining in the half but the Hawks went on a 10-2 run to lead 33-22 at intermission. Arizona State was down by as many as 11 points in the second half but went on an 8-0 run with 2:05 left in the game and took a two-point lead on a Sand layup. St. Joseph's forward Susan Moran made a jumper with nine seconds remaining to send the game into overtime. Arizona State outscored the Hawks 14-6 in overtime, shooting 41.7 percent on the night. Three St. Joseph's players scored in double figures. Susan Moran chipped in with 14 points while Angela Zampella recorded 10. Cheryl Kulsea led the Hawks with 17 points.
Game 7 - Dec. 18
ASU 71, UC Irvine 53
IRVINE, Calif.--Led by a career-high 20 points from sophomore Leaf Newman, Arizona State rolled past UC Irvine 71-53, winning its third straight game for the first time since 1996-97. After holding a 32-32 lead at the intermission, the Sun Devils opened the second period with a 12-3 run to up their lead to 20 points. The Anteaters never came closer than 13 points the rest of the way. A three-pointer by Michelle Tom at the 9:23-mark helped the Sun Devils regain their 20-point lead. ASU shut down UCI point guard Megan Stafford, who came into Friday night's game averaging 19.3 points, holding her to just five points on the night. ASU took an early 8-0 lead, and then put together a 20-8 run to pull ahead 28-8 with 7:20 left in the first half. Newman and Kitch Kitchen each drained a three-point field goal in the run. However, the Anteaters answered with an 11-4 run the rest of the way and were down by 11 at the break. A native of nearby Yorba Linda, Calif., freshman Leah Combs scored six of ASU's first eight points on the night. The Sun Devils limited UCI to just 16 attempts in the first half (8-of-16). Newman, from nearby Perris, Calif., notched her career-high scoring night in front of more than 20 family and friends. In addition to Newman, Combs reached double figures with a season-high 17 points and seven rebounds and Rachel Holt contributed 16 points and a game-high eight rebounds. ASU was 6-of-12 from three-point range (50.0 percent) on the night and shot 46.6 percent from the field (27-of-58). The Devils owned a narrow 33-30 edge on the glass, but forced UCI to commit 23 turnovers and give up a season-high 71 points.
Game 8 - Dec. 21
UC Santa Barbara 78, ASU 61
SANTA BARBARA, Calif.--Led by 20 points from Kristi Rohr and 19 points from point guard Stacy Clinesmith, UC Santa Barbara handed Arizona State its first loss in four games with a 78-61 victory over the Sun Devils at the Thunderdome. UCSB took a 35-29 halftime lead into the locker room and opened with a 12-7 run to take an 11-point lead with 14:37 left in the game. Clinesmith sank a three-pointer to put the Gauchos up 50-37. The Sun Devils closed the gap to 10 points (56-46) on a layup by junior Kristine Sand with 9:20 left. However, UCSB kept chipping away and took its biggest lead, 17 points, at the 2:43-mark. The 17-point cushion proved to be the winning margin. In the first half following a 6-6 tie, the Gauchos scored nine unanswered points with four from Nicole Greathouse and a three-pointer by Erin Buescher. But ASU freshman Leah Combs made back-to-back baskets and drained 6 of 8 freethrows on three straight trips to the line to keep the Devils within reach at 23-18. Sand capped an 11-5 ASU run with a pair of freethrows, which brought the Sun Devils to within two (28-26) with 1:52 to play in the first half. Rohr notched 14 of her game-high 20 points in the second half to pace the Gauchos, while Greathouse led all rebounders with 15 boards. For Arizona State, junior Rachel Holt scored 18 points on 8-of-9 shooting, while Combs notched her fourth double-double of the year with 15 points and a team-high 11 rebounds. The Sun Devils were just 2-of-14 (.143) from three-point range and were outrebounded 51-41.
ASU Quick Facts
Location (Enroll.): Tempe, Ariz. (44,255)
Home Court (Cap.): Wells Fargo Arena (14,198)
Conference: Pacific-10
Head Coach: Charli Turner Thorne
ASU Record (3rd yr.): 25-39 (.391)
Career Record (6th yr.): 65-79 (.451)
Assistant Coaches: Mark Lewis (3rd yr.), Laura Hughes (3rd yr.),Erika Hardwick (2nd yr.)
Official Website: www.TheSunDevils.com
ASU's Record When...
At Home 4-1 On the Road 1-2 At a Neutral Site 1-0Scoring First 4-2 Leading At Halftime 5-0 Trailing at Halftime 1-3 Tied at Halftime 0-0 Leading with 5:00 Left 5-0 Trailing with 5:00 Left 1-3 Tied with 5:00 Left 0-0
In Overtime 1-0 In Double-Overtime 0-0
Scoring Less Than 70 Points 2-2 Scoring Between 70-79 Points 2-1 Scoring Between 80-89 Points 1-0 Scoring 90 or More Points 1-0
5 Players Score in Double Figures 0-0 4 Players Score in Double Figures 2-1 3 Players Score in Double Figures 3-0 2 or Less Players Score in Double Figures 1-2
ASU Shoots 50% or Better From Field 1-0 ASU Shoots Less Than 50% From Field 5-3 ASU Outrebounds or Ties Opponent 6-0 Opponent Outrebounds ASU 0-3 ASU Commits More Turnovers 1-2 Opponent Commits More Turnovers 5-1 ASU Records More Assists 5-1 Opponents Records More Assists 0-1
Game is Decided By 5 Points or Less 0-1 Game is Decided By 6-10 Points 1-0 Game is Decided By 11-15 Points 0-0 Game is Decided by 16-20 Points 1-2 Game is Decided By 21 Points or More 4-0
The Last Time a Sun Devil...
Scored 30 or More Points Molly Tuter (33), 1/30/97 Scored 40 or More Points Melanie Francis (41), 1/3/94 Posted 12 or More Rebounds Leah Combs (15) 11/21/98 Recorded 10 or More Assists Kalene Carl (13), 1/16/97 Made 10 or more Field Goals Kisha White (10), 2/19/98 Made 4 or more 3-pointers Stephanie Freeman (4), 2/28/98The Last Time ASU... Scored 100 or More Points vs. Long Island (118), 12/20/97 Allowed 100 or More Points vs. Oregon (100), 1/24/98 Won By 20 or More vs. SW Louisiana (23), 11/28/98 Won By 30 or More vs. San Jose State (37), 12/5/98 Won in Overtime vs. St. Joseph's, 12/6/98 Lost in Overtime vs. Oregon, 2/19/98 Beat a Ranked Team vs. Washington (#8), 1/8/98 Beat a Top-5 Team vs. Stanford (#3), 2/27/92
1998-99 Pac-10 Standings (as of 12/28) TEAM PAC-10 OVERALL Oregon State - 8-1 Oregon - 8-2 California - 5-2 UCLA - 7-3 Washington State - 6-3 Arizona State - 5-3 Arizona - 5-4 USC - 4-4 Stanford - 4-6 Washington - 3-5
ASU - Pac-10 Team Rankings (as of 12/28) Scoring Offense 8th (69.5 ppg) Scoring Defense 3rd (59.9 ppg) Scoring Margin 3rd (+9.6) Field Goal % 6th (193-474/.407) Field Goal % Def. 4th (186-459/.405) Free Throw % 2nd (130-188/.691) Rebounding Margin 5th (+2.6) 3-Point Field Goal % 2nd (40-116/.345) 3-Point Field Goals Made 4th (5.00 avg.)
ASU - Pac-10 Individual Rankings (as of 12/28) Scoring 20th - Rachel Holt (11.8 ppg) Rebounds 4th - Leah Combs (9.5 rpg) Steals T9th - Natalie Tucker (2.25 spg) Assists 5th - Natalie Tucker (4.88 avg.) T7th - Kitch Kitchen (4.00 avg.) 3-Point Field Goal % 2nd - Michelle Tom (.524) Free Throw % 1st - Natalie Tucker (22-24/.917)
Sun Devils On Television Date Opponent Time/Result Outlet Dec. 2 Texas L, 75-77 COX Sports Dec. 18 @ UC Irvine W, 71-53 COX Comm. Dec. 30 San Jose State W, 83-46 COX Sports Jan. 2 USC 2 p.m. MT FOX Sports Net Jan. 5 UCLA 7 p.m. MT COX Sports Jan. 21 Oregon St. 7 p.m. MT COX Sports Feb. 4 Washington St. 7 p.m. MT COX Sports Feb. 13 Arizona 6 p.m. MT FOX Sports AZ Feb. 19 @ Oregon 8 p.m. MT FOX Sports AZ Feb. 21 @ Oregon St. 2 p.m. MT FOX Sports Net Feb. 25 Stanford 7 p.m. MT COX Sports
Sun Devil Radio Exposure
Once again, ASU flagship station KMVP 860 AM will broadcast all Sun Devil women's basketball games (home and away), with Kevin Ray calling the action. Ray, who enters his fourth season as the radio voice of ASU women's basketball, also calls all the action for the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury.
Associated Press Top 25 (Dec. 28, 1998)
1. Connecticut (38) 14. Alabama
2. Tennessee (3) 15. Rutgers
3. Purdue 16. Virginia Tech
4. Georgia 17. Duke
5. Louisiana Tech 18. Iowa State
6. North Carolina 19. Nebraska
7. Notre Dame 20. Florida
8. Texas Tech 21. Kansas
9. UCLA 22. Virginia
10. Clemson 23. Memphis
11. Colorado State 24. Santa Clara
12. Penn State 25. George Washington
13. Old Dominion
ESPN/USA Today Top 25 (Dec. 28, 1998)
1. Connecticut (36) 14. Old Dominion
2. Tennessee (4) 15. Penn State
3. Purdue 16. Nebraska
4. Georgia 17. Iowa State
5. Louisiana Tech 18. Virginia Tech
6. North Carolina 19. Duke
7. Notre Dame 20. Florida
8. Texas Tech 21. Kansas
9. Colorado State 22. Virginia
10. Clemson 23. Memphis
11. UCLA 24. George Washington
12. Alabama 25. SW Missouri State
13. Rutgers