 Sun Devils prepare for an Oregon-filled weekend. |
Women's Hoops Preps for Visiting Oregon Squads
Beavers come calling Jan. 21, Ducks arrive Jan. 23.
January 18, 1999
Sun Devil Women Host Oregon Schools Entering the fourth week of Conference play, the Arizona State women's basketball team returns home to Wells Fargo Arena this weekend to take on Oregon State and No. 25 Oregon. The Ducks make their season debut in the AP Top 25 poll this week and are ranked for the first time since January 1995. The Sun Devils are looking for their second Pac-10 win after a disappointing 70-61 loss to rival Arizona Saturday in Tucson. ASU led by nine points early in the first half and never trailed by more than five points in the final 20 minutes, but was unable to pull out the win. Freshman forward Theresa Jantzen came in off the bench to record her first career double-double in the loss (12 pts./11 reb.). Arizona State tied a school record with nine three-pointers at UA.
ASU Sun Devils (7-7, 1-4 Pac-10) vs. Oregon State Beavers (10-5, 2-4)
Wells Fargo Arena (14,198) - Tempe, Ariz.
Thursday, Jan. 21 - 7 p.m. MT
COX Sports - KMVP 860 AM
ASU vs. #25 Oregon Ducks (14-3, 5-1)
Saturday, Jan. 23 - 7 p.m. MT
KMVP 860 AM
Media Exposure COX Sports (Channel 9) will televise the ASU-Oregon State game, with George Allen and Doug Gerlach on the call. KMVP 860 AM will broadcast both games live with Kevin Ray and Jenni Ruff calling the action.
Probable Starters
ASU Sun Devils (7-7, 1-4) Pos. Ht. Yr. PPG RPG
#14 Kristine Sand F 6-0 Jr. 11.0 3.8
#54 Rachel Holt C 6-3 Jr. 10.7 5.4
#4 Leaf Newman G 5-9 So. 9.4 4.1
#15 Kitch Kitchen G 5-7 Jr. 7.3 4.1
#33 Natalie Tucker G 5-9 So. 8.4 5.4*
Oregon State (10-5, 2-4) Pos. Ht. Yr. PPG RPG
#35 Lei Salea F 6-1 Sr. 1.6 2.1
#34 Felicia Ragland F 5-9 Fr. 6.8 4.3
#44 Ericka Brosterhous C 6-3 Fr. 7.1 3.5
#21 Chassie Wiersma G 5-11 Fr. 6.9 3.6
#25 Cherrith Wiersma G 5-9 Fr. 5.1 2.2; 3.1*
Oregon (14-3, 5-1) Pos. Ht. Yr. PPG RPG
#5 Natasha O'Brien F 5-11 Sr. 8.7 3.5
#40 Angelina Wolvert F 6-3 So. 9.5 5.4
#34 Jenny Mowe C 6-5 So. 8.6 4.9
#3 Shaquala Williams G 5-6 Fr. 7.7 3.4; 2.4*
#14 Nicole Strange G 5-10 Jr. 4.8 2.1
Injury ReportFreshman forward Leah Combs, who has been out with stress fractures in both legs since Dec. 30, is listed as questionable for the OSU and Oregon games. Sophomore forward Kellie McDanal is out with a sprained left ankle suffered on Jan. 6
ASU vs. The Oregon Schools
Arizona State is 11-15 all-time versus Oregon State and has won three straight over the Beavers. The Sun Devils swept OSU for the first time since 1991-92 last season. ASU is 8-20 vs. Oregon and has dropped seven straight and nine of its last 10 games to the Ducks. However, Oregon needed overtime to put the Sun Devils away last year in Tempe. ASU last defeated the Ducks at home in 1995.
Last Time Out...
TUCSON, Ariz. - ASU freshman Theresa Jantzen converted a three-point play to bring ASU within one (62-61) with 2:11 to play, but Arizona ended the game on an 8-0 run to win its 11th straight over the Sun Devils Jan. 16 in Tucson.
Jantzen, coming in off the bench to play a season-high 20 minutes, contributed her first career double-double with 12 points and a game-high 11 rebounds. Arizona State led by as many as nine points early on (17-9) thanks in large part to superb perimeter shooting early in the first half. Senior Michelle Tom was 3-of-3 from long range in the first 12 minutes, and ASU went 4-of-8 in the first period. A Jantzen freethrow made it 25-21 ASU at the 4:19-mark, but the Wildcats outscored ASU 8-4 to take a 29-28 advantage into the locker room.
A see-saw battle in the second half saw both teams shoot at least 50.0 percent from the field and three-point range. The Wildcats finally stretched their lead to seven (62-55) on an 8-2 run with 3:12 to go. However, a three-pointer by Leaf Newman and the three-point play by Jantzen brought the Sun Devils within one at the 2:11-mark. But a shot clock violation at and three more turnovers prevented the Devils from scoring again.
Junior Kristine Sand and Tom added nine points, as Tom tied her career high with three three-pointers. The Sun Devils committed 27 turnovers to the Wildcats' 19, but outrebounded UA 33-27. Arizona shot 51.0 percent (26-of-51) from the field.
About Oregon State
The Beavers are 2-4 in the Pac-10 with wins over Cal and Washington State, but have lost four of their last six games. Leading scorer and rebounder Sissel Pierce (12.2 pts., 6.5 reb.) has missed the last four games with an injured left knee and underwent scope surgery on Jan. 8. Junior center Tammy Arnold leads the active players with 9.1 points and 5.7 rebounds. Oregon State is outrebounding its opponents 39.1 to 35.7 and is shooting 42.3 percent from the field. The Beavers are averaging 4.1 blocks per game, led by Pierce's 20 on the season. OSU is second in the Pac-10 in scoring defense, field goal percentage defense and rebounding defense.
About Oregon
Having won nine of their last 10 games and with just three losses on the season, the Ducks made their first appearance in the national polls when they debuted at No. 25 in the Associated Press this week. Sophomore forward Brianne Meharry is contributing a team-high 10.4 points, while sophomore Angelina Wolvert is averaging a team-best 5.4 boards. Pac-10 Player of the Week Shaquala Williams (Fr., G) averaged 19.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 5.5 assists in two wins over Washington and Washington State last weekend. Oregon is scoring 71 points compared to its opponents' 56 per game, and is ranked third in the nation in scoring defense and ninth in field goal percentage defense. The Ducks are shooting at a 46-percent clip.
Last Time vs. Oregon State
ASU's 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, 1998, at Wells Fargo Arena.
Rachel Holt added 14 points and a game-high seven rebounds to the ASU win, and Kisha White added 11 points for the Devils. 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. ASU never relinquished its lead in the first half 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 States 12. The Sun Devils also had 22 turnovers, while Oregon State committed 31.
Last Time vs. Oregon
Natalie Hughes scored a team-high 23 points, including seven in overtime, to lead Oregon to a 69-67 OT victory over Arizona State Feb. 19, 1998, at Wells Fargo Arena.
Natasha OBrien added 16 points and eight rebounds for the Ducks, and freshman forward Angelina Wolvert recorded 11 points. Kisha White led the Sun Devils and topped all scorers with a career-high 24 points. Stephanie Freeman contributed 17 points, including a career-high tying three three-pointers. Rachel Holt and Freeman led the Sun Devils with eight rebounds each.
The score was tied six times in the first 20 minutes, and both teams stretched their biggest leads to four points. Oregon went into the break with a 31-28 advantage. UO dominated the second half, only relinquishing its lead once, when it was down by one point at the 12:28-mark. An 8-0 run gave Oregon the lead again, but the Sun Devils fought back to tie the game at 60 at the end of regulation. Hughes scored the first seven points for Oregon in the overtime period.
Sun Devils Tie School Record at Arizona
Arizona State tied a school record for the second time this season with nine three-pointers Jan. 16 at Arizona. The Sun Devils went 9-for-22 from long range vs. the Wildcats, and were 9-of-17 against Southwestern Louisiana on Nov. 28. Draining threes at a torrid pace in Tucson, ASU made four of its treys by the 8:00-minute mark of the first half, with three from Michelle Tom and one from Kristine Sand. At the intermission, half of the Sun Devils' eight field goals were three-pointers.
Jantzen Comes Up Big in 1st Major Outing
In her first outing with significant playing time Jan. 16 at Arizona, freshman forward Theresa Jantzen showed the crowd at McKale Center exactly why her Arizona State teammates have missed her presence so much since their first exhibition game. Jantzen logged her first career double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds in 20 minutes of action her first outing of more than 11 minutes. Jantzen battled back from a fractured left foot that was discovered Nov. 5. She was sidelined with the injury until Jan. 5.
Keys to the Win
The Sun Devils are 6-0 on the season when they are leading with 5:00 left, 5-0 when they are leading at halftime and 6-1 when their opponent commits more turnovers. ASU is 4-1 when three or more players score in double figures, and 4-1 when the game is decided by 21 points or more.
Turnover Troubles Continue
Through its first five Pac-10 games, Arizona State is averaging 24 turnovers per contest, with a season-high 39 at Washington on Jan. 7. The Sun Devils committed fewer miscues than WSU (21-28) on Jan. 9 to pick up their first league win.
Pair of Devils Reach 500-Point Milestone
Juniors Rachel Holt and Kristine Sand both reached the 500-point plateau in their careers Jan. 9 at Washington State. Sand, who now has 517 career points, scored 14 against the Cougars to reach the 508-mark. Holt, with 507 total points, scored 13 at WSU to reach 500.
Sand Takes Over Top Scoring Spot
Junior forward Kristine Sand has emerged as the Sun Devils leading scorer since the start of the Pac-10 season, pacing the squad in scoring in four of the last seven games. Sand is averaging 15.0 points in Pac-10 contests and 11.0 overall. Coming into the 1998-99 season, Sand's single-game high was 17 points. But through 14 games this year the native of Oslo, Norway, has posted three games of 20 or more points with a career-high 26 points vs. No. 10 UCLA (on 12-of-17 shooting). Sand drained 10 of 16 field goals for 20 points against USC just three days earlier.
Sun Devils From Beyond the Arc
Arizona State ranks second in the Pac-10 in three-point percentage, while senior Michelle Tom paces the league from three-point range, shooting at a 51 percent clip (19-of-37). The Sun Devils connected on half of their treys at UC Irvine (6-of-12) Dec. 18, and have tied a school record twice this season with nine treys at Arizona (1/16/99) and vs. Southwestern Louisiana (11/28/98).
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 ... 12 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 ties for the Pac-10 individual high this season ... Holt recorded a game-high three blocked shots versus San Jose State, and tied her season high with eight boards at Washington State ... reached the 500-point milestone with 13 points at WSU (for 500 total) ... now has 507 career points ... currently ranks eighth on the ASU all-time blocked shots list with 44.
On the Money
Sophomore Natalie Tucker has been money in the bank at the freethrow line for ASU this season, missing just five in 41 attempts. Tucker, who ranks 11th in the nation in FT%, is shooting 87.8 percent from the line. She made five of six freethrows in the final 53 seconds to help seal the win Jan. 9 at WSU. Tucker was named to the Wells Fargo Classic All-Tournament Team on Dec. 6.
Newman Picks Up Where Combs Left Off
Sophomore Leaf Newman has stepped up her game since ASU lost the rebounding services of Leah Combs (stress fractures) on Dec. 30. Newman led the Sun Devils on the boards against San Jose State (7) and recorded a career-high 10 rebounds against UCLA for her first career double-double (15 pts.). Combs led ASU on the boards in five of her eight games before the injury and was ranked fourth in Pac-10 rebounding.
Expecting a Successful Season And...
ASU head coach Charli Turner Thorne (Stanford 088) 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.
Above the Rim
Arizona State is averaging 39.2 rebounds per game and is 6-2 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 during the 1994-95 season (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 as the Sun Devils logged a comeback win over St. Joseph's, nearly pulled one off against Texas and erased a 12-point deficit to pick up the win at Washington State.
Down by 20 points (69-49) with 7:28 left to play against the Longhorns 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."
Comeback #2 vs. St. Joseph's Dec. 6
Against St. Joseph's, a team with four starters back from a squad that went to the second round of the WNIT and won 19 games last season, Arizona State was down by as many as 11 points in the second half. But the Sun Devils went on an 8-0 run with 2:05 left in the game and took a two-point lead on a layup by Kristine Sand. St. Josephs 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 to lock up the win.
Comeback #3 vs. Washington State Jan. 9
Having committed 11 turnovers in the first 11 minutes at Washington State, Arizona State found itself down by 12 points (21-9) with 9:01 left in the first half. However, a basket by Kristine Sand and two more by Rachel Holt brought the Devils to within 25-17 with 4:40 left in the first stanza. ASU outscored the Cougars 12-2 in the final five minutes of the half for a 27-27 tie at the intermission. The Sun Devils were held without a field goal for nearly six minutes in the second half and WSU took a 45-40 lead. But Sand answered again, scoring six straight points to pull ASU within one, 47-46. The Sun Devils pulled out the 63-54 win and Natalie Tucker made five of six freethrows in the final 53 seconds to seal the victory.
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.
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 then career-high 22 points and grabbing a career-high nine boards in 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.
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
'98-99 SCHEDULE/RESULTS
7-7 Overall, 1-4 Pac-10
N. 4 SLOVAN BRATISLAVA# 83-73 N. 14 RIVERLAND RAIDERS# 97-43 N. 21 SAM HOUSTON STATE W, 68-46 N. 28 vs. SW Louisiana (1) W, 71-48 N. 29 at #11 Rutgers (1) L, 48-67 D. 2 TEXAS L, 75-77 D. 5 GONZAGA (2) W, 96-52 D. 6 ST. JOSEPH'S (2) W, 66-58 (OT) D. 18 at UC Irvine W, 71-53 D. 21 at #24 UC Santa Barbara L, 61-78 D. 30 SAN JOSE STATE W, 83-46 J. 2 *USC L, 54-67 J. 5 *#10 UCLA L, 85-98 J. 7 *at Washington L, 54-86 J. 9 *at Washington State W, 63-54 J. 16 *at Arizona L, 61-70 J. 21 *OREGON STATE 7 p.m. J. 23 *#25 OREGON 7 p.m. J. 28 *at California 8:30 p.m. J. 30 *at Stanford 8:30 p.m. F. 4 *WASHINGTON STATE 7 p.m. F. 6 *WASHINGTON 7 p.m. F. 13 *ARIZONA 7 p.m. F. 19 *at Oregon 8 p.m. F. 21 *at Oregon State 2 p.m. F. 25 *STANFORD 7 p.m. F. 27 *CALIFORNIA 7 p.m. M. 4 *at UCLA 8 p.m. M. 6 *at USC 8 p.m.ASU's Record When...1) Rutgers Coca-Cola Classic, Piscataway, N.J. 2) ASU Wells Fargo Classic, Tempe, Ariz. # - Exhibition game * - Pacific-10 Conference game All game times are Mountain Standard Time. All home games in boldface. All times and dates are subject to change
At Home 4-3 On the Road 2-4 At a Neutral Site 1-0The Last Time a Sun Devil...Scoring First 5-4 Leading At Halftime 5-0 Trailing at Halftime 1-7 Tied at Halftime 1-0 Leading with 5:00 Left 6-0 Trailing with 5:00 Left 1-7 Tied with 5:00 Left 0-0
In Overtime 1-0 In Double-Overtime 0-0
Scoring Less Than 70 Points 3-5 Scoring Between 70-79 Points 2-1 Scoring Between 80-89 Points 1-1 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 4-1 2 or Less Players Score in Double Figures 1-5
ASU Shoots 50% or Better From Field 1-1 ASU Shoots Less Than 50% From Field 6-6 ASU Outrebounds or Ties Opponent 6-2 Opponent Outrebounds ASU 1-5 ASU Commits More Turnovers 1-6 Opponent Commits More Turnovers 6-1 ASU Records More Assists 6-1 Opponents Records More Assists 0-5
Game is Decided By 5 Points or Less 0-1 Game is Decided By 6-10 Points 2-1 Game is Decided By 11-15 Points 0-2 Game is Decided by 16-20 Points 1-2 Game is Decided By 21 Points or More 4-1
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 (12), 12/5/98 Recorded 10 or More Assists Natalie Tucker (10), 1/5/99 Made 10 or more Field Goals Kristine Sand (12), 1/5/99 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 1/17)
TEAM PAC-10 OVERALL UCLA 6-0 14-4 Oregon 5-1 14-3 Washington 4-1 8-6 Stanford 3-2 7-9 Arizona 2-3 7-7 Oregon State 2-4 10-5 USC 2-4 6-9 Arizona State 1-4 7-7 California 1-4 7-7 Washington State 1-4 7-7ASU Pac-10 Team Rankings (as of 1/17)
Scoring Offense 7th (68.3) Scoring Defense 3rd (64.3) Scoring Margin 4th (+4.0) Free Throw % 5th (.670) Field Goal % 5th (.421) Field Goal % Def. 7th (.422) 3-Point Field Goal % 2nd (.332) 3-Point Field Goal % Def. 1st (.214) Rebounding 5th (39.2) Rebounding Def. 4th (38.1) Rebounding Margin 6th (+1.1) Blocked Shots 7th (2.71) Assists 6th (16.00) Steals 8th (8.29) Turnover Margin 7th (-0.57) Assist/TO Ratio 7th (0.66) Offensive Rebounds 7th (14.57) Defensive Rebounds 4th (24.64) 3-Point Field Goals Made 3rd (4.64 avg.)ASU Pac-10 Individual Rankings (as of 1/17)
Scoring 20th - Kristine Sand (11.0)
Rebounds 16th - Rachel Holt (5.4)
Steals T9th - Natalie Tucker (2.21)
Blocks 9th - Rachel Holt (0.93)
Field Goal % 10th - Rachel Holt (51.5)
Assists 4th - Natalie Tucker (5.36 avg.)
6th - Kitch Kitchen (3.79 avg.)
3-Point FG % 1st - Michelle Tom (51.4)
Free Throw % 1st - Natalie Tucker (87.8)
Sun Devils On TelevisionDate 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 L, 54-67 FOX Sports Net Jan. 5 UCLA L, 85-98 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
Pac-10 Media Teleconferences
The Pac-10 Conference will have nine teleconferences during the season starting Wednesday, Dec. 16. All 10 men's and women's coaches, as well as a selected men's and women's student-athlete will participate on each call. ASU Coach Charli Turner Thorne comes on at 1 p.m. MT. Remaining teleconference dates:
Jan. 12, 19, 26 - Feb. 2, 9, 16, 23 - Mar. 2
A taped replay of the teleconference will be available beginning at 4 p.m. MT and is available anytime prior to the next scheduled call. Call the Pac-10 Conference Office (925-932-4411) or the ASU Media Relations Office to obtain the media-only phone numbers for the teleconferences.
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 (Jan. 17)
1. Tennessee (40) 14. Iowa State
2. Connecticut 15. Rutgers
3. Purdue (1) 16. Clemson
4. Louisiana Tech 17. Penn State
5. Georgia 18. Alabama
6. Texas Tech 19. Virginia
7. North Carolina 20. Auburn
8. Colorado State 21. Florida
9. Notre Dame 22. Ohio State
10. UCLA 23. Nebraska
11. Duke 24. Tulane
12. Old Dominion 25. Oregon
13. Virginia Tech
ESPN/USA Today Top 25 (Jan. 18)
1. Tennessee (39) 14. Iowa State
2. Connecticut 15. Duke
3. Purdue (1) 16. Clemson
4. Georgia 17. Alabama
5. Louisiana Tech 18. Penn State
6. North Carolina 19. Florida
7. Texas Tech 20. Nebraska
8. Colorado State 21. Virginia
9. Notre Dame 22. UC Santa Barbara
10. UCLA 23. Kansas
11. Old Dominion 24. Auburn
12. Rutgers 25. Ohio State
13. Virginia Tech
ASU Double-Double Chart
Leah Combs - 4
11/21 - Sam Houston St. (12 pts/.15 reb.)
11/28 - SW Louisiana (10 pts./10 reb.)
12/2 - Texas (11 pts./11 reb.)
12/21 - UC Santa Barbara (15 pts./11 reb.)
Leaf Newman - 1
1/5 - UCLA (15 pts./10 reb.)
Theresa Jantzen - 1
1/16 - Arizona (12 pts./11 reb.)
Holt Climbs Blocked Shots ListJunior Rachel Holt has 13 blocked shots this season to rank eighth on the ASU all-time chart. The 6-3 center recorded 31 blocked shots in 1997-98 for a career total of 44. With another year of eligibility available next year, Holt could crack the top three. Here's a look at the top-10 Sun Devils in that category:
1. Kym Hampton (1981-84) 178
2. Fran Ciak (1987-90) 99
3. Monique Ambers (1990-93) 66
4. Shannon Gridley (1989-92) 63
T5. Molly Tuter (1994-97) 59
Melissa Boyle (1994-97) 59
7. Lisa Salsman (1990-93) 51
8. Rachel Holt (1997-pres.) 44
9. Jovonne Smith (1990-93) 41
10. Tanya Morris (1985-86) 39
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.
Women's Basketball Calendar
Jan. 18 Practice, 12:15 p.m. Jan. 19 Practice, 1 p.m. Jan. 20 Practice, 1:30 p.m. Jan. 21 ASU vs. Oregon State, 7 p.m. Jan. 22 Practice, 1:45 p.m. Jan. 23 ASU vs. Oregon, 7 p.m.1998-99 ASU Women's Basketball Season & Career Highs
#3 RECHELLE LANG - SR - G
Season Highs Points: 11 vs. San Jose St., 12/30/98 3-Pointers: 3 vs. San Jose St., 12/30/98 Rebounds: 2 vs. UCLA, 1/5/99 Assists: 2 (twice), last at Arizona, 1/16/99 Steals: 2 at Arizona, 1/16/99 Blocks: Minutes: 14 vs. UCLA, 1/5/99#4 Leaf Newman - SO - GCareer Highs Points: 11 (twice), last vs. San Jose St., 12/30/98 3-Pointers: 3 vs. San Jose St., 12/30/98 Rebounds: 7 vs. New Mexico State, 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 Minutes: 34 vs. Auburn, 12/21/97
Season Highs Points: 20 at UC Irvine, 12/18/98 3-Pointers: 3 vs. SW Louisiana, 11/28/98 Rebounds: 10 vs. UCLA, 1/5/99 Assists: 4 vs. Southwestern Louisiana, 11/28/98 Steals: 2 at UC Irvine, 12/18/98 Blocks: 2 vs. San Jose St., 12/30/98 Minutes: 31 at UC Irvine, 12/18/98#5 Ebony Edwards - SO - GCareer Highs Points: 20 at UC Irvine, 12/18/98 3-Pointers: 3 vs. Southwestern Louisiana, 11/28/98 Rebounds: 15 vs. UCLA, 1/5/99 Assists: 4 vs. Southwestern Louisiana, 11/28/98 Steals: 4 vs. Dayton, 11/30/97 Blocks: 2 vs. Long Island, 12/20/97 Minutes: 31 at. UC Irvine, 12/18/98
Season Highs Points: 4 (twice), last vs. San Jose St., 12/30/98 3-Pointers: Rebounds: 4 at Washington, 1/7/99 Assists: 1 (twice), last vs. San Jose St., 12/30/98 Steals: Blocks: Minutes: 11 vs. San Jose St., 12/30/98#11 Aubrey McFadyen - SO - FCareer Highs Points: 18 vs. UC Santa Barbara, 11/20/97 3-Pointers: 2 vs. UC Santa Barbara, 11/20/97 Rebounds: 6 vs. UC Santa Barbara, 11/20/97 Assists: 2 (three times), vs. San Jose St., 12/30/98 Steals: 3 vs. Long Island, 12/20/97 Blocks: Minutes: 29 at New Mexico, 12/20/97
Season Highs Points: 8 vs. Gonzaga, 12/5/98 3-Pointers: Rebounds: 7 vs. Sam Houston State, 11/21/98 Assists: 1 vs. Sam Houston State, 11/21/98 Steals: 2 at Washington, 1/7/99 Blocks: 1 (twice), last vs. San Jose St., 12/30/98 Minutes: 21 vs. San Jose St., 12/30/98#13 LEAH COMBS - FR - FCareer Highs Points: 8 vs. Gonzaga, 12/5/98 3-Pointers: Rebounds: 7 vs. Sam Houston State, 11/21/98 Assists: 2* at UC Irvine, 12/14/96 Steals: 3* vs. UNLV, 1/30/97 Blocks: 2* (three times), last vs. UNLV, 1/30/97
* - at Colorado State
Season/Career Highs Points: 17 at UC Irvine, 12/18/98 3-Pointers: Rebounds: 15 vs. Sam Houston State, 11/21/98 Assists: 1 (four times), last at UC Santa Barbara, 12/21/98 Steals: 2 (twice), last vs. SW Louisiana, 11/28/98 Blocks: Minutes: 32 vs. Sam Houston State, 11/21/98#14 Kristine Sand - JR - F
Season Highs Points: 26 vs. UCLA, 1/5/99 3-Pointers: 2 (twice),last vs. St. Joseph's,12/6/98 Rebounds: 9 vs. St. Joseph's, 12/6/98 Assists: 3 vs. Texas, 12/2/98 Steals: 3 (twice), last at Washington, 1/7/99 Blocks: 2 vs. St. Joseph's,12/6/98 Minutes: 34 vs. St. Joseph's, 12/6/98#15 KITCH KITCHEN - JR - GCareer Highs Points: 26 vs. UCLA, 1/5/99 3-Pointers: 3 vs. California, 1/31/98 Rebounds: 9 vs. St. Joseph's, 12/6/98 Assists: 3 (twice), last vs. Texas, 12/2/98 Steals: 3 (three times),last at Washington, 1/7/99 Blocks: 2 (twice), last vs. St. Joseph's, 12/6/98 Minutes: 34 vs. St. Joseph's, 12/6/98
Season/Career Highs Points: 16 vs. Texas, 12/2/98 3-Pointers: 3 vs. SW Louisiana, 11/28/98 Rebounds: 6 (three times), last vs. UCLA, 1/5/99 Assists: 7 vs. Gonzaga, 12/5/98 Steals: 4 vs. St. Joseph's Blocks: Minutes: 37 vs. St. Joseph's, 12/6/98#20 KISHA WHITE - SR - F
Season Highs Points: 9 at Washington, 1/7/99 3-Pointers: Rebounds: 6 at Washington, 1/7/99 Assists: 1 (twice), last at Washington, 1/7/99 Steals: 1 (twice), last at Washington St., 1/9/99 Blocks: 2 vs. UCLA, 1/5/99#22 THERESA JANTZEN - FR - FCareer Highs Points: 24 vs. Oregon, 1/24/98 3-Pointers: Rebounds: 9 vs. Oregon, 1/24/98 Assists: 3 (3 times), last vs. Oregon State, 1/22/98 Steals: 3 (twice), last vs. Arizona, 1/17/98 Blocks: 2 (twice), last vs. UCLA, 1/5/99
Season/Career Highs Points: 12 at Arizona, 1/16/99 3-Pointers: Rebounds: 11 at Arizona, 1/16/99 Assists: Steals: 1 (twice), last at Arizona, 1/16/99 Blocks: 1 at Arizona, 1/16/99 Minutes: 20 at Arizona, 1/16/99#24 KRISTY HANGARTNER - JR - G
Season/Career Highs Points: 2 (twice), last vs. San Jose St., 12/30/98 3-Pointers: Rebounds: 3 vs. Gonzaga, 12/5/98 Assists: 1 (twice), last vs. San Jose St., 12/30/98 Steals: Blocks: Minutes: 7 (twice), last vs. San Jose St., 12/30/98#32 Michelle Tom - SR - G
Season Highs Points: 11 vs. Gonzaga, 12/5/98 3-Pointers: 3 (twice), last at Arizona, 1/16/99 Rebounds: 5 vs. San Jose St., 12/30/98 Assists: 9 vs. Gonzaga, 12/5/98 Steals: 2 (twice), last at Washington St., 1/9/99 Blocks: 1 at Rutgers, 11/29/98 Minutes: 27 at Rutgers, 11/29/98#33 NATALIE TUCKER - SO - GCareer Highs Points: 19 vs. Washington, 1/8/98 3-Pointers: 3 (three times), last at Arizona, 11/16/99 Rebounds: 6 vs. Washington, 1/8/98 Assists: 9 vs. Gonzaga, 12/5/98 Steals: 4 vs. Washington, 1/8/98 Blocks: 1 (twice), last at Rutgers, 11/29/98 Minutes: 36 vs. Oregon, 2/19/98
Season Highs points:="" 17="" vs.="" gonzaga,="" 12/5/98="" 3-pointers:="" 3="" vs.="" gonzaga,="" 12/5/98="" rebounds:="" 7="" vs.="" sw="" louisiana,="" 11/28/98="" assists:="" 10="" vs.="" ucla,="" 1/5/99="" steals:="" 7="" at="" washington="" st.,="" 1/9/99="" blocks:="" minutes:="" 39="" vs.="" st.="" joseph's,="" 12/6/98="" career="" highs="" points:="" 17="" vs.="" gonzaga,="" 12/5/98="" 3-pointers:="" 3="" vs.="" gonzaga,="" 12/5/98="" rebounds:="" 7="" vs.="" sw="" louisiana,="" 11/28/98="" assists:="" 8="" (twice),="" last="" vs.="" san="" jose="" st.,="" 12/30/98="" steals:="" 7="" at="" washington="" st.,="" 1/9/99="" blocks:="" *1="" at="" iowa="" state,="" 2/1/97="" minutes:="" 39="" vs.="" st.="" joseph's,="" 12/6/98="">#40 Jennifer Bennett - FR - C* - at Texas A&M
Season/Career Highs Points: 3 vs. Texas, 12/2/98 3-Pointers: Rebounds: 2 (four times), last at Washington, 1/7/99 Assists: 1 vs. USC, 1/2/99 Steals: 2 vs. USC, 1/2/99 Blocks: 2 (twice), last vs. USC, 1/2/99 Minutes: 12 at Washington, 1/9/99#50 Kellie McDanal - SO - F
Season Highs Points: 6 vs. Gonzaga, 12/5/98 3-Pointers: Rebounds: 2 (twice), last vs. San Jose St., 12/30/98 Assists: Steals: 1 vs. Southwestern Louisiana, 11/28/98 Blocks: Minutes: 14 vs. Gonzaga, 12/5/98 Career Highs Points: 8 vs. Long Island, 12/20/97 3-Pointers: Rebounds: 5 (twice), last vs. UCLA, 3/5/98 Assists: 1 at Arizona, 2/14/98 Steals: 1 (twice), last vs. SW Louisiana, 11/28/98 Blocks: 1 (three times), last vs. Oregon State, 2/21/98 Minutes: 16 (3 times), last vs. UCLA, 3/5/98#54 Rachel Holt - JR - C
Season Highs Points: 18 at UC Santa Barbara, 12/21/98 3-Pointers: Rebounds: 8 (twice), last at Washington St., 1/9/99 Assists: 2 vs. UCLA, 1/5/99 Steals: 1 (five times), last at Washington St., 1/9/99 Blocks: 4 vs. Sam Houston State, 11/21/98 Minutes: 31 (twice), last at UCSB, 12/21/98 Career Highs Points: 24 vs. Long Island, 12/20/97 3-Pointers: Rebounds: 11 vs. Long Island, 12/20/97 Assists: 1 (nine times) last vs. Gonzaga, 12/5/98 Steals: 4 at Arizona, 2/14/98 Blocks: 4 vs. Sam Houston State, 11/21/98
1998-99 ASU Women's Basketball Game Recaps
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 Mosbys 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. Josephs 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. Josephs 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. Josephs 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 nights 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
1998-99 ASU Women's Basketball Game Recaps
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 ASUs 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.
Game 9 - Dec. 30 ASU 83, San Jose State 46
Four Arizona State players scored in double figures to lead the Sun Devils to an 83-46 win over San Jose State at the 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.
Game 10 - Jan. 2 USC 67, ASU 54
Game 11 Jan. 5
UCLA 98, ASU 85
Arizona State dropped its second Pac-10 game to 10th-ranked UCLA, 98-85 at the Wells Fargo Arena. Junior Kristine Sand paced the Sun Devils in scoring for the third straight game, with a career-high 26 points on 12-of-17 shooting. Sophomore Leaf Newman added 15 points and 10 boards for the first double-double of her career. Natalie Tucker contributed a career-high 10 assists. ASU started off strong as Newman connected on two three-pointers in the first six minutes. The Sun Devils led until UCLA went up 16-14 eight minutes into the game. Arizona State trailed by just one at the break, 42-41. However, ASU had its problems taking care of the ball in the second half and committed 14 turnovers. ASU knotted the score at 50 points apiece with 17:09 left in the game, but later on a 9-0 UCLA run put the Bruins ahead 84-73, and swung the momentum their way for the remainder of the game. For UCLA, LaCresha Flannigan posted a career-high 27 points on 10-of-15 shooting. Maylana Martin pitched in 19 points and six rebounds. Erica Gomez added a school-record 16 assists on the night. The Sun Devils shot better than 50.0 percent (51.4 percent) for the second time this season, but were plagued by turnovers, finishing up with 25 to the Bruins' 16. ASU outrebounded the Bruins 40-36.
Game 12 - Jan. 7
Washington 86, ASU 54
SEATTLE - Plagued by 39 turnovers including 26 in the decisive first half Arizona State fell 86-54 to Washington in front of 2,016 fans at Hec Edmundson Pavilion, picking up its third straight Pac-10 loss. Sophomore guard Leaf Newman and senior forward Kisha White paced the Sun Devils with nine points apiece, while White added a team-high six rebounds. Four Washington players reached double digits, led by Jamie Redds 19 points and Amber Halls 12 points and game-high 13 boards. ASU managed just 20 points in the first half, meanwhile turning the ball over 26 times. The Sun Devils connected on just 6 of 19 field goals in the first stanza. The Huskies recorded 14 steals in the opening 20 minutes and led by as many as 33 points. Arizona State narrowed the gap to 21 points on a jumper by sophomore Aubrey McFadyen with 7:35 left in the game, but the Huskies answered with a 12-0 run to keep their distance. On the night, ASU made 17 of 47 field goals (36.2 percent), while the Huskies shot 48.5 percent. Although the Sun Devils held a 19-17 edge in the rebounding department at the half, the Huskies finished with 44 to ASUs 31. ASU made just one three-pointer and the starting Sun Devil backcourt committed 20 turnovers on the night.
Game 13 - Jan. 9
ASU 63, Washington State 54
PULLMAN, Wash. - Sophomore point guard Natalie Tucker made 5 of 6 freethrows in the final 53 seconds to help lift Arizona State to a 63-54 win over Washington State at Friel Court. The Sun Devils picked up their first Pac-10 victory with the win, improving to 7-6 overall and 1-3 in the league. A jumper by Tricia Lamb brought the Cougars to within 58-54 with 1:00 left, but Tuckers freethrows gave ASU the winning margin. The score was knotted at 27-27 at the intermission, but Washington State took a five-point lead on a right-side jump shot by Lamb with 8:36 left. However, Arizona State, fueled by nine second-half steals and 15 second-half turnovers by Washington State, would answer. The Sun Devils took a 54-49 lead on a three-pointer by sophomore guard Leaf Newman and an 18-foot jumper by Tucker at the 3:44-mark. Up 8-7 early on, ASU went six minutes without a field goal as the Cougars put together a 14-1 run. WSU led by 12 points before the Sun Devils countered. Fueled by back-to-back three-pointers by Tucker and senior guard Michelle Tom, Arizona State used a 10-2 run to pull within two (25-23) with 3:14 left in the first period. A baseline jumper by Tucker knotted the score at 25-25. ASU shot 50.0 percent from the field in the first half (12-of-24) and connected on 2 of 4 treys. Junior Kristine Sand paced Arizona State with 14 points on 7-of-13 shooting. Junior Rachel Holt added 13 points and a team-high six rebounds. Tucker finished with 13 points, six assists and just two turnovers in 32 minutes of play. Lamb led all scorers with 16 points, while WSUs Alke Dietel posted 10 points and a game-high 10 boards.
Game 13 - Jan. 9
ASU 6, Washington State 54
PULLMAN, Wash. - Sophomore point guard Natalie Tucker made 5 of 6 freethrows in the final 53 seconds to help lift Arizona State to a 63-54 win over Washington State at Friel Court. The Sun Devils picked up their first Pac-10 victory with the win, improving to 7-6 overall and 1-3 in the league. A jumper by Tricia Lamb brought the Cougars to within 58-54 with 1:00 left, but Tuckers freethrows gave ASU the winning margin. The score was knotted at 27-27 at the intermission, but Washington State took a 45-40 lead on a right-side jump shot by Lamb with 8:36 left. However, Arizona State, fueled by nine second-half steals and 15 second-half turnovers by Washington State, would answer. The Sun Devils took a 54-49 lead on a three-pointer by sophomore guard Leaf Newman and an 18-foot jumper by Tucker at the 3:44-mark. Up 8-7 early on, ASU went six minutes without a field goal as the Cougars put together a 14-1 run. WSU led by 12 points before the Sun Devils countered. Including back-to-back three-pointers by Tucker and senior guard Michelle Tom, Arizona State used a 10-2 run to pull within two (25-23) with 3:14 left in the first period. A baseline jumper by Tucker knotted the score at 25-25. ASU shot 50.0 percent from the field in the first half (12-of-24) and connected on 2 of 4 treys. Junior Kristine Sand paced Arizona State with 14 points on 7-of-13 shooting. Junior Rachel Holt added 13 points and a team-high eight rebounds. Tucker finished with 13 points, six assists, a career-high seven steals and just two turnovers. Lamb led all scorers with 16 points, while WSUs Alke Dietel posted 10 points and a game-high 10 boards.