Jan. 27, 1998
Sun Devils Host No. 9 Stanford, Cal
Arizona State, tied for fifth in the Pac-10 with Washington and Washington State, returns to the University Activity Center -- where it has won three of its last four games -- to host the Bay Area schools this weekend. The Sun Devils captured their first Pac-10 road win since Feb. 3, 1995, with an 85-79 win over Oregon State on Jan. 22, but the injury-ridden squad suffered a 39-point loss at the hands of Oregon on Jan. 24. ASU will try to bounce back as it meets up with a ninth-ranked Stanford team that is riding a four-game win streak. The Cardinal, who are paced by Olympia Scott's 18.1 points and 7.6 rebounds, sit atop the Pac-10 standings at 7-1. California travels to the Grand Canyon State hungry for its second Pac-10 win and is led by point guard Masa Radovic with team-highs of 11.8 points and 3.4 assists per game.
QUICK NOTES* ASU has already equaled its Pac-10 win total from last season and needs just two wins to tie its overall total (9) from 1996-97.
* With two steals Jan. 24 vs. Oregon, senior Stephanie Freeman moved to third (199) on the ASU career chart.
* ASU leads the league in free-throw shooting at a 70.8 percent clip (76.0 in Pac-10 games).
* ASU's win over Oregon State on Jan. 22 qualified as the Sun Devils' first Pac-10 road win since Feb. 3, 1995.
MEDIA INFO COX Sports will telecast the ASU-Stanford game live on Channel 22 with George Allen (play-by-play) and Doug Gerlach (color) on the call. The game will be replayed on Saturday, Jan. 31 at 1 p.m. The Stanford contest can be heard live on KMVP 860 AM with Trey Bender (play-by-play) and JiJi Sweet (color) calling the action. The Cal game will air live on FOX Sports Arizona, featuring Bender and Chris Schaefer (color). Sweet and Ross Brand will call the action for KMVP 860 AM in the ASU-Cal game.
ASU (7-9, 3-4 Pac-10/T5th) vs. #9 Stanford Cardinal (10-5, 7-1/1st) Thursday, Jan. 29 * 7 p.m. MST University Activity Center (14,198) * Tempe, Ariz. COX Sports * KMVP 860 AM ASU vs. California Golden Bears (5-12, 1-6/9th) Saturday, Jan. 31 * 7 p.m. MST University Activity Center (14,198) * Tempe, Ariz. FOX Sports Arizona * KMVP 860 AMPROBABLE STARTERS
ASU Sun Devils Pos. Cl. Ht. PPG RPG NOTES
#55 Stephanie Freeman F Sr. 5-10 13.9 4.1 3.0 steals; 3.2 in conf. games
#20 Kisha White F Jr. 6-0 8.1 3.9 season-high 9 reb. @ Oregon
#54 Rachel Holt C So. 6-3 10.9 5.1 3rd in Pac-10 blocks (1.25)
#21 Rameeka Lowe G Sr. 5-7 6.8 3.2 3.9 apg; 2.73 spg
#32 Michelle Tom G Jr. 5-8 9.4 2.6 40.0 3PT%
* - assists per game
Stanford Cardinal Pos. Cl. Ht. PPG RPG
#13 Vanessa Nygaard F Sr. 6-1 14.7 6.9
#44 Heather Owen F Sr. 6-4 10.3 5.0
#00 Olympia Scott C Sr. 6-2 18.1 7.6
#4 Melody Peterson G So. 5-9 9.0 3.1
#20 Milena Flores G So. 5-6 9.3 6.2*
* - assists per game
California Golden Bears Pos. Cl. Ht. PPG RPG
#42 Amber Lacey F Sr. 6-0 9.7 6.6
#33 Paige Bowie F So. 5-11 9.2 3.8
#50 Jennie Leander C Jr. 6-3 8.7 6.3
#3 Masa Radovic G Fr. 6-1 11.8 3.6*
#22 Marie Folsom G Sr. 5-8 1.4 0.9
* - assists per game
OFF THE BENCH
ASU Sun Devils Pos. Cl. Ht. PPG RPG NOTES
#3 Rechelle Lang G Jr. 5-9 4.9 4.3* 3rd in Pac-10 assists
#4 Leaf Newman G Fr. 5-9 7.6 3.6 1st start vs. Oregon
#14 Kristine Sand F So. 6-0 7.6 3.4 20.1 min.
#50 Kellie McDanal F Fr. 6-4 1.1 1.0 6.6 min.
#30 Spring Steed G Sr. 5-10 0.6 0.4 1st career 3 @ Oregon
INJURY REPORT
Senior guard Rameeka Lowe is listed as probable for the Stanford and Cal games after sitting out the Oregon game with a severe contusion of the thigh. Junior point guard Rechelle Lang is questionable. Her action was limited in ASU's last two outings due to swelling in the left knee. Freshman center Jennifer Bennett is expected back in the ASU lineup after missing five weeks with a stress fracture in her left leg. Bennett's fracture 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 will not be eligible to utilize 1997-98 as a redshirt year, as she had played in six minutes of her seventh game when the injury occurred.
ASU-STANFORD SERIES Stanford holds a 24-7 edge in the 31-game series. The Cardinal have won the last 10 contests and 19 of the last 20. Stanford's average margin of victory in the last 10 meetings is 25.2 points. The Cardinal are 8-6 in Tempe.
ASU-CALIFORNIA SERIES Cal leads the all-time series 16-11 and the Bears are 7-5 in the University Activity Center. The teams split their two games in 1996-97, with ASU winning the last meeting, 65-54 in Tempe.
SCOUTING THE CARDINAL Coming off a home sweep of the Washington schools last weekend, Stanford has won four in a row and nine of its last 10 games. The Cardinal have notched three wins over top-20 opponents this season, including its 90-70 victory over 15th-ranked Washington Jan. 24. Olympia Scott paces Stanford with 18.1 points and a team-high 7.6 rebounds per game. Vanessa Nygaard averages 14.7 points and 6.9 boards, while Milena Flores is dishing out a league-leading 6.2 assists per contest. Nygaard is shooting a Pac-10 best 82.1 percent from the line. Stanford leads the Pac-10 in scoring (84.9ppg), field-goal percentage (.513), rebounding defense (32.1), rebounding margin (+7.3), assist/turnover ratio (0.79) and defensive rebounds (25.67).
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.
SCOUTING THE BEARS Heading to Tempe hungry for its second league win, California is coming off a pair of
PAC-10 STATISTICS Scoring Stephanie Freeman 9th 13.9 Rachel Holt 16th 10.9 Rebounding Rachel Holt 17th 5.1 Steals Stephanie Freeman 2nd 3.00 Rameeka Lowe 3rd 2.73 Blocks Rachel Holt 3rd 1.25 FG Pct. Rachel Holt 7th .548 Assists Rechelle Lang 3rd 4.31 Rameeka Lowe 5th 3.93 3-PT Pct. Stephanie Freeman 10th .329 FT Percentage Stephanie Freeman 10th .736 Team Statistics Scoring Offense: 6th 69.2 Scoring Defense: 8th 71.2 Scoring Margin: 8th -2.0 Free Throw Pct: 1st .708 Field Goal Pct.: 7th .406 FG Pct. Defense: 10h .457 3-Pt. FG Pct: 6th .311 3-Pt. FG Pct. Defense.: 10th .372 Rebounding: 8th 36.1 Rebounding Defense.: 9th 38.9 Rebounding Margin: 9th -2.8 Blocked Shots: 4th 2.81 Assists Per Game: 3rd 15.31 Steals Per Game: t4th 11.75 Turnover Margin: 6th +1.06 Assist/TO Ratio: 9th 0.61 3-PT. FG Per Game: 5th 4.25PAC-10 STANDINGS
(through games played as of Jan. 24)
Conference Overall
Pl. School W L Pct. W L Pct.
1. Stanford 7 1 .875 10 5 .667
2. Arizona 6 2 .750 12 4 .750
Oregon 6 2 .750 10 6 .625
4. UCLA 5 2 .714 10 6 .625
5. Washington 3 4 .429 12 4 .750
Arizona State 3 4 .429 7 9 .438
7. WSU 3 4 .429 9 7 .563
USC 2 5 .286 7 9 .438
9. California 1 6 .143 5 12 .294
10. Oregon State 1 7 .125 6 11 .353
TIMES ARE CHANGING The Sun Devils have already equaled their Pac-10 win total (3) from a year ago, and need just two more wins to equal their overall total from 1996-97. ASU has averaged 2.8 conference wins and 7.25 overall wins over the last four seasons.
TURNOVER TALES In a stretch of three games vs. Washington State, Arizona and Oregon State, ASU forced its opponents to commit an average of 33.0 turnovers per game (WSU 30; Arizona 36; OSU 33). In fact, 10 of the Sun Devils' 16 opponents have committed at least 25 miscues this season, with a season-high 40 turnovers by Long Island on Dec. 20.
TEMPE TURNAROUNDAfter 44 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 (2-2) since the 1992-93 season when it started out 5-2.
* Its largest margin of victory in a Pac-10 game (+20) since 1992-93 (vs. WSU).
* Its first back-to-back conference wins since 1995-96.
* Its first Pac-10 road win in almost three years.
* One of the biggest upsets in school history (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 ASU posts a league-leading 70.8 free-throw percentage (271-383), and is 6-1 on the year when it makes more free throws than its opponent. Six Sun Devils are connecting on at least 71.0 percent of their free throws: Freeman, Newman, White, Lowe, Lang and Tom. Junior Rachel Holt has been near perfect of late, going 21-for-25 from the charity stripe in ASU's last seven games. The Sun Devils have also benefited from the line since Michelle Tom became eligible (Dec. 20); the 5-8 junior is shooting 71.8 percent (28-for-39) from the charity stripe.
SENIOR LEADERSHIP DEFINED Senior forward Stephanie Freeman (Austin, Texas), ASU's sole three-year letterwinner, continues to lead the squad offensively with 13.9 points per game. Freeman has paced the Sun Devils in scoring in seven games, tying FR G Ebony Edwards with a team-high 18 points vs. UCSB.
In ASU's two games at the Southwestern Bell/Cotton Bowl Classic, Freeman was 11-of-25 (44.4%) from the field, shot 55.6 percent (5-for-9) from beyond the arc, was 10-of-12 (83.3%) from the free-throw line, and averaged 18.5 points, 3.0 rebounds and 5.5 steals. Her efforts earned her a spot on the inaugural event's all-tournament squad.
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 also leads the squad in steals (3.0spg) and has 10 double-figure scoring games on the year. With her
1997-98 ASU SCHEDULE/RESULTS
N. 9 KILSYTH# 69-67
N. 14 MYJAVA# 48-62
N. 20 UCSB L, 83-92
N. 29 MARQUETTE L, 50-69
N. 30 DAYTON W, 68-55
SW Bell Cotton Bowl Classic
D. 5 vs. SMU (1) L, 59-74
D. 6 vs. New Mex. St.(1) W, 60-46
D. 10 at New Mexico L, 39-67
ASU WELLS FARGO CLASSIC
D. 20 LONG ISLAND (2) W, 118-56
D. 21 #23 AUBURN (2) L, 52-56
D. 29 OKLAHOMA W, 87-76
J. 2 *at USC L, 55-68
J. 4 *at UCLA L, 73-95
J. 8 *#7 WASHINGTON W, 77-76
J. 10 *WASHINGTON ST. W, 80-60
J. 17 *#9 ARIZONA L, 60-70
J. 22 *at Oregon State W, 85-79
J. 24 *at Oregon L, 61-100
J. 29 *#9 STANFORD 7 p.m.
J. 31 *CALIFORNIA 7 p.m.
F. 5 *at Washington St. 8 p.m.
F. 7 *at Washington 8 p.m.
F. 14 *at Arizona 7 p.m.
F. 19 *OREGON 7 p.m.
F. 21 *OREGON STATE 7 p.m.
F. 26 *at Stanford 8:30 p.m.
F. 28 *at California 3 p.m.
M. 5 *UCLA 7 p.m.
M. 7 *USC 7 p.m.
All times are MST.
# -- Exhibition game
* -- Pacific-10 Conference game
(1) SMU Southwestern Bell/Cotton Bowl Classic, Dallas, Texas (ASU, New Mexico State, Oklahoma State, SMU)
(2) ASU Wells Fargo Classic, Tempe, Ariz. (ASU, Auburn, Long Island, UNC Wilmington)
Home games in bold.
Home games are played in the UAC.
ASU CAREER STEALS LEADERS
1. 291 Cassandra Lander 1980-83
2. 221 Molly Tuter 1994-97
3. 199 Stephanie Freeman 1995-pres
4. 198 Karen O'Connor 1988-91
5. 189 Sandra Hamilton 1981-82
ASU RECORD WHENOutrebound its opponent 4-0 Outscore opponent bench 4-3 Lead at halftime 5-0 Trail at halftime 2-8 Are tied at halftime 0-1 Shoot better from field than opponent 4-0 Shoot worse from field than opponent. 2-9 Shoot 50% or better from field 1-0 Shoot less than 50% from field 6-9 Opp. shoots 50% or better from field 2-5 Opp. shoots less than 50% from field 5-4 Make more free throws than opponent 6-1 Commit less turnovers than opponent 5-3 Commit more turnovers than opponent 1-5 Commit same number of TOs as opp. 0-1 Play at Home 5-4 Play Away 1-4 Play on Neutral Court 1-0 Play in Conference Games 3-4 Play in Televised Games 4-4 Play in White Uniforms 6-4 Play in Maroon Uniforms 1-5WHAT THEY SAID
"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 CiampiDID YOU KNOW?
This year's Sun Devil lineup features just 6 1/2 years of Division I experience. One of those players (Freeman) averaged more than 14 minutes last year:
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.
With two thefts in the Oregon game on Jan. 24, Freeman moved to third (199) on the ASU all-time steals chart.
HOLT EMERGES AS A FORCE Sophomore center Rachel Holt (Buckeye, Ariz.) is shooting 84.0 percent from the line (21-of-25) and averaging 11.6 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.
FROM WALKON TO STARTER 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 five double-figure scoring efforts in her nine games as a starter (18 pts. vs. Long Island; 16 pts. vs. Oklahoma; 10 pts. vs. USC; 14 pts. vs. Arizona; 12 pts. vs. Oregon). Coming in off the bench, she posted a 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 on Jan. 17. She was named to the ASU Wells Fargo Classic All-Tournament Team on Dec. 21.
MID-SEASON ACQUISITION 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 9.4 points through 10 games (10.3 points in Pac-10 games). Whether she's backing up or playing alongside starter Rechelle Lang, Tom's presence is providing extra direction and allowing shooting guard Rameeka Lowe to stay out on the wing. 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. Tom earned her second and third starts Jan. 22 and 24 vs. the Oregon schools, when Lang's role was limited due to swelling in the knee. 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.
THE LOWE DOWN" 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 Oregon State) and she paced the squad in rebounding vs. Auburn (7) and Oregon State (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 79.4 percent (27-for-34) from the line and averages 3.2 rebounds.
AT THE POINT The Sun Devils' starting point guard, Rechelle Lang, has been the team's quiet leader this season. The 5-foot-9 TeKuiti, New Zealand native has dished out at least six assists five times this year, with a career-high nine vs. Long Island. Lang contributed eight 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 missed her only two starting assignments against Oregon State and Oregon due to a swollen knee, but played 17 and 15 minutes off the bench, respectively.
ASU's 6 STARTING LINEUPS:
1-3: 1-1:
#14/F Kristine Sand #40/F J. Bennett
#55/F Stephanie Freeman #55/F S. Freeman
#54/C Rachel Holt #54/C Rachel Holt
#21/G Rameeka Lowe #21/G Rameeka Lowe
#3/G Rechelle Lang #3/G Rechelle Lang
3-4: 1-0:
#20/F Kisha White #20/F Kisha White
#55/F Stephanie Freeman #32/G Michelle Tom
#54/C Rachel Holt #54/C Rachel Holt
#21/G Rameeka Lowe #21/G Rameeka Lowe
#3/G Rechelle Lang #3/G Rechelle Lang
1-0: 0-1:
#14/F Kristine Sand #20/F Kisha White
#55/F Stephanie Freeman #55/F Stephanie Freeman
#54/C Rachel Holt #54/C Rachel Holt
#21/G Rameeka Lowe #4 Leaf Newman
#32/G Michelle Tom #32 Michelle 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).
The Stanford game kicks off ASU's 10-day celebration of Girls and Women In Sports Week with "Take a Kid to the Game" night. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. and kids may participate in the "ASU Experience." A guest speaker is slated for 6 p.m.
Throughout the week, a number of ASU promotions, guest speakers and a sports clinic will be held in conjunction with the National Girls and Women in Sports Day on February 5. The events are sponsored by APS in conjunction with Wings of Gold, American Humanics and Women's Leadership Through Sport.
The Stanford game is the first of eight ASU athletic events groups of boys and girls can watch for free. Registration sheets are available by calling the ASU's Girls and Women In Sports Week hotline at 727-GIRL.
Prior to ASU's basketball game with California on January 31, a panel of ASU athletes will speak and take questions in during a picnic and autograph session.
The finale of the week comes February 7, when ASU provides a free sports clinic for girls ages 7-17. The first 500 girls to register will receive expert instruction from collegiate coaches and student-athletes, while parents can participate in a panel discussion. The 1998 ASU Girls' Sports Clinic will consist of five 40-minute rotations that include volleyball, softball, basketball, soccer and a wellness/sportswomanship forum.
To register for the clinic and/or get more information on the events of the week, call 727-GIRL.
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE Three of ASU's 1997-98 opponents were ranked in the Jan. 26 Associated Press Top 25, and three more received votes. Pac-10 rivals Stanford (9th), Arizona (10th) and Washington (18th) are rated in the top-15, and the Sun Devils met Auburn, Marquette and UCLA already this year.
PERIMETER IMPROVEMENTS The Sun Devils are shooting 31.1 percent (68-of-219) from three-point range, a marked improvement from their performance last season when they connected on just 26.9 percent of their treys. ASU shot a season-high 71.4 percent (5-for-7) from three-point land against LIU, the fourth time it has eclipsed the .400-mark this year. The Sun Devils were 7-for-17 (.412) against UC Santa Barbara in their opener, went 5-for-11 (45.5%) vs. New Mexico State and 7-for-16 (.438) vs. Washington.
ON THE TUBEThe Sun Devils will appear on television at least 12 times (with the opportunity for more exposures) 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, 7 p.m. COX Sports
Jan. 31 California, 7 p.m. FOX Sports Arizona
Feb. 7 at Washington, 7 p.m. FOX Sports Northwest
Feb. 28 at California, 2 p.m. FOX Sports Bay Area
Mar. 7 USC, 7 p.m. FOX Sports Arizona
WHO ARE THOSE GUYS? Nine newcomers don the maroon and gold for the first time this year, almost outnumbering the returning letterwinners (5) two to one. The nine new faces are the most on an ASU team since the Pac-10 began sponsoring women's basketball in 1986-87.
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 16-28(.364/2 years) and her career record stands at 57-67 (.460/5 years). She guided ASU to its biggest upset ever, 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).
#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 vs. Oregon, 1-24-98 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: 12 (twice), last vs. Oregon, 1-24-98 3-Pointers: 2 (twice), last vs. Oregon, 1-24-98 Rebounds: 7 vs. Washington St., 1-10-98 Assists: 3 vs. UCSB, 11-20- 97 Steals: 3 vs. Marquette, 11-29-97 Blocks: 1 vs. USC, 1-2-98 Career Highs Points: 17 at Washington State, 3-1-97 3-Pointers: 2 (six times), last vs. Oregon, 1-24-98 Rebounds: 7 vs. Washington St., 1-10-98 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: 18 vs. Long Island, 12-20-97 3-Pointers: none 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: 7 vs. Auburn, 12-21-97 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: 7 vs. Auburn, 12-21-97 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: 4 (twice), last vs. Oregon, 1-24-98 3-Pointers: 1 vs. Oregon, 1-24-98 Rebounds: 2 (three times), last vs. UCLA, 1-4-98 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 vs. Oregon, 1-24-98 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: 6 vs. Washington St., 1-10-98 Steals: 4 vs. Washington, 1-8-98 Blocks: none #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: none Steals: 1 vs. Long Island, 12-20-97 Blocks: 1 vs. UCLA, 1-4-98 #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 (three times), last vs. UCLA, 1-4-98 Steals: 2 (twice), last vs. Arizona, 1-17-98 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 (six times), last vs. Dayton, 11-30-97 Steals: 2 (four times), last vs. Arizona, 1-17-98 Blocks: 3 vs. Marquette, 11-29-97 #55 STEPHANIE FREEMAN Season Highs Points: 25 vs. Washington St., 1-10-98 3-Pointers: 3 (three times), last vs. Auburn, 12-21-97 Rebounds: 7 vs. Washington St., 1-10-98 Assists: 8 vs. Long Island, 12-20-97 Steals: 6 (three times), last vs. Washinton St., 1-10-98 Blocks: none Career Highs Points: 25 vs. Washington St., 1-10-98 3-Pointers: 3 (three times), last vs. SMU, 12-5-97 Rebounds: 11 (twice), last vs. Oregon State, 1-26-95 Assists: 8 vs. Long Island, 12-20-97 Steals: 7 vs. Central Michigan, 12-30-94 Blocks: 2 vs. California, 3-6-97