Feb. 2, 1998
Sun Devils Prepare for Washington Road Trip
ASU to play Washington St. and Washington this week.
QUICK NOTES
- The last time ASU ended the first half of Pac-10 play with a 4-5 slate it finished fifth in the league (1992) and earned an NCAA Tournament berth.
- ASU has already surpassed its Pac-10 win total from last season (3) and needs one win to equal its overall total (9) from 1996-97.
- Stephanie Freeman needs 16 steals to surpass Molly Tuter (221) for second on the ASU all-time chart.
ASU ON THE ROAD
University Inn Best Western, Moscow, Idaho (208) 882-0550; Crowne Plaza Seattle (206) 464-1980.
ASU Sun Devils (8-10 overall, 4-5 Pac-10/T5th at Washington St. Cougars (9-9,3-6/T7th)
Thursday, Feb. 5 * 7 p.m. PST/8 p.m. MST
Friel Court (12,058) * Pullman, Wash.
KMVP 860 AM * Tape Delay 8:45 p.m. MST)
ASU at #21 Washington Huskies (13-5, 4-5/T5th)
Saturday, Feb. 7 * 7 p.m. PST/8 p.m. MST
Hec Edmundson Pavilion (7,900) * Seattle
FOX Sports Northwest * KMVP 860 AM
SUN DEVILS HEAD FOR NORTHWEST TO BEGIN ROUND 2 OF PAC-10 PLAY
Arizona State travels to Washington State and Washington as the second round of league play kicks off this weekend. ASU enters the weekend tied for fifth in the Pac-10 with the Huskies as it attempts to complete a two-game sweep over both schools this year. The Sun Devils upset then-No. 7 Washington 77-76 in Tempe back on Jan. 8, handing the Huskies their first loss on the season. ASU defeated the Cougars 80-60 on Jan. 10 following their last-second win over Arizona two days prior. ASU is coming off a split versus the Bay Area schools -- falling 81-54 to No. 9 Stanford and beating Cal 75-54.
MEDIA INFO
FOX Sports Northwest will televise the Washington game, featuring Tod Pickett (play-by-play) and Nancy Youlden (color). Both games will be carried over the airwaves by KMVP 860 AM with Kevin Ray calling the action. The WSU game will be tape delayed and air at 8:45 p.m., and the Washington game will air live.
ASU Sun Devils Pos. Cl. Ht. PPG RPG NOTES #55 Stephanie Freeman F Sr. 5-10 13.6 4.2 3.1 steals; 3.3 in conf. games #20 Kisha White F Jr. 6-0 7.6 4.2 season-high 9 reb. @ Oregon #54 Rachel Holt C So. 6-3 10.9 5.1 3rd in Pac-10 blocks (1.17) #21 Rameeka Lowe G Sr. 5-7 6.7 3.1 4.0 apg (4th Pac-10); 2.6 spg #3 Rechelle Lang G Jr. 5-9 4.9 4.3* 3rd in Pac-10 assists * - assists per game Washington St. Cougars Pos. Cl. Ht. PPG RPG #12 Alke Dietel F Fr. 6-4 12.5 4.5 #32 Doreen Evans F Sr. 5-11 2.6 3.4 #44 Yvonne Kunze C Sr. 6-4 13.7 7.1 #22 Tricia Lamb G Fr. 5-11 9.6 3.7 #20 Katie Nyseth G Fr. 5-3 1.9 1.1* * - assists per game Washington Huskies Pos. Cl. Ht. PPG RPG #14 Megan Franza F Jr. 5-10 7.8 2.4 #23 Amber Hall F Jr. 6-1 16.9 11.6 #22 Gena Pelz C Sr. 6-2 7.5 7.6 #24 Molly Hills G Jr. 5-9 5.8 3.2 #11 Jamie Redd G Jr. 5-10 19.1 5.5OFF THE BENCH
ASU Sun Devils Pos. Cl. Ht. PPG RPG NOTES #32 Michelle Tom G Jr. 5-8 9.5 2.5 2.8 apg; 35.7 3PT% #4 Leaf Newman G Fr. 5-9 7.7 3.7 1st start vs. Oregon #14 Kristine Sand F So. 6-0 7.4 3.5 ssn.-high 13pts. vs. Cal #50 Kellie McDanal F Fr. 6-4 1.3 0.9 6.9 min. #30 Spring Steed G Sr. 5-10 0.8 0.9 1st career 3 @ Oregon #40 Jennifer Bennett F Fr. 6-3 2.7 2.8 injured since Dec. 16
INJURY REPORT
Junior point guard Rechelle Lang is listed as probable for this weekend after missing ASU's last two games with a swollen left knee. Lang's status is day-to-day. Freshman center Jennifer Bennett is questionable and continues to nurse a stress fracture (left leg) that was discovered on Dec. 16. Freshman guard Ebony Edwards is out for the season after tearing her (left) ACL and lateral meniscus against Long Island on Dec. 20. Edwards underwent reconstructive surgery on Dec. 26.
ASU-WASHINGTON STATE SERIES
Arizona State leads the all-time series 12-11 but is 3-8 versus the Cougars in Pullman. The Sun Devils won the last meeting 80-60 in Tempe, but have not beaten Washington State at home since 1994.
Sun Devils Won 12 Lost 11
Year W-L ASU WSU Site
1986-87 W 95 83 H
L 62 75 A
1987-88 W 82 79 A
W 86 69 H
1988-89 W 88 79 H
L 60 71 A
1989-90 L 80 92 A
L 66 67 H
1990-91 W 82 73 H
L 58 69 A
1991-92 L 78 80 A
W 86 61 H
1992-93 W 70 59 A
W 88 68 H
1993-94 W(forfeit) H
W 77 76 A
1994-95 L 70 82 A
L 66 74 H
1995-96 L 77 93 A
W 88 80 H
1996-97 L 78 86 H
L 70 84 A
1997-98 W 80 60 H
LAST MEETING WITH WSU
Two days after serving a one-game suspension, senior forward Stephanie Freeman scored a career-high 25 points to lead ASU to an 80-60 victory over Washington State on Jan. 10 at the University Activity Center.
Arizona State's last pair of back-to-back conference wins came in 1996, also against Washington and Washington State.
The Cougars, who trailed 46-25 at the intermission, outscored ASU 36-35 in the second stanza. But Washington State never came closer than 20 points in the final 20 minutes. The Sun Devils took their biggest lead (31 points) on a layup by freshman Kellie McDanal with 4:48 remaining.
Washington State trailed by just four at the 14:00-mark, but a 12-4 ASU run put the Sun Devils ahead 24-12 with 8:10 left in the first period. Freeman added seven points
PAC-10 STATISTICS
Scoring
Stephanie Freeman 11th 13.6
Rachel Holt 16th 10.9
Rebounding
Rachel Holt 18th 5.1
Steals
Stephanie Freeman 1st 3.06
Rameeka Lowe 3rd 2.59
Blocks
Rachel Holt 3rd 1.17
FG Pct.
Rachel Holt 8th .524
Assists
Rechelle Lang 3rd 4.31
Rameeka Lowe 4th 4.06
3-PT Pct.
Stephanie Freeman 10th .329
FT Percentage
Stephanie Freeman 7th .734
Team Statistics
Scoring Offense: 6th 68.7
Scoring Defense: 8th 70.8
Scoring Margin: 7th -2.1
Free Throw Pct: 1st .711
Field Goal Pct.: 7th .400
FG Pct. Defense: 10th .454
3-Pt. FG Pct: 6th .310
3-Pt. FG Pct. Defense.: 10th .383
Rebounding: 8th 36.1
Rebounding Defense.: 9th 39.5
Rebounding Margin: 9th -3.4
Blocked Shots: 4th 2.78
Assists Per Game: 6th 14.94
Steals Per Game: 3rd 11.61
Turnover Margin: 6th +0.89
Assist/TO Ratio: 9th 0.60
3-PT. FG Per Game: 5th 4.28
PAC-10 STANDINGS
(through games played as of Feb. 1)
Conference Overall
Pl. School W L Pct. W L Pct.
1. Stanford 8 1 .889 12 5 .706
2. Arizona 7 2 .778 14 4 .778
UCLA 7 2 .778 12 6 .667
Oregon 7 2 .778 11 6 .647
5. Washington 4 5 .444 13 5 .722
Arizona State 4 5 .444 8 10 .444
7. WSU 3 6 .333 9 9 .500
USC 3 6 .333 8 10 .444
9. Oregon State 1 8 .111 6 12 .333
California 1 8 .111 5 14 .263
IN THE RUN
Freshman guard Leaf Newman added back-to-back three-pointers and the Sun Devils were out front 30-14.
Newman finished with a career-high 18 points and career-high equaling seven rebounds. Freeman added a game-high tying seven boards and went 9-of-16 from the field. Junior guards Michelle Tom and Rechelle Lang each contributed six assists.
Jennifer Kerns finished with 16 points to pace the Cougars, and Alke Dietel grabbed a game-high tying seven rebounds. Washington State committed 30 turnovers to ASU's 23. The Cougars shot 35.0 percent to the Sun Devils' 41.5. The squads were near even on the boards, as ASU posted 43 rebounds to WSU's 42.
ASU-WASHINGTON SERIES
Washington owns a 16-8 advantage in the series and has won two of the last three meetings. ASU's last win in Seattle came in 1996, the last time the Sun Devils recorded a season sweep of the Huskies. ASU is 3-9 vs. Washington in Hec Edmundson Pavilion.
Year W-L ASU UW Site
1979-80 W 82 61 H
1980-81 W 85 83 A
1986-87 W 78 64 H
L 63 85 A
1987-88 L 49 103 A
L 65 80 H
1988-89 L 67 77 H
L 77 92 A
1989-90 L 59 81 A
L 60 73 H
1990-91 L 54 71 H
L 61 82 A
1991-92 L 59 66 A
L 66 68 H
1992-93 W 82 77 A
W 74 61 H
1993-94 L 56 69 H
L 78 87 A
1994-95 L 37 82 H
L 54 93 A
1995-96 W 81 77 A
W 87 72 H
1996-97 L 63 81 H
L 59 68 A
1997-98 W 77 76 H
SCOUTING THE COUGARS
Tied for seventh in the Pac-10 with USC at 3-6, WSU is looking to snap a two-game losing skid after falling to USC and UCLA at home last weekend. Yvonne Kunze notched a double-double with 16 points and 15 rebounds in the loss to USC, while Alke Dietel posted a team-high 23 points vs. the Bruins. WSU's league wins have come against Arizona (64-61), Oregon State (69-57) and Cal (72-65). The Cougars are 1-4 at home in Pac-10 games. Kunze paces the squad with 13.7 points and 7.1 rebounds on the season. In his 16th season at WSU, Coach Harold Rhodes owns a record of 180-249 (.420).
SCOUTING THE HUSKIES
Sharing fifth place with the Sun Devils, the Huskies earned a split last weekend -- falling to UCLA (80-59) but downing USC (67-60). Since beginning the season 10-0, Washington has gone 3-5 in its last eight games. The Huskies own a perfect 5-0 slate in Pac-10 home games this year. Junior guard Jamie Redd leads the squad with 19.1 points, while Amber Hall averages a team-high 11.6 rebounds. Coach June Daugherty is in her second year in Seattle and owns a 30-16 record (.652).
1. 291 Cassandra Lander 1980-83
2. 221 Molly Tuter 1994-97
3. 206 Stephanie Freeman 1995-pres
4. 198 Karen O'Connor 1988-91
5. 189 Sandra Hamilton 1981-82
ASU RECORD WHEN Outrebound its opponent 4-0
Outscore opponent bench 5-3
Lead at halftime 6-0
Trail at halftime 2-9
Are tied at halftime 0-1
Shoot better from field than opponent 5-0
Shoot worse from field than opponent. 2-10
Shoot 50% or better from field 1-0
Shoot less than 50% from field 7-10
Opp. shoots 50% or better from field 2-6
Opp. shoots less than 50% from field 6-4
Make more free throws than opponent 7-2
Commit less turnovers than opponent 6-3
Commit more turnovers than opponent 1-6
Commit same number of TOs as opp. 0-1
Play at Home 6-5
Play Away 1-4
Play on Neutral Court 1-0
Play in Conference Games 4-5
Play in Televised Games 5-5
Play in White Uniforms 7-5
Play in Maroon Uniforms 1-5
WHAT THEY'VE BEEN SAYING...
"This is the best ASU team we've played against. ... I was surprised how intense the game was from the get-go. They came out really pressing our guards and forced us into doing things we don't normally do."
-- Arizona forward Adia Barnes, Jan. 17, 1998.
"This game we'll take with us for the rest of the season. We faced adversity from every angle... I was very impressed with Arizona State's pressure on the ball."
-- Auburn Coach Joe Ciampi, Dec. 21, 1997
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.
STATE OF WASHINGTON CONNECTIONS
ASU Coach Charli Turner Thorne served as a graduate assistant at Washington during the 1988-89 and 1989-90 seasons. Current ASU graduate assistant Erika Hardwick is a 1993 graduate of Washington, and Sun Devils Rameeka Lowe (Seattle/Garfield HS) and Jennifer Bennett (Spokane/Mead HS) hail from Washington.
BALANCED ATTACK
In ASU's 18 games this season, eight different Sun Devils have led the squad (or tied for the lead) in scoring, while nine players have paced the squad (or tied for the lead) on the glass. Stephanie Freeman has led the team in scoring eight times (two ties), followed by Rachel Holt seven times (three ties), Kisha White three times (two ties) and one each from Rechelle Lang, Ebony Edwards, Michelle Tom, Kristine Sand and Leaf Newman. In the rebounding department, Holt has notched the team-high seven times, followed by White (five times), Newman (four times), Freeman and Lang (three times), Sand and Rameeka Lowe (twice) and Bennett and Edwards (once).
TIMES ARE CHANGING
The Sun Devils have already surpassed their Pac-10 win total (3) from a year ago, and need just one more win to equal their overall total (9) from 1996-97. ASU has averaged 2.8 conference wins and 7.25 overall wins over the last four seasons.
THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED...
The last time ASU ended the first half of Pac-10 play with a 4-5 slate, it finished fifth in the league with a record of 11-7 (1992) and earned an NCAA Tournament berth. The last time the Sun Devils notched five or more Pac-10 wins was 1993, when they finished 10-8 and tied for fourth in the league.
ANOTHER OBSTACLE OVERCOME
ASU's 85-79 win over Oregon State on Jan. 22 qualified as its first Pac-10 road win since Feb. 3, 1995. The Sun Devils snapped a 15-game losing streak with the win.
BIGGEST PAC-10 WINS SINCE...
ASU's 75-54 win over Cal on Jan. 31 was it's largest margin of victory in a Pac-10 game (21 points) in five years, dating back to a 37-point win over Oregon. The Sun Devils' 20-point defeat of Washington State earlier this season was also their biggest Pac-10 win since a 20-point win over the Cougars in 1993.
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, 11 of the Sun Devils' 18 opponents have committed at least 25 miscues this season, with a season-high 40 turnovers by Long Island on Dec. 20.
After 46 games at the helm of the ASU women's basketball program, Head Coach Charli Turner Thorne has the Sun Devils heading in the right direction. ASU had not recorded more than eight wins in a season for three straight years before she arrived in Tempe in June of 1996. Here's what has been changing since then...
In 1997-98 Turner Thorne has guided ASU to:
* Its best Pac-10 start (4-5) since the 1992-93 season when it started out 5-4.
* Its largest margin of victory in a Pac-10 game (+21) since 1992-93 (vs. Cal).
* Its first back-to-back conference wins since 1995-96.
* Its first Pac-10 road win in almost three years.
* One of its biggest upsets ever (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 71.1 free-throw percentage (315-443), and is 7-2 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 26-for-33 (.788) from the charity stripe in ASU's last nine games. The Sun Devils have also benefited from the line since Michelle Tom became eligible (Dec. 20); the 5-8 junior is shooting 73.5 percent (36-for-49) 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 13.6 points per game. Freeman has paced the Sun Devils in scoring in eight games, tying Ebony Edwards with a team-high 18 points vs. UCSB and tying Rachel Holt with 15 points vs. Cal on Jan. 31.
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 (3.1spg) and has 11 double-figure scoring games on the year. With her two thefts in the Oregon game on Jan. 24, Freeman moved to third on the ASU all-time steals chart.
HOLT EMERGES AS A FORCE
Sophomore center Rachel Holt (Buckeye, Ariz.) is shooting 78.8 percent from the line and averaging 11.3 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 10 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 12-point efforts versus Dayton and Oregon State. White grabbed a career-high nine rebounds vs. Oregon on Jan. 24 and posted eight against Arizona (Jan. 17) and Cal (Jan. 31). She was named to the ASU Wells Fargo Classic All-Tournament Team on Dec. 21.
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 9.5 points through 12 games (10.2 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 started a string of four games from Jan. 22-29, 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 Jan. 22 vs. 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 75.6 percent (31-of-41) from the line and averages 3.1 rebounds to go along with 7.4 points in conference games.
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 a string of four starting assignments from Jan. 22 to Jan. 29 due to a swollen knee. She sat out the Stanford and Cal games on Jan. 29 and Jan. 31.
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/F 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
1-1:
#20/F Kisha White
#55/F Stephanie Freeman
#54/C Rachel Holt
#21/G Rameeka Lowe
#32/G 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).
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 (sixth), Arizona (eighth) and Washington (21st) are rated in the top-25, and the Sun Devils met Auburn, Marquette and UCLA already this year.
PERIMETER IMPROVEMENTS
The Sun Devils are shooting 31.0 percent (77-of-248) 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 Jan. 8.
The 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, (51-84) COX Sports
Jan. 31 California, (75-54) 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 17-29(.370/2 years) and her career record stands at 58-68 (.460/5 years). She guided ASU to one of its biggest upsets, beating No. 7 Washington on Jan. 8, 1998, and led ASU to its most wins (9) since the 1992-93 season last year. At NAU, she took the Lumberjacks to consecutive winning seasons in 1994-95 and 1995-96, the first coach in NAU history to accomplish that feat. Turner Thorne was 40-40 overall in her three years in Flagstaff. She previously worked as an assistant at Santa Clara and Washington. Turner Thorne, who signed a four-year contract with ASU in 1996, is assisted by Mark Lewis (Southern Mississippi '82), Laura Hughes (Santa Clara '92) and Erika Hardwick (Washington '93).
#3 RECHELLE LANG
Career Highs
Points: 11 vs. UCSB, 11-20-97
3-Pointers: 2 (twice), last vs. UCLA, 1-4-98
Rebounds: 7 vs. NMSU, 12-6-97
Assists: 9 vs. Long Island, 12-20-97
Steals: 4 vs. Long Island, 12-20-97
Blocks: 2 vs. Dayton, 11-30-97
#4 LEAF NEWMAN
Career Highs
Points: 18 vs. Dayton, 11-30-97
3-Pointers: 2 (four times), last vs. Washington St., 1-10-98
Rebounds: 7 (twice), last vs. Washington St., 1-10-98
Assists: 2 (twice), last vs. Cal, 1-31-98
Steals: 4 vs. Dayton, 11-30-97
Blocks: 2 vs. Long Island, 12-20-97
#10 EBONY EDWARDS
Career Highs
Points: 18 vs. UCSB, 11-20-97
3-Pointers:2 vs. UCSB, 11-20-97
Rebounds: 6 vs. UCSB, 11-20-97
Assists: 2 (twice), last vs. Marquette, 11-29-97
Steals: 3 vs. Long Island, 12-20-97
Blocks: none
#14 KRISTINE SAND
Season Highs
Points: 13 vs. Cal, 1-31-98
3-Pointers: 3 vs. Cal, 1-31-98
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: 3 vs. Cal, 1-31-98
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: 3 vs. Cal, 1-31-98
Assists: 3 vs. Long Island, 12-20-97
Steals: 2 vs. Long Island, 12-20-97
Blocks: none
Career Highs
Points: 14 vs. Puerto Rico-Mayaguez, 11-30-96
3-Pointers: 1 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: 1 vs. Cal, 1-31-98
#40 JENNIFER BENNETT
Career Highs
Points: 4 vs. Marquette, 11-29-97
3-Pointers: none
Rebounds: 7 vs. NMSU, 12-6-97
Assists: none
Steals: 2 (three times), last vs. New Mexico, 12-10-97
Blocks: 2 vs. UCSB, 11-20-97
#50 KELLIE MCDANAL
Career Highs
Points: 8 vs. Long Island, 12-20-97
3-Pointers: none
Rebounds: 5 vs. Washington St., 1-10-98
Assists: none
Steals: 1 vs. Long Island, 12-20-97
Blocks: 1 (twice), last vs. Cal, 1-31-98
#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: 3 vs. Cal, 1-31-98
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: 3 vs. Cal, 1-31-98
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
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
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
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 StateW, 85-79
J. 24 *at Oregon L, 61-100
J. 29 *#9 STANFORD L, 54-81
J. 31 *CALIFORNIA W, 75-54
F. 5 *at Washington St. 8 p.m.
F. 7 *at #21 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; (2) ASU Wells Fargo Classic