WHAT: No. 23 Sun Devil WBB (5-2) at No. 15/18 Kentucky (7-2)
WHEN: Sunday at 1 p.m. ET/11 a.m. MT
WHERE: Rupp Arena • Lexington, Kentucky
TELEVISION: SEC Network
RADIO: NBC Sports Radio AM 1060 (pregame coverage starts at 10:45 a.m. MT)
LIVE AUDIO: TuneIn.com
UP NEXT
The Arizona State women's basketball team (RV AP poll /No. 23 in USA Today coaches poll) will face its toughest road test of the non-conference season when it travels to Lexington, Kentucky, to face No. 15 Kentucky this Sunday (1 p.m. ET/11 a.m. MT) in a game that will be played in the University's famed Rupp Arena.
Sunday's game against the Wildcats represents the second of consecutive ranked, SEC opponents for the Sun Devils, who last Sunday used a dramatic, come-from-behind effort to defeat then-No. 19 Florida in the championship game of the ASU Classic.
The Sun Devils are currently in the middle of a stretch in which they are playing five of seven games away from home. ASU started the string of games with a 75-63 setback at Marquette on Nov. 19. The Sun Devils then traveled to Las Vegas where they lost to current fourth-ranked Maryland before bouncing back with consecutive wins over St. John's (played in Las Vegas), Boston (home) and Florida (home). After Sunday's game at Kentucky ASU will remain on the road as it will next journey to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, to face Middle Tennessee on Tuesday night. The Sun Devils will then return to Tempe and host two games on either side of Christmas. ASU will first close out the non-conference portion of its schedule with games vs. Oral Roberts (Sat., Dec. 17) and Holy Cross (Wed., Dec. 21). Nine days later it will open Pac-12 play when its hosts current No. 10 Stanford on Fri., Dec. 30 and Cal on New Year's Day.
ASU opened the new campaign with home wins over Illinois State (76-40) and San Jose State (82-37). Seven players averaged 7.0 or more points in the two wins led by senior forward Sophie Brunner and freshman guard Reili Richardson, who averaged 9.0 points each. ASU shot 45 percent in the two wins, including 41 percent from long distance (13-32). The Sun Devils were equally impressive on the defensive end where they held both squads to a combined shooting percentage of 29.3 while giving up only one triple (1-20).
Marquette (60.8 percent) and Maryland (54.5 percent) both used great shooting performances to beat the Sun Devils, who shot a combined 36 percent in the two games, including 22 percent from long range.
During its current three-game winning streak the Sun Devils are shooting 48 percent from the floor, are +6.3 on the boards and are +5.6 in the turnover battle. Leading the way on the offensive end during the winning streak have been senior posts Sophie Brunner (13.0 ppg/17-26 FGs) and Quinn Dornstauder (12.0 ppg/16-23 FGs), who combined to average 25.0 ppg and shoot a collective 67 percent (33-49) from the floor. Dornstauder (4-4 FGs, nine points) and Brunner (4-4 FGs, eight points) did not miss a shot and combined for 17 of ASU's 30 points in the fourth quarter of ASU's come-from-behind win over Florida last Sunday.
COVERAGE
Sunday's game can be seen on SEC Network. Melissa Lee (play by play) and Debbie Antonelli (analyst) will call the action. Sunday's game can also be heard on NBC Sports Radio AM 1060 and on the Sun Devil Athletics Tune-In Channel. Pre-game coverage will begin at 10:45 a.m. in the Valley. Veteran broadcaster and the state of Arizona's 2010 Broadcaster of the Year Jeff Munn is in his 13th season as the voice of ASU women's basketball.
SERIES NOTES
Kentucky won the only previous meeting, 68-64, in last year's season opener. Sophie Brunner had 19 points, seven rebounds and four assists while Quinn Dornstauder added eight points and three blocks for ASU. Kentucky used an 8-2 run to force the game into overtime after the Sun Devils took a 54-48 advantage with 1:59 remaining.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
• This year's Sun Devil squad returns three senior starters – posts Sophie Brunner, Quinn Dornstauder and Kelsey Moos – from the 2015-16 team that captured a share of the Pac-12 regular season title, won 26 games (tied for third-highest win total in program history) and went on to earn a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament, the highest placement in program history. In addition, 2016 Pac-12 Coach of the Year Charli Turner Thorne also welcomes a five-member freshman class – Sydney Goodson, Reili Richardson, Jamie Ruden, Kiara Russell and Robbi Ryan – that was ranked among the nation's top 10 signing classes when it was announced last fall, and Sara Hattis, a graduate post who will be eligible to play this season after transferring to ASU from the University of Texas in May.
• The Sun Devils opened the season ranked No. 18 in the AP poll and No. 16 in the USA Today coaches poll. They remained there after going 2-0 opening weekend. They fell five spots in both polls after losing at Marquette (Nov. 19). ASU's streak of appearing in 35 consecutive AP polls came to an end after splitting its games at the South Point Thanksgiving Shootout (lost to then-No. 6 Maryland and defeated St. John's). The Sun Devils have remained ranked in the coaches poll all season (currently 23rd).
• As of Dec. 9, ASU ranked among the top third in the Pac-12 in 3-point FG pct. defense (first/18.7 percent), rebounding defense (second/30.6 rpg), offensive rebounds (second/16.1 rpg), scoring defense (third/54.4 ppg) and turnover margin (fourth/+3.7). Brunner currently ranks fifth in the league in offensive rebounds (3.3 rpg), 10th in field goal percentage (54.4 percent) and 12th in steals (1.9 spg) while Dornstauder is 18th in rebounding (5.7 rpg).
• Brunner became the 22nd Sun Devil to reach 1,000 career points in ASU's win over St. John's (Nov. 26). Last week Brunner was named the ASU Classic MVP for the third time in her four-year Sun Devil career after averaging 12.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.5 steals while connecting on 62.5 percent of her field goals during the two-game tournament. In the three ASU Classic championship games she played in, Brunner averaged 18.3 points, 11.7 rebounds and 2.7 steals while knocking down 60 percent of her shots. She did not play in last year's ASU Classic due to injury.
• Dornstauder (96 career blocks) needs three blocks to move into a tie for fourth place (Fran Ciak/99/1987-90) on ASU's all-time list and four blocks to move into a tie for third place (100/Becca Tobin/2008-11).
• Kelsey Moos has 15 assists and only two turnovers during ASU's current three-game winning streak. Already this season Moos has established new single-game career highs for assists (8) and steals (6) and tied a career high with three 3-pointers.
• ASU's five member freshman class – Sydney Goodson, Reili Richardson, Jamie Ruden, Kiara Russell and Robbi Ryan – combined for 60 points and 19 assists the first two wins of the season. Richardson was named the Pac-12's Freshman of the Week after averaging 9.0 points and 5.5 assists while connecting on 58 percent of her shots in the two wins. Richardson, who had seven points and seven assists in her Sun Devil debut, tied fellow freshman Robbi Ryan with a game-high 11 points (4-7 FGs) to go along with four assists in ASU's 82-37 win over San Jose State. Ryan scored 19 points in ASU's loss at Marquette (Nov. 19). The 19 points represent the most scored by a Sun Devil in the first four games of the season. So far this season the quintet has combined for 37 percent of ASU's points and 44 percent of its assists. Ryan (7.6 ppg) and Richardson (7.4 ppg) are currently third and fourth, respectively, on the team in scoring.
• ASU has allowed one (4x) or zero (1x) 3-pointers a combined five times.
NOTES FROM LAST WEEK
• The Sun Devils won their home tournament, the ASU Classic, for the 13th time in the last 16 seasons after coming away with wins over Boston (71-42) and No. 19 Florida (69-63).
• Sabrina Haines (12 points), Quinn Dornstauder (11 points) and Sophie Brunner (10 points) all scored in double figures in the win over Boston. he trio of Haines (3-5 FGs), Dornstauder (5-5) and Brunner (4-5) combined to shoot 80 percent (12-15). ASU shot a season-high 58 percent and scored 30 points off 22 turnovers.
• In the championship game against Florida, the Sun Devils overcame a 12-point deficit entering the fourth quarter by outscoring the Gators 30-12 over the final 10 minutes to claim the win. The 30 points represented the most points ever scored by ASU in a quarter.
• Seniors Brunner, Dornstauder and Kelsey Moos combined for 38 points and 26 rebounds in the win against Florida. ASU connected on all but one of its shots (13-14) in the fourth quarter. Moos tied her career high with three triples to go along with a career-high eight assists.
• Sophomore Kianna Ibis averaged 10.0 points and 4.5 rebounds while connecting on 75 percent of her shots (9-12) in the two wins.
BRUNNER NOMINATED FOR WBCA/ALLSTATE GOOD WORKS TEAM
Arizona State University women's basketball's Sophie Brunner was one of 97 women's basketball student-athletes recently named as nominees for the 2017 Allstate WBCA Good Works Team®. The esteemed award honors an outstanding group of student-athletes who represent the sport's finest in the areas of community service and leadership among their peers.
The Allstate WBCA Good Works Team® recognizes players at all levels of college basketball whose charitable involvement and altruistic acts stand out amongst all other student-athletes participating in the sport.
Brunner's selfless and giving attitude has been on display since her freshman year when she volunteered to be a frequent participant in the Sun Devil women's basketball team's Character Code program. Since that time Brunner, who was also a nominee for the Good Works Team in 2015, has led assemblies in more than 30 schools across the Valley where she encourages youth to practice good character at home, at school and with friends.
In 2014 Brunner joined a group of Sun Devil student-athletes who traveled with Arizona State University American Indian students to Hopi and Navajo lands as part of the ASU Tribal Nations Tour. Sophie joined her peers in the endeavor to interact with tribal members, encourage higher education and wellness, and work on community service projects.
Brunner's community service efforts have also included being a leader in the Interact Program, where she performed service projects for the underserved, made holiday baskets and kits for Haiti and organized food drives. She also took part in DAWG, a drug and alcohol awareness group promoting sobriety and mentoring her peers.
NOTES
• ASU was picked to finish in fourth place in the Pac-12 by both the league's coaches and media who cover the conference. The Sun Devils received one first-place vote in the media poll.
• Over the last three seasons ASU is 36-7 in non-conference games and 47-6 at home.
• ASU is 31-5 in regular season Pac-12 games the last two seasons. Prior to its loss at Oregon State on Feb. 1, 2016, ASU's 9-0 record in Pac-12 play was its best conference start in program history (surpassed last 7-0 start in 2015).
• The Sun Devils are 21-4 in road games since the start of the 2014-15 season. Last season the Sun Devils set a program record with 11 road wins.
• ASU has allowed an average of only 55.3 points per game since the start of the 2014-15 season (75 games). On average, opposing teams scored more than 15.0 points under their scoring average when facing ASU last season. In fact, only two opponents (Marquette and Tennessee), scored more points than what they averaged coming into their respective games vs. ASU.
• In the last three seasons the Sun Devils are 25-6 in games decided by five points or less and/or overtime.
• Since the 1996-97 season, Turner Thorne's first season at ASU, the Sun Devils lead the Pac-12 in the number of first-team All-Academic conference awards (19) and the combined number of first- and second-team All-Academic conference awards (40). In 2014-15 ASU's team GPA (3.558) was No. 7 on the Women's Basketball Coaches Association's (WBCA) 2015 Academic Honor Roll.
CHARLI TURNER THORNE HAS SUN DEVIL WBB AMONG NATION'S ELITE
The all-time winningest coach in program history and No. 2 in the Pac-12 in career wins (385), Charli Turner Thorne has turned Sun Devil women's basketball into one of the nation's premiere programs since taking over in 1996-97. Included in ASU's earlier run of 13 consecutive postseason appearances (2000-12) were a school record five-consecutive NCAA Tournament bids from 2005-09. During that time the Sun Devils qualified for the Elite Eight on a pair of occasions, making ASU one of only 15 programs in the country to have qualified for the Elite Eight at least two times between 2007-12.
Last season Turner Thorne was named the 2016 Pac-12 Coach of the Year (coaches and media), the second time she has been recognized with the honor (2001), after leading the Sun Devils to their second regular season Pac-12 championship. ASU would go on to earn its highest NCAA Tournament seed (No. 2) in program history. In 2016 ASU has also tied the program records for most conference wins (16) and consecutive wins (15) and set the program record for most road wins (11). Turner Thorne would go on to also be named the WBCA Region 5 Co-Coach of the Year.
In 2014-15 Turner Thorne was named one of 10 semifinalists for the Naismith Women's College Coach of the Year for a season in which she led the Sun Devils to their best start in school history (18-1), their best conference start in school history (7-0), a second-place finish in the Pac-12 and 29 wins, the second-highest number of wins in school history.
In 2013-14 Turner Thorne, who recorded both the 400th win of her coaching career and her 200th Pac-12 win last season, raised the curtain on the team's current era of success as she helped the Sun Devils post one of the best turnarounds in the country as they went from a 13-18 record and a ninth-place Pac-12 finish (5-13) in 2012-13 to a 23-10 record and fourth-place Pac-12 finish (11-7). Included among ASU's 23 wins in 2013-14 were three triumphs over Top 25 teams.
The outstanding success Sun Devil women's basketball has enjoyed under Turner Thorne is a 180-degree difference from the program that had an aggregate record of 20-60 in the three years prior to her arrival and only two NCAA Tournament wins in its history.
CELEBRATING ELITE ACCOMPLISHMENT
This season will be the 10th anniversary of ASU's first ever appearance in the NCAA Elite Eight. Led by senior forwards Aubree Johnson and Emily Westerberg who were both named to the All-Pac-10 Team, ASU set school records for overall wins (31), most Pac-10 wins (16 - tied in 2016) and most road wins (10 - broken in 2016) With the honor, Westerberg became the first Sun Devil to be named to the All-Pac-10 Team three times. In addition to Johnson and Westerberg's accolades, sophomore guard Briann January was named All-Pac-10 Honorable Mention and guard Dymond Simon was named to the Pac-10 All-Freshman Team.
SUN DEVIL WBB ANNOUNCES THE SIGNING OF EVA RUBIN AND BRE'YANNA SANDERS
On Nov. 9, 2016, Arizona State University head women's basketball coach Charli Turner Thorne today announced that student-athletes Eva Rubin and Bre'yanna Sanders signed national letters of intent to join the Sun Devil women's basketball program.
"We are excited to announce that Eva and Bre will be joining our Sun Devil women's basketball family," Turner Thorne said. "Both of these young women come from great families and will not only excel on the court but in the classroom and our community."
A 6-5 post, Rubin will be coming to ASU from Homewood-Flossmoor High School in Flossmoor, Illinois, where she averaged 15 points, eight rebounds and four blocks as a junior in 2016. Ranked No. 14 at her position by ESPN.com, Rubin earned Class 3A/4A All-State recognition from the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association last season in addition to also being named to the All-Area and All-Conference teams. As a sophomore in 2015, Rubin helped lead her squad to a fourth-place finish in the IHSA 4A state tournament. During Homewood-Flossmoor's run in the tournament, Rubin tied a Class 4A single-game record with five blocked shots.
A 6-0 forward, Sanders will be joining the Sun Devils from Clovis West High School in Fresno, California, where she has earned first-team All-Valley recognition in addition to being named the team's defensive player of the year each of the last two seasons. In 2016 Sanders averaged 11.0 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.9 steals and 2.2 blocks in helping lead her team to 30-4 record and the semifinals of the Southern California Regional Open Division. She would go on to be named the league co-player of the year. In 2015 Sanders had a big role on a team that posted a 26-5 record, its third straight Central Section Division I title and reached the second round of the Southern California Open Division regional.