WBB Goes for Third Straight Win to Open the Season vs. San Francisco

THE GAME: Sun Devil WBB (2-0) vs. San Francisco (1-1)
WHEN: Monday at 7 p.m. MST
WHERE: Desert Financial Arena • Tempe, Ariz.
WATCH: ASU Live Stream
RADIO: KAZG 1440 AM
LIVE STATS: Click here
PURCHASE TICKETS: Click here
 
UP NEXT
The Sun Devil women's basketball team (2-0) concludes its three-game homestand to open the 2023-24 season when it hosts San Francisco (1-1) on Monday (7 p.m. MST) at Desert Financial Arena in the program's Season Ticket Holder Appreciation Game. 
 
The Sun Devils have collected two wins in as many games to open the new campaign, defeating UTSA 70-55 on Nov. 6 and Montana State 70-55 on Nov. 10. Jaddan Simmons averaged 17.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 4.0 apg and 3.5 apg, while connecting on 57 percent (8-14) of her field goal attempts and 89 percent of her free throws (16-18) in the two wins. Also scoring in double figures vs. UTSA were Jalyn Brown (16 points in her Sun Devil debut), Maggie Besselink and Trayanna Crisp (10 points each).
 
In Friday's win, Journey Thompson came off the bench to score 13 points and grab 12 rebounds for ASU's first double-double of the season. Kadidia Toure matched Simmons' total in both points (17) and rebounds (seven) while Brown added 11 points and three boards.
 
In the win vs. UTSA, ASU tied last season's highest point total in a half on its way to a 49-23 halftime lead. Against Montana State, ASU scored 30 points in the first quarter, representing the third time the Sun Devils have scored 30 or more points in a quarter under head coach Natasha Adair.
 
WATCH/LISTEN
Monday's game can be seen via ASU Live Stream. The game can also be heard on KAZG 1440 AM with pregame coverage beginning at 6:30 p.m. Veteran broadcaster and the state of Arizona's 2010 & 2019 Broadcaster of the Year Jeff Munn is in his 20th season as the voice of ASU women's basketball. He will be joined by former Sun Devil head coach Maura McHugh.
 
SERIES NOTES VERSUS SAN FRANCISCO
ASU will take on San Francisco for the first time since December of 1985. The Sun Devils have come out in top in the two previous meetings, both on a neutral floor: 68-56 in the Northern Lights Tournament (Anchorage, Alaska) in 1982 and 80-66 at the 7-up Desert Classic (Las Vegas) in 1985.

NOTES FROM FIRST TWO WINS
• Offensively, ASU has averaged 47.0 points and connected on 49 percent of its shots in the first half.
• It has connected on 57 percent of its shots in the first quarter while allowing the opposition to shoot only 31 percent.
• The Sun Devils have scored 49 points off of 32 turnovers and have averaged 25.5 free throw attempts.
• ASU has allowed 11 or fewer points in a quarter five times.
• After Montana State cut a 20-point deficit to four with seven minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, the Sun Devils answered with a 10-0 run. They allowed the Bobcats to shoot just 17 percent (2-12) in the fourth quarter.

LOOKING AHEAD
After Monday's game, the Sun Devils will begin a sequence that will see them play four of five games away from home. ASU will play its first road game of the season on Thursday at Grambling. The game is part of the Pac-12-SWAC Legacy Series. Announced in Sept. 2021, the allyship between the Pac-12 and SWAC was the first series of its kind as it pertained to scheduling between Autonomy 5 and HBCU leagues. Each of last year's games featured programming with emphasis on raising awareness for anti-racism and social justice initiatives. A critical component of the Legacy Series is ongoing educational opportunities for student-athletes featuring community leaders and expert Conference alumni.
 
After it plays at Grambling, ASU will return to Tempe to host Idaho State on Sun., Nov. 19. It will then conclude the first month of play at the Paradise Jam where it will play three games in three days on Thanksgiving weekend: vs. No. 13 Texas (Nov. 23), vs. USF (Nov. 24), vs. High Point (Nov. 25).

PLAYER NOTES
#1 • Kadidia Toure • F • 6-3 • So. • Silver Spring, Md.
• Transferred to ASU in 2023 after playing freshman season at James Madison.
• Has started both games in 2023-24. Scored 17 points and grabbed seven rebounds in win vs. Montana State (Nov. 10).
• Four-year varsity player for Our Lady of Good Counsel (Olney, Md.). As a senior in 2022, the league's player of the year averaged 14 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks on her way to WCAC Player of the Year honors and first-team All-Met recognition.
 
#2 • Jaddan Simmons • G • 5-9 • Sr. • Houston, Texas
• Has started all 79 games she's played in her career.
• Has averaged 17.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 4.0 apg and 3.5 apg, while connecting on 57 percent (8-14) of her field goal attempts and 89 percent of her free throws (16-18) in ASU's first two games.
• Currently with 879 points, needs 121 to reach 1,000 career points.
• Was named 2022 Preseason Pac-12 Honorable Mention and at the conclusion of the season was named Pac-12 All-Defensive Team Honorable Mention.
• Scored in double figures in 22 of 27 games last season on her way to a single-season, career-high 12.4 ppg.
 
#3 • Tyi Skinner • G • 5-5 • Sr. • Washington, D.C.
• Was announced on October 4, 2023 that Tyi Skinner will miss the 2023-24 season due to a knee injury.
• Tyi Skinner made an immediate impact in her first season as a Sun Devil, earning All Pac-12 recognition from media that cover the league and Pac-12 honorable mention honors from the league's coaches for a season in which she started all 28 games and averaged the most points per game (19.2) in a season since 1988-89.
• Scored in double figures in 25 of 28 games, including 15 games with 20 or more points, and finished second in the Pac-12 and 27th in the nation in points per game last season.
 
#4 • Trayanna Crisp • G • 5-8 • So. • Goodyear, Ariz.
• In her first season wearing the Maroon and Gold, Crisp appeared in all 28 games, starting five of them.
• Has started both games this season and had 10 points, two assists and two steals in ASU's season-opening win over UTSA (Nov. 6).
 
#10 • Marina Radocaj • G/F • 6-2 • Fr. • Richmond, British Columbia
• Talented standout, who earned spots on Canada's U16 and U17 teams.
• Hit one of ASU's nine 3-pointers in its season-opening win over UTSA (Nov. 6).
• Member of the 2021 U16 Canadian Team that placed second at FIBA Americas. Radocaj averaged 9.2 points and 5.0 rebounds per game in the six games she played (all starts). • Played in five games at the 2022 FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup.
 
#11 • Maggie Besselink • G/F • 6-3 • Sr. • Kingston, Ontario
• After missing the 2022-23 season due to injury, made her return to the floor in 2023-24.
• Has started both of ASU's games this season. In her first game since Feb. 6, 2022, Besselink tied for the team high with three triples in season opening win over UTSA (Nov. 6).
 
#12 • Treasure Hunt • G • 6-2 • Sr. • Chattanooga, Tenn.
• In her first season as a Sun Devil, played & started in 27 games and averaged 34.1 minutes (third on team), 11.3 points and 6.1 rebounds. Also made 28 3-pointers and had 22 blocks and 25 steals. Had career-high 24 points vs. Arizona on Jan. 22, 2023, and had career-best 15 rebounds at New Mexico on Nov. 20.
• Scored 9 points in win vs. Montana St. (Nov. 10).
• Including two seasons at Kentucky, has started 57 of the 74 games.
 
#13 • Sandra Magolico • F • 6-2 • Jr. • Maputo, Mozambique
• Transferred to ASU after playing two seasons at New Mexico CC.
• Has averaged 13.0 minutes in two games this season.
• In 2019, competed for the Mozambique national team, playing in nine games and averaged 11.0 minutes per game.
• Started 28 of 30 games in 2022-23 in leading New Mexico JC to a 26-6 record and a Round of 16 finish in the NJCAA Women's Basketball Championship.
 
#20 • Kiley Sours-Miller • C • 6-3 • Fr. • Surprise, Ariz.
• Playing for Dream City Christian, as a senior was ranked No. 10 in The Arizona Republic's Elite Girls 50 players in 2022-23. At the time (December 2022), Sours-Miller was averaging 12.7 points, 10.7 rebounds and two blocks.
• Scored more than 1,000 points in her career and led Dream Christian to the 2023 Girls Open Division state title.
• Averaged a double-double after playing first two seasons at Peoria Centennial, junior season at Phoenix Greenway and senior season at Glendale Dream City Christian.
 
#21 • Hanna Miller • F • 6-2 • So. • Aberdeen, S.D.
• The sister of incoming freshman Sun Devil Mallory Miller, transferred to ASU from Dodge City CC (Dodge City, Kan.) where she played in 23 games (3 starts) and averaged 11.3 minutes per game.
• As a senior in high school, teamed with Mallory to help lead Aberdeen Christian to a 21-5 record and a berth in the Class B girls basketball tournament.
 
#22 • Journey Thompson • F • 6-3 • So. • McMurray, Pa.
• Played in 13 games (three starts) as a freshman before having season prematurely come to an end due to injury.
• Scored five points, grabbed four rebounds and had two steals in ASU's season-opening win over UTSA (Nov. 6) and followed that with 13 points and 12 rebounds for ASU's first double-double of the season in win vs. Montana State (Nov. 10).
 
#23 • Jalyn Brown • G • 6-1 • So. • Baltimore, Md.
• Transferred to ASU in 2023 after playing freshman season at Louisville. Played in seven contests for Louisville squad that went on to conclude its season in the Elite Eight of the 2023 NCAA Tournament.
• Had tremendous Sun Devil debut: Scored 16 points, including team high-tying three 3-pointers, and grabbed four rebounds in ASU's season-opening win vs. UTSA (Nov. 6). Followed that with an 11-point outing vs, Montana State (Nov. 10).
• A four-star prospect coming out of high school, who was ranked No. 78 overall and the No. 12 ranked wing by espnW HoopGurlz, Brown was ranked the fifth best player in Maryland by Prep Girls Hoops.
 
#24 • Mallory Miller • F • 6-4 • Fr. • Aberdeen, S.D.
• Has averaged 26 minutes in season's first two games.
• The sister of ASU sophomore guard Hanna Miller, Mallory was named a KELOLAND Media Group All-Star Girls Basketball Player of the Year finalist and was nominated Miss Basketball 2023 for the state of South Dakota after posting per-game averages of 18.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists.
• Led Wolsey-Wessington to a 22-3 record an appearance in the state semifinals (its first appearance in the state tournament) and the state's top seed in 2023.
• As a junior, teamed with sister Hanna to help Aberdeen Christian to a 21-5 record and a berth in the Class B girls basketball tournament.
 
#25 • Adison Novosel • G • 5-11 • Jr. • Richfield, Ohio
• Transferred to ASU in 2023 after playing first two seasons at Saint Francis University where she appeared in 35 contests (25 starts).
• After appearing in seven games off the bench as a freshman, started 25 of 28 games in 2022-23.
• As a sophomore, led Saint Francis with 29 triples and posted career highs in points (12) and 3-pointers (4) vs. Central Connecticut State (Jan. 28). Also pulled down a career-high six rebounds twice – at Xavier (Nov. 13), at Sacred Heart (Feb. 9) and snared a career-high three steals vs. Coppin State (Nov. 7).
 
#30 • Morasha Wiggins • G • 6-0 • Jr. • Kalamazoo, Mich.
• Transferred to ASU after playing her freshman season (2021-22) at North Carolina. Miss last season due to injury.
• Ranked 18th in the ESPNW Class of 2021 rankings, Wiggins was expected to be an impact player for the Sun Devils before suffering a preseason injury that forced her to miss the entire 2022-23 campaign.
 
#44 • Isadora Sousa • G • 6-0 • Grad. • Sao Paulo, Brazil
• Has played in 30 games with seven starts in her two seasons with the Sun Devils.
• Has worked hard to come back from injury each of last two seasons and has proved to be an effective performer when on the floor.
• In 2022-23, scored a career high-tying points in consecutive games (at Stanford/Dec. 31 and at Cal/Jan 2) and had the second highest field goal percentage on the team, shooting 44.8%.
 
WBB ALL-PAC-12 STANDOUT TYI SKINNER TO MISS 2023-24 SEASON
Although the Sun Devil women's basketball team's overall health is a 180-degree difference from last season, the squad was dealt a tremendous blow when Natasha Adair announced Oct. 4, 2023 that senior guard Tyi Skinner will miss the 2023-24 season due to a knee injury.
 
Skinner, who last season earned All-Pac-12 honorable mention honors from the league's coaches and All-Pac-12 recognition from media who cover the league, quickly established herself as one of top scorers in the Pac-12 and one of the most exciting players in the nation to watch in her first season in Tempe.
 
 In 2022-23, Skinner scored 20 or more points 15 times, including a career-high 29 points on two occasions. A starter in all 28 games, Skinner went on to average 19.3 points per game, the most by a Sun Devil since the 1988-89 season. She concluded her first campaign in the Maroon and Gold among the leaders in the Pac-12 in points per game (19.3/2nd/27th in the nation), 3-pointers per game (2.43 per game/2nd), minutes per game (36.59/3rd/29th in the nation), free throws made (79/3rd)  and attempted (91/4th), steals per game (1.71/5th), 3-point FG percentage (34.7/6th) and free throw percentage (78.1/8th).
 
Skinner, who played her first two seasons at Delaware under Adair, went over 1,000 points in career scoring last season, concluding the campaign with 1,203 career points.
 
SCHEDULE NOTES
• Games against four teams that qualified for postseason play last season highlight ASU's 2023 non-conference schedule.
• The Sun Devils will play 17 home games: eight non-conference and nine Pac-12 contests. The Sun Devils, who will open the season on Mon., Nov. 6 at home vs. UTSA, will commence Pac-12 play – at home vs. Arizona on Dec. 17 – while still in the midst of playing their non-conference schedule. ASU's non-conference slate will conclude on Dec. 30 at home vs. Santa Clara.
• ASU will play 2023 NCAA Tournament participants Texas and South Florida and 2023 WNIT entry High Point at the Paradise Jam.
• The Pac-12 led all conferences with six teams in the AP Preseason Top 25: No. 4 UCLA, No. 5 Utah, No. 15 Stanford, No. 20 Colorado, No. 21 USC and No. 24 Washington State.
• The Sun Devils will appear on Pac-12 Networks at least 20 times during the 2023-24 campaign.
 
RECAPPING THE 2022-23 SEASON
Despite a spate of unlucky injuries to key personnel, the Sun Devils had several noteworthy accomplishments during Adair's inaugural season in Tempe. The accomplishments included...
• Starting 5-0 for the first time since 2002-03.
• Finishing the season No. 2 in the Pac-12 and 10th in the nation in fewest turnovers per game (12.3). Only ASU's 2017-18 squad averaged fewer turnovers per game (11.7) in a season.
• Even with all its injuries, ASU nearly pulled off three Top 25 upsets in the season's final five games: vs. No. 21 Colorado (62-70), vs. No. 4 Utah (69-74) and vs. No. 19 UCLA (70-81-OT) in the first round of the Pac-12
Tournament. After trailing the Bruins by as many as 19 points in the third quarter, the Sun Devils staged a furious rally to take a two-point lead in regulation before falling in overtime. The win would have been ASU's biggest comeback in school history.
• In their 75-73 win at Oregon State, the Sun Devils overcame their second-largest deficit in school history (17 points). The victory was also No. 175 of Adair's career.
• Individually, Sun Devil guards Jaddan Simmons (Pac-12 All-Defense honorable mention) and Tyi Skinner (All-Pac-12 honorable mention) comprised one of the most talented backcourts in the country. Both players earned Pac-12 honors as voted on by the league's head coaches. Skinner, who finished second in the Pac-12 and 27th in the nation in scoring (19.2 ppg), was also named to the media's 15-member All-Pac-12 team.