WBB Hosts Montana State in Annual Salute to Service Game

See the full game recap with Box score, team stats and game leaders.

THE GAME: Sun Devil WBB (1-0) vs. Montana State (0-1)
WHEN: Friday at 6 p.m. MST
WHERE: Desert Financial Arena • Tempe, Ariz.
WATCH: ASU Live Stream-2
RADIO: KDUS AM 1060
LIVE STATS: Click here
PURCHASE TICKETS: Click here
 
The Sun Devil women's basketball team (1-0) continues its three-game homestand to open the new season when it hosts Montana State (0-1) on Friday (6 p.m. MST) at Desert Financial Arena in the program's annual Salute to Service game. 
 
The Sun Devils opened the 2023-24 campaign with a 70-55 win over UTSA on Monday. Jaddan Simmons scored a game-high 17 points to go with four steals and four assists while Jalyn Brown added 16 points in her Sun Devil debut. Also scoring in double figures were Maggie Besselink and Trayanna Crisp, who contributed 10 points each. ASU tied last season's highest point total in a half on its way to a 49-23 halftime lead.
 
The performance turned in by Besselink was equal parts effective and inspirational. Besselink, who missed last season due to injury and had not played in a game since Feb. 6, 2022, was not only in the starting lineup in her first game back but also played a major role in igniting ASU's offense after hitting back-to-back triples in the first quarter.
 
WATCH/LISTEN
Friday's game can be seen via ASU Live Stream-2. The game can also be heard on KDUS AM 1060. 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 MONTANA STATE
ASU's 79-64 win at Montana State last November represented ASU's fifth success vs. Montana State in as many games. Tyi Skinner (game-high 24 points), Treasure Hunt (19 points) and Jaddan Simmons (15 points) combined for 58 points in the win. ASU raced out to a 20-0 lead in the first meeting between the two schools since 1993.
 
STATE OF PLAY
ASU will close out its season-opening homestand vs. San Francisco on Monday. The Sun Devils will then 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.
• Started 2023-24 season opener vs. UTSA (Nov. 6).
• Played in 21 games and recorded career-highs in points (10) and steals (3) versus Queens (N.C.) on Nov. 13.
• 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 78 games she's played in her career.
• Scored a game-high 17 points to go with four steals and four assists in ASU's season-opening win over UTSA (Nov. 6).
• Currently with 862 points, needs 138 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.
• Finished second in the Pac-12 and 27th in the nation in points per game last season.
• Scored in double figures in 25 of 28 games, including 15 games with 20 or more points.
 
#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.
• Started and had 10 points, two assists and two steals in ASU's season-opening win over UTSA (Nov. 6).
• Averaged double figures in scoring (11.5 ppg) and connected on 60 percent of her field goals (9-15) at the 2022 Goombay Splash (Nov. 25-26).
 
#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). Scored 14 points (7-10 FGs) in semifinal matchup vs. Argentina and connected on 51 percent of her FGs in the tournament.
• 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.
• 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 and had career-best 15 rebounds at New Mexico on Nov. 20.
• Including two seasons at Kentucky, has started 57 of the 73 games.
 
#13 • Sandra Magolico • F • 6-2 • Jr. • Maputo, Mozambique
• Transferred to ASU after playing two seasons at New Mexico CC.
• Scored two points and grabbed three boards in ASU's season-opening win vs. UTSA (Nov. 6).
• 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.
• Transferred to ASU from Dodge City CC (Dodge City, Kan.) where Miller played one season.
Sister of incoming freshman Sun Devil Mallory Miller. Both players are in their first season with the program.
• Played in 23 games (three starts) and averaged 11.3 minutes per game.
• As a senior, teamed with sister 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).
• After accounting for 6 points, 4 rebounds and one block in the fourth quarter of ASU's comeback win at GCU (Nov. 30, 2022), Thompson had her first career double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds vs. UMass (Dec. 2).
• In her first career start freshman year, Thompson accounted for 11 points and six rebounds in ASU's win over Prairie View A&M (Dec. 17).
 
#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).
• Came to Louisville from St. Frances Academy, the same high school that former Cardinals great and WNBA All-Star Angel McCoughtry attended.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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%.

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 the Sun Devil women's basketball team'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 leads 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.