It’s the first game of the season for a new-look ASU women’s basketball team.
The losses of Dymond Simon, Becca Tobin and Tenaya Watson to graduation gutted the Sun Devils’ starting lineup, but that wasn’t a problem against Azusa Pacific, as two of the top three scorers were both freshmen. Guard Promise Amukamara notched 14 points and had an impressive seven steals, while forward Jada Blackwell finished with 12 points and eight rebounds.
But experience may be needed against UC Riverside on Friday. When the two teams met last season, the Sun Devils held just a three-point lead at halftime, before Simon helped ASU blow the game open in the second half.
The Highlanders finished the season with a winning record, but lost five seniors over the summer due to graduation.
Despite the prominence of their freshmen in the exhibition game, the Sun Devils actually have a very experienced squad, boasting nine upperclassmen on a 13-woman roster.
This game is a fresh start for ASU, who faltered down the stretch during conference play last year and was knocked out of the NCAA Tournament in the first round by Utah.
It will also be the first regular season game without coach Charli Turner Thorne on the sideline. Turner Thorne is taking a year off, and interim coach Joseph Anders, who has been on staff for 11 years, will helm the team for the 2011-12 season.
The game starts at noon.
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