Sun Devil women's basketball travels to New England to face Providence, Boston College

December 06, 2012

The Arizona State women's basketball team goes back on the road this week when it travels northeast to take on Providence at 7 p.m., ET, Dec. 7, and Boston College at 1 p.m., ET, Dec. 9.


After this week's games, the Sun Devils will begin a three-game homestand with their annual "Field Trip" game on Wednesday when they host San Diego at 11 a.m.


QUICK NOTES


• A demanding schedule that has ASU playing six of its first nine games on the road, which includes games at Providence and Boston College this weekend, begins to let up a little bit this month as the Sun Devils play five of their seven games at home.


• Three of ASU's four losses have been by six or fewer points.


• Since 2010, ASU is 13-2 in December games.


• The Sun Devils have averaged 16.0 assists in their last four contests (+2.5 above season average).


• The Sun Devils are shooting 47.3 percent from the field in their last three games (+4.3 percent above season average) .


• As of Dec. 6, ASU ranks in the top half of the Pac-12 in free throw percentage (3rd, .724), blocked shots (t-4th, 4.3 bpg), field goal percentage (5th, .426), scoring defense (5th, 59.1 ppg), rebounding defense (t-5th, 34.3 rpg), field goal percentage defense (.363, 6th), 3-point FG percentage defense (6th, .312) and rebounding margin (t-6th, +4.9). Individually, sophomore G Promise Amukamara is tied for third in the Pac-12 in FT percentage (.875) and sixth in steals (2.7 spg); RS-Jr. C Joy Burke is tied for second in blocks (2.0 bpg), 11th in FG pct. (.521) and rebounds (7.4 rpg), 12th in offensive rebounds (3.0 rpg), and 14th in defensive rebounds (4.4 rpg); RS-Sr. F Janae Fulcher is fourth in FG pct. (.620) and tied for 25th in scoring (10.7 ppg); and junior G Adrianne Thomas is 13th in FT shooting pct. (.720). 


• Janae Fulcher (12.6 ppg, 26-43 FGs/.605) and Joy Burke(10.2 ppg/20-37 FGs/.541) have combined to average 22.8 points and have collectively shot 57.5 percent (46-80 FGs) from the field in ASU's last five games.


• Freshman Haley Videckis, who is currently second on the team in rebounding (4.9 rpg), pulled down a career-best nine rebounds in Saturday's win over Binghamton. She tied her career high in scoring with nine points vs. Dayton on Sunday.


RADIO


Both of this weekend's game can be heard live on 1440 AM KAZG. Coverage will begin at 4:30 p.m. MT on Friday and 10:30 a.m. MT on Sunday. Veteran broadcaster and the state of Arizona's 2010 Broadcaster of the Year Jeff Munn is in his ninth season as the voice of ASU women's basketball. 


NOTES FROM LAST GAME: No. 23/22 Dayton 65, ASU 59; Dec. 2, 2012; Tempe, Ariz.


• ASU led by as many as 14 in the second half as Dayton would use a 20-5 run in the final eight minutes to defeat the Sun Devils in the championship game of the ASU Classic.


• Six Sun Devils scored eight or more points led by Janae Fulcher, who scored 11 points. Micaela Pickens and Haley Videckis scored nine points each while three Sun Devils - Joy Burke, Arnecia Hawkins and Adrianne Thomas - added eight points.


• ASU had an outstanding defensive effort, holding the Flyers to their lowest field goal percentage of the season (31.4), while also forcing 17 turnovers. 


• Sunday's loss was ASU's third of the season by six or fewer points.


• ASU scored a season best 40 points in the first half. Five Sun Devils scored six or more points, led by Thomas and Hawkins, who had eight points apiece.


SCOUTING PROVIDENCE/SERIES NOTES


• Providence is 2-6 on the year. The Friars are coming off back-to-back road losses at Hartford (66-39) and at Harvard (73-59). 


• Senior guard Symone Roberts is averaging 12.9 points a game while sophomore guard Tori Rule is averaging 11.9 points a game.


• ASU won the only prior meeting between the two schools, 63-56, in the Bahamas at the 2010 Junkanoo Jam. Janae Fulcher scored 10 points in the game.


SCOUTING BOSTON COLLEGE/SERIES NOTES


• Boston College is 5-3, including a 3-1 record at home. 


• Most recently, Boston College knocked off Rutgers 58-56 with senior guard Kerri Shields scoring the game-winning basket with just 4.8 seconds remaining.


• ASU and Boston College have met only once with ASU coming away with a 79-54 win last year in Tempe. Micaela Pickens scored 12 points in the game.


• Boston College currently has four players averaging double figures in scoring -- junior F Katie Zenevitch (13.5 ppg), freshman G Nicole Boudreau (12.8 ppg) senior G Kerri Shields (12.0 ppg) and junior F Kristen Doherty (10.3 ppg).