(Photo: Troy Tauscher/WCSN)
Reili Richardson cemented her status in ASU basketball history, both men’s and women’s, becoming the all-time assists leader in Sun Devil basketball Friday night.
With an assist to Ja’Tavia Tapley in the fourth quarter, Richardson recorded her record-breaking 552nd assist, passing Derek Haller’s previous record of 551 assists.
“I didn’t even know, men’s or women’s, what the assist record was when I came to this school,” said Richardson, who broke Briann January’s record a few weeks ago. “To hear that, it’s just awesome. I give all the credit to my teammates, they just hit shots.”
Friday night was also a potential preview of next week’s Pac-12 tournament in Las Vegas.
As it currently stands No. 24 ASU (20-9, 10-7) would face California (10-18, 2-15) in the 5-12 matchup next Thursday. But, the Sun Devils showed who the top dog was in a dominant 77-54 victory over the Golden Bears.
It wasn’t a pretty start on what became a dominant night for ASU. The team’s emotions were high early in senior weekend, and that showed in the Sun Devils’ play in the first quarter.
Arizona State had nine turnovers during a physical first quarter, but the Sun Devils were fueled by a spark from their second unit. A spark that would last for the remainder of the game.
ASU’s bench, led by senior forward Jamie Ruden’s game-high 18 points, accounted for 45 of the team’s 77 total points. The bench dominance also saw significant performances from freshman forward Eboni Walker and sophomore guard Taya Hanson. Walker recorded her first career double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds, while Hanson finished the night with nine points and was 2-for-3 from beyond the arc.
“I think offensively we did a better job executing,” said Ruden, who went 7-for-11 from the field. “I think our energy was good, when our energy is good we are more relaxed on our shots.”
ASU certainly has looked comfortable shooting the ball over the last three contests. After shooting 10-17 (58.8 percent) from 3-point range against Cal, the Sun Devils have now shot 50 percent or better from distance in three consecutive games.
“All year long I’m like ‘No really we can shoot’,” head coach Charli Turner Thorne said on her team’s recent shooting surge. “I like it. In practice everyday we know we can make shots and we are just stepping up and doing it right now.”
Turner Thorne proceeded to knock on wood after that comment.
The Sun Devils’ recent stretch of efficient shooting could not come at a better time. No. 4 Stanford (24-5, 13-4) comes into Desert Financial Arena Sunday. Stanford has lost two consecutive games after falling to No. 13 Arizona 73-72 in overtime Friday night. But the Cardinal’s recent losses have come to No. 3 Oregon and No. 13 Arizona, two of the best teams that the Pac-12 — and nation — has to offer.
“It’s going to be a lot,” Turner Thorne said about Sunday’s senior day matchup. “Stanford is not a simple team, especially offensively. It’s going to be fun.”
The game against Stanford will be the last time — barring a top four seed in the NCAA tournament — that Richardson, Ruden, Robbi Ryan, Ja’Tavia Tapley, and Kiara Russell take the court at Desert Financial Arena.
It marks a turning point in the Sun Devils’ program. The current senior leaders will be replaced with young talent — which was on full display against Cal — that ASU has built up through recruiting.
“Time has flown by, and it feels weird it’s already senior weekend,” Ruden said. “I’m really proud of our younger players. They have worked so hard.”
“The seniors have given everything to us,” Hanson said. “They have left an incredible legacy here, and that legacy isn’t quite finished yet. We’ve got a lot more to come.”
Tip-off for the game against Stanford is set for 12 P.M. MT Sunday.
