March 6, 2012
TEMPE, Ariz. - Three Arizona State University women's basketball players were recognized by the Pac-12 on Tuesday as the conference announced its annual awards for the 2011-12 season as voted on by the league's head coaches.
Recognized by the league were senior center Kali Bennett (Pac-12 All-Defensive Team, Pac-12 honorable mention), senior forward Kimberly Brandon (Pac-12 honorable mention, Pac-12 defensive honorable mention) and junior guard Deja Mann (Pac-12 honorable mention, Pac-12 defensive honorable mention).
ASU's three players on the Pac-12's defensive teams ties league champion Stanford for most in the conference.
Bennett, Brandon and Mann have all played an important role this season in helping the Sun Devils lead the Pac-12 in scoring defense (52.5 ppg - 14th in the nation) and blocks per game (5.9 - 11th in the nation). ASU is also second in the conference and 13th in the nation in field goal percentage defense (.342).
Bennett, who also earned Pac-12 All-Defensive honors from media who cover the league, has started all 29 games for the Sun Devils this season and currently leads the team in blocks (2.8 bpg - second in the Pac-12 and 14th in the nation) and rebounding (6.8 rpg - 15th in the Pac-12), is second in scoring (8.3 ppg) and assists (2.2 apg) and is tied for third in steals (1.4 spg). Currently with 82 blocks this season, Bennett has already broken the school's single-season record of 55 set by Kym Hampton in 1980-81. She tied the school's single-game record for blocks with seven against Utah (Jan. 21) and then would break the record when she recorded nine rejections against Washington (Feb. 16). Bennett's nine blocks against the Huskies were among the 16 recorded by the Sun Devils, which set a new program single-game record in addition to tying the Pac-12's single-game mark. Bennett has recorded three or more blocks in a game 13 times this season and has had three or more steals on six occasions.
Brandon currently leads ASU in scoring (9.9 ppg) and is second in rebounding (6.4 rpg) and steals (1.7 spg). She has scored in double figures 14 times this season and has registered double figures in rebounds six times. Her 20 points (7-10 FGs) against Colorado (Jan. 19) are the second-most most scored by a Sun Devil in 2011-12. Brandon averaged 15.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.0 steals while shooting 54 percent (28-52) during ASU's earlier five-game winning streak. She was 5-9 (.556) from 3-point range and 18-22 (.818) from the free throw line during that stretch. Brandon got her first double-double of 2011-12 as she dropped in 15 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in ASU's 47-45 win over UTEP (Dec. 28). She also collected a career-high six steals, the most by a Sun Devil this season in the win over UTEP. She posted her second double-double of the season (14 points, 13 rebounds) in ASU's 53-49 win at Oregon (Jan. 14) and tallied another (17 points, 11 rebounds) in ASU's win at Washington State (Jan. 26).
A starter in ASU's last 44 games going back to last season, Mann took over the duties as the team's primary point guard this season and her steady play and leadership (Mann is the team's captain) have been key components in ASU's success this season. Mann currently leads ASU in assists (3.5 apg), free throw percentage (.803) and free throws made (53). She has recorded five or more assists 10 times this season, including a career-best 7 on two occasions - vs. Eastern Washington (Dec. 2) and vs. Colorado (Jan. 19). Mann has tallied double figures in scoring eight times this season, with six of those instances coming in ASU's last 12 games. During that 12-game stretch, Mann has been ASU's second-leading scorer (8.8 ppg) while shooting 44 percent from 3-point range (12-27). Mann's 22 points at USC (Feb. 25) represent the highest point total for a Sun Devil this season.
The Sun Devils (19-10, 10-8 Pac-12) finished fourth in the Pac-12 regular season standings. They will open the 2012 Pacific Life Pac-12 Basketball Tournament on Thursday (2:15 p.m. PT/3:15 p.m. MT) when they will face either UCLA or Arizona in a quarterfinal matchup at the Galen Center in Los Angeles. Thursday's game can be seen live on the Pac-12's YouTube channel and can also be heard live on KAZG 1440 AM.