Arizona women's basketball (7-3) vs. ASU (7-3): Scouting report, Kourouma as X-Factor, steals, more

ARIZONA SCOUTING REPORT

Arizona (7-3) at ASU (7-3)

Desert Financial Arena, Tempe • Sunday, 5 p.m. • Pac-12 Networks • 1290-AM

She said it

Arizona coach Adia Barnes on Arizona State: “They have improved so much. They are athletic. They run a lot of different things; they play a lot more aggressive. They've been always aggressive defensively but I think now, with (Natasha) Adair, their new coach they are trapping on on-balls, running a lot of dribble-dives. They are just looking a little bit different.

"Jaddan (Simmons) was a point guard before, when she first arrived at ASU. Then she shifted off the ball. I think she's flourishing and she's better even at the one. She's fast with the ball she's driving. She's playing at the highest level I've seen her play. She’s got like 14 points a game and she’s 46% from the field. That’s high efficiency for a guard.

"They are a good team and have a couple of areas they are really good. They are really good at one-on-one driving to the basket — just off broken-down plays. They're lower in assists because they're more one-on-one. They run different staggers, Iverson cuts for their wings. They are just good and aggressive. What's hard to scout is that they end up resulting in one-on-one a lot and that's unpredictable.”

On the Sidelines

X-Factor: With a short bench, clearly everyone is important for the Wildcats and they need to bring the energy. One Wildcat who is always ready to go is Sali Kourouma. The 5-11 wing seems to be around the basket for an offensive rebound and a quick put back, waiting for that pass for an open mid-range or causing havoc on the defensive end.

Earlier this week Barnes said that Kourouma could be “the X-Factor.”

“She can be a starter; she can come off the bench. I like her off the bench some because she's a good scorer off the bench, and she gives us some experience with other lineups,” Barnes said.

“She's smart; she's a really good passer. She's improved on her 3. She's improving on finishing around the rim. But I love her game. I love what she brings and I love coaching her.”

In the last two games against UC San Diego and Texas, she’s only taken one 3-pointer in each. She made both. In both cases, it came at a key moment. In the second quarter against the Tritons, when freshman Jada Williams broke out with eight consecutive points (a 3, a mid-range shot and another 3), Kourouma joined in on the fun with her own 3 to help the Wildcats pull away. Against Texas, it came in the first quarter to help keep the game tight.

Barnes said another reason she is so high on Kourouma, who is wearing a shoulder brace after dislocating her shoulder in the second exhibition game: "She does whatever I ask. She wants to win.”

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And that includes, at times, playing anything but power forward and point guard. Although, the coaching staff is really trying to reign in that versatility just a little to make it a little easier for Kourouma.

Kourouma is averaging 9.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.2 steals per game. She scored eight points and grabbed five rebounds against Texas.

For all the stats nerds her +/- (the point differential for the time she is on the court – basically a player’s impact when she is on the court) in each of Arizona’s five home games has been positive. Against No. 5 Texas (she played 24:34 minutes) it was 1. Against UC San Diego (she played 25:32 minutes and scored 13 points) it was 42.

Hall of Fame: Violet Palmer, who coordinates officials for the Pac-12, West Coast, Western Athletic, Big Sky, and Big West conferences, is part of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame class of 2024. She has been with the Pac-12 for 13 years and was the first woman to referee an NBA game, an NBA playoff game and the all-star game.

Other members of the class are Seimone Augustus, Rita Easterling, Taj McWilliams-Franklin, Maya Moore, Sue Phillips, and Mary “Roonie” Scovel.

Palmer has officiated more than 900 regular-season NBA games, the inaugural season of the WNBA, five NCAA Women’s Final Fours and two championship games. She was the Naismith Award Women’s Official of the Year in 1999 and won the 2023 Gold Whistle Award.

Teddy Bears: Arizona collected 2,500 teddy bears during Wednesday's loss to Texas at McKale Center. The UA delivered them to La Paloma Family Services on Friday afternoon.

In line with the holiday season, ASU has its own teddy bear toss on Sunday and will be giving them to Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) for children in foster care. The Sun Devils are also offering free admission to kids 12 years and younger (go to the ticket booth on either the east or west side of the arena before the game).

By the Numbers

14.9: ASU leads the Pac-12 in free throws made per game with 14.9. Simmons is the individual league leader, making 56 of 70 attempts; she's fifth in the nation in both categories.

7: Arizona has won seven of the last 10 matchups against Arizona State, including both games last year.

5: The Wildcats are fifth in the nation in steals per game (13) according to Her Hoops Stats. This is the highest steals-per-game rate Arizona has had under Barnes. During the 2020-21 season when the Wildcats went to the National Championship game, they averaged 10.6 steals per game – same as last season.

1/3: Through 10 games, Helena Pueyo has seven blocks so far this season. She is 1/3 of the way to her career high, 21, from last season, set in 32 games.

Photos: Arizona women's basketball ground down by No. 5 Texas, 88-75, college basketball