Women's basketball announces Kali Bennett will join Sun Devil program

May 15, 2008

Arizona State head women's basketball coach <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/w-baskbl/mtt/turnerthorne_charli00… Turner Thorne</a> announced on Wednesday, May 15 that Kali Bennett has transferred to the ASU women's basketball program. Per NCAA rules Bennett will have to sit out a year and will not be eligible to play for the Sun Devils until the 2009-10 season.<separator></separator>Bennett, a 6-5 post from Ventura, Calif., will be transferring to ASU from the University of Washington, where she played in 30 games as a freshman in 2007-08.<separator></separator>"We are ecstatic to have Kali Bennett as the newest member of our program," said Turner Thorne. "This was a very unexpected, but awesome off season surprise. I watched Kali play throughout her high school career and was always incredibly impressed with her skills and versatility.<separator></separator>"It is very exciting to have a 6-5 post that can not only bang down low but who has guard skills on the perimeter. She is an especially adept three-point shooter. Finally, Kali comes from a tremendously successful high school program, Ventura High School, with one of the top coaches in the state, Ann Larson. She is going to be an `impact' player and a wonderful teammate."<separator></separator>This past season Bennett averaged 4.9 points and 3.0 rebounds for the Huskies while tying for the team lead in blocked shots with 15. She scored in double figures four times, including a season-high 18 points vs. Idaho. Bennett also grabbed 11 rebounds against the Vandals to account for one of her two double-doubles on the season. Her second came following an 11-point, 11-rebound performance at Stanford. Bennett came within one point of matching her career-best point total at Arizona State, scoring 17 points on 7-9 shooting, including 2-2 from beyond the arc.<separator></separator>Bennett was a three-year adidas All-American at Ventura High School where she helped lead her squad to three Channel League titles. By her junior season Bennett, who was a three-time first-team all-country selection and three-time league co-MVP, had eclipsed the school records for most career points and most career rebounds.