Charli Turner Thorne and her Pac-10 tournament champion ASU Sun Devils will once again be the hosts for the AstraZeneca Hoops for the Cure Classic II Dec. 7 at Wells Fargo Arena. The Devils will take on Notre Dame, the 2001 NCAA national champions, in the opener tipping off at noon, while perennial powers Vanderbilt and Purdue will play in the second game of the nationally-televised doubleheader at 2:30 p.m. MST.

"We are tremendously excited about the opportunity to host this classic again, and build upon the success of our first historic event," said Thorne. "People in the Valley made a huge statement about supporting women's athletics and a women's cause in our first game in 2000, and the support for this event has just continued to grow over the last year."

Proceeds from the event will benefit the Phoenix affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Foundation for breast cancer research, treatment and education in the Valley of the Sun. AstraZeneca is a maker of breast cancer drugs.

The Devils participated in the inaugural event Dec. 27, 2000, losing 67-63 to six-time national champ Tennessee. The event, staged at Bank One Ballpark in downtown Phoenix in the first-ever outdoor women's basketball game, drew a school and Pac-10 single-game record attendance of 16,782. More than $10,000 was raised for the cause.

This year Thorne expects a sell-out. "I have no doubt we will meet our goal of selling out Wells Fargo and more than doubling the amount of money we raised last time for cancer research, treatment and awareness," she said. "I hope all women basketball fans will want to come. It's different this time, and I promise it will be exciting."

Tickets may be obtained by calling the Sun Devil ticket office at (480) 965-2381.

Fall sports hold promise

New coach continues golf legacy

The 2000 Sun Devil womenÕs basketball team battles the Lady Volunteers of Tennessee during the inaugural Hoops for the Cure tournament at Bank One Ballpark in Phoenix.