Saturday, November 25, 2006

Championship Game Cancelled Due to Team Family Tragedy

The Arizona State-Rutgers women’s basketball game scheduled for Saturday in the U.S. Virgin Islands has been cancelled. The following statement was issued by ASU women’s basketball head coach Charli Turner Thorne.

“This morning the Arizona State women’s basketball program suffered a tragic loss. A family member of senior Aubree Johnson’s passed away while in St. Thomas to see Aubree play in the Paradise Jam basketball tournament.

“The ASU basketball family extends well beyond the players and coaches listed on the roster. It includes the families and loved ones of every player, coach and support staff member in the program. When one of them encounters a loss, it is a loss that is shared by every member of the ‘family.’ With that it mind the team decided that it would be best to not go forward with playing Rutgers in tonight’s championship game.

“We would like to express our appreciation to Nels Hawkinson and the entire Paradise Jam tournament staff; head coach C. Vivian Stringer and the Rutgers women’s basketball program and the staff of the Marriott Frenchman’s Reef Resort for all of their support, thoughts and prayers during this time.

“The entire ASU family would like to express its sincerest and heartfelt condolences to Aubree, Tom, Cyndie and the rest of the Johnson family.”

The No. 13/12 Sun Devils were scheduled to play the No. 18/18 Rutgers Scarlet Knights in the championship game of the Paradise Jam on Saturday night.

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