Citizen Staff Writer
KEN BRAZZLE
kbrazzle@tucsoncitizen.com
Arizona State University junior Sybil Dosty practically grew up in McKale Center.
She attended Arizona women’s basketball coach Joan Bonvicini’s camps and was a ball girl at home games.
She has gone to McKale several times lately to watch her sister Whitney, an Arizona volleyball player.
The Salpointe Catholic High grad has always been a big fan of the Wildcats, but she thought she was a better fit playing hoops for Arizona State.
The 6-foot-3 Dosty and her teammates visit Arizona at 4 p.m. on Saturday.
Dosty has started the last 10 games for ASU and averages 7.5 points and 6.4 rebounds.
“I was a ball girl there for so long,” Dosty said. “For years, I used to attend every women’s home game at the U of A.”
Dosty played for Tennessee for two years before transferring to ASU and sitting out last year.
Bonvicini recalls the girl who attended her camps.
“I’ve watched her develop and go to Tennessee,” Bonvicini said. “She has done well. She has always been a very good player and a winner. Her sister is a great volleyball player. Both parents (Robbie and Toni) are great athletes.”
Robbie played basketball at Arizona from 1978-81.
Sybil was one of the top recruits in the country coming out of Salpointe. She didn’t see as much playing time at Tennessee.
“When I made the decision to leave Tennessee, I really didn’t have any other choice,” she said. “I knew I wanted to come to Arizona State.”
Two weeks ago, Dosty was the Pac-10 player of the week after averaging 17 points and 10.5 rebounds against UCLA and USC.
Her 15 rebounds against UCLA were the most for a Sun Devil since Kirsten Thompson pulled down 15 against Nicholls State in 2006.
Dosty started slowly this season, averaging 12 minutes in the first four games.
She has been a big part of the ASU game plan since then.
“I am playing a bigger role than I did at Tennessee and if I don’t come out and perform, it really affects the team,” Dosty said. “It has been a big adjustment for me.”
Dosty believes she can still improve, anticipating the game when she puts it together.
“I am still searching for that game,” she said. “I’ve had some good games against USC and UCLA. Against Oregon and Oregon State, I didn’t get the results I wanted to help our team.
“When I am consistently playing like I should, then I’ll feel I am 100 percent back. I am not disappointed in myself. I’ve been working in practice and games to get there.”
UP NEXT
Arizona State (10-5, 4-0) at Arizona (6-9, 0-4)
When: 4 p.m., Saturday
Where: McKale Center
Radio: 1400-AM
DOSTY FILE
Sybil Dosty’s stats this season for Arizona State:
G-GS 15-10
PPG 7.5
RPG 6.4
APG 0.5
FG 50.6
FT 56.2