TEMPE, Ariz. – Any team within reach of tying or breaking a program record knows the closer you get, the more challenging the task becomes. The Sun Devil women’s basketball team learned this very lesson on Friday night after tying the school record for most consecutive wins to start a season (9-0) following its 57-47 win over a resilient McNeese squad on the first day of the Briann January Classic.
This year's squad ties school record
Now with nine wins in nine games, Molly Miller’s first ASU squad is tied with the 1991-92 team coached by current Sun Devil radio analyst Maura McHugh for the best start by a Sun Devil team. This year’s team will have a chance to surpass the 1991-92 team when it plays San Francisco on Saturday.
Sun Devil standouts
- On a night in which the Sun Devils did not have their best night on offense, another superb team defensive performance combined with brilliant outings from Gabby Elliott (game-high 19 points and four rebounds) and McKinna Brackens, who posted her fourth double-double of the season (14 points, 15 rebounds).
- Coming off her first career double-double (21 points, 10 rebounds) in ASU’s win over SEMO last Saturday, Heloisa Carrera had another strong game on Friday with six points and a career-high 11 rebounds.
- Last-Tear Poa’s ability to draw nine fouls paid off handsomely as she scored seven of her nine points via free throws, while also collecting five rebounds and three assists.
- Marley Washenitz dished out a game-high four assists.
How it happened
- Both teams had difficulty scoring early on as they split the game’s first 12 points six minutes into the game. The Cowgirls (5-3) took their largest lead of the game after reeling off six straight points to go up 12-6. ASU’s defense was able to hold McNeese scoreless the remainder of the quarter and got within two points, 12-10.
- The Sun Devils continued a recent trend on Friday by coming through with another outstanding second quarter to put some separation between themselves and their opponent. After outscoring McNeese 23-7, the fifth time in its last six games it has scored 20 or more points in the second quarter, ASU was able to take its biggest lead of the first 20 minutes (33-19) at the half. ASU shot 75 percent in the quarter, while forcing the Cowgirls into a dismal 21 percent (3-14) performance. Elliott (4-5 FGs) led ASU with nine points in the quarter.
- Both teams struggled to score in the third quarter. Still, ASU managed to get the better of it, taking their biggest lead of the game, 42-24, after a free throw by Poa with 56 seconds remaining.
- The Cowgirls had their best offensive sequence of the game over the first five-plus minutes of the final period. After hitting five consecutive shots, including a pair of triples, McNeese was able to cut ASU’s lead all the way down to five points.
- ASU scored the next four points before McNeese hit a 3-pointer to get back within six, 49-43 with 4:51 remaining.
- As the Sun Devils have proved several times this season, they were once again at their best when it mattered most, limiting McNeese to only four points the remainder of the game. ASU eventually doubled its lead (57-45) after a free throw by Poa with 1:06 remaining.
Up next
The Sun Devils have a chance to make history on Saturday (2:30 p.m. MST) when they host San Francisco (6-2) at Mullett Arena on the second and final day of the Briann January Classic. Click here to purchase tickets for Saturday’s game.
With a win, this year’s Sun Devil team will be in sole possession of the best start in program history. Saturday’s game can be seen on ESPN+ and heard on KDUS AM 1060. The game can also be followed via live stats by clicking here.
Postgame Quotes
Head coach Molly Miller
On tying best start in team history
“I look back at my recruiting pitch in the portal and they had to blind trust blind faith we’re going to win. I kept on saying we’re going to win, we’re going to win. That record that you're seeing right now don’t even pay attention to it. We’re going to win. Credit to them that they took that blind leap of faith with me. They bought into the style and they bought into what we’re trying to do here at Arizona State, they wanted to be a part of it. I’m very proud of them”
On wanting to push against adversity
“What I’m wanting to see more and more of is the pushback after a run or after some adversity or after a call doesn’t go your way. I want to see that perfect for us, fine by me. I’m going to go get it, I’m going to go make it up. I’m going to have that fight about me. That’s the kind of consistency I want to see.”
On Gabby Elliott’s offense tonight
“We’re confident when she has the ball. If we need a bucket it’s put in Gabby’s hands. She can rise up with her height and shoot a jumper posting her up. She hit a big time three for us. It’s just getting her accustomed to if you have the ball in your hands you have the green light.”
Graduate guard Gabby Elliott
On her 19-point performance
“I’m happy we got (the win). It means a lot. When I first decided to come here, I wanted to leave a place better than I found it, I’m definitely on the right track for sure.”
On the Sun Devils being 9-0 to start the season
“It speaks (volumes). We came in, a whole new team, whole new coaching staff It’s a test of what we’re trying to do. We’re not a team that’s trying to wait and build something, we’re trying to make something happen right now in Tempe.”