The official athletics site of Arizona State University Opens in a new window
ASU Home My ASU Colleges and Schools
Sun Devil Athletics
HomeHome
ASU Home My ASU Colleges and Schools
Loading

Women’s Basketball hosts BYU on Senior Night

Game Notes Opens in a new window Purchase new TEMPE T-Shirt Opens in a new window
Women’s Basketball hosts BYU on Senior NightWomen’s Basketball hosts BYU on Senior Night

Sun Devil WBB (22-7, 9-7 Big 12) vs. BYU (18-10, 7-9 Big 12) 

Up next

The Sun Devil Women’s Basketball team (22-7, 9-7 Big 12) closes out the home portion of its 2025-26 schedule when it hosts BYU (18-10, 7-9) on Wednesday (6:30 p.m.) at Desert Financial Arena. Following the game, ASU will honor its four seniors – Gabby Elliott, Makayla Moore, Last-Tear Poa and Marley Washenitz – as part of Senior Night festivities.

Watch/Listen

Wednesday’s game vs. BYU can be seen on ESPN+ (Braiden Bell/former ASU head coach Charli Turner Thorne) It can also be heard on KDUS AM 1060 (pregame coverage will start at 6 p.m. MST). The state of Arizona’s 2010 and 2019 Broadcaster of the Year, Jeff Munn, who on Dec. 4, 2025, was named a recipient of the Arizona Media Association Lifetime Service Award, is in his 22nd season as the voice of ASU WBB. He will be joined by former ASU head coach Maura McHugh.

Bubble talk
Arizona State finished the weekend with a WAB ranking (Wins Above Bubble) of 37, third-best among ESPN’s bubble teams, as only Nebraska (32) and Colorado (36) are better…ASU has six Quad 1 and Quad 2 combined wins (6-5), with only Virginia Tech (6-8) and Colorado (6-5) matching that win total

No place like home
The 2025-26 Sun Devil Women’s Basketball team will have another opportunity to make history when it hosts BYU on Wednesday. Already owner of the best start in program history (15-0) and part owner of the school’s longest winning streak (15 games), ASU (15-1) can tie the 2014-15 team (16-2) for the most home wins in a season. ASU has been nothing short of impressive when playing in front of its home crowd this season. On average, the Sun Devils have outscored the opposition by 14.6 points and connected on 46.0 percent of their field goal attempts (2.9 percentage points higher than the 43.1 percent they shot in all games). Defensively, eight of ASU’s home opponents have scored less than 55 points.

Series notes vs. BYU

  • Despite their relatively proximity to each other, Wednesday’s game will be just the seventh meeting between ASU and BYU since 2010 (series started in 1975-76). The Cougars have claimed wins in four of those six contests.
  • BYU’s 71-62 win on Jan. 3 in Provo ended ASU’s record-setting 15-0 start to the 2025-26 campaign. ASU’s 34-28 lead at the half was erased after BYU outscored ASU 17-8 in the third quarter. Trailing by as many as 11 with 2:20 remaining, ASU got within four with 48 seconds remaining but could get no closer as the Cougars scored the last five points. Gabby Elliott scored 10 of her team-high 21 points in the fourth quarter, helping the Sun Devils stay within striking distance.

State of play

  • ASU is coming off an impressive 81-56 win over Houston on Saturday. Not including results from Tuesday’s games. ASU (22-7, 9-7 Big 12) comes into Wednesday’s game tied with Iowa State (21-7, 9-7) for seventh place in the Big 12. Both teams trail sixth-place Oklahoma State by one game (21-8, 10-6) and No. 20 Texas Tech (24-5, 11-5) and Colorado (20-8, 11-5), who are tied for fourth place by two games.
  • What’s at stake in the last two conference games? Teams finishing between fifth and eighth place mean a first-round bye and opening up tournament play in the second round.
  • ASU’s success has been even more impressive this season when considering it is playing in one of the nation’s most competitive conferences. As of Feb. 24, the Big 12 had 12 teams inside the top 60 of the NCAA’s NET rankings: TCU (11), West Virginia (18), Texas Tech (27), Baylor (30), Oklahoma State (31), Iowa State (32), Colorado (43), Kansas (51), ASU (52), Utah (56), K-State (59) and BYU (60).
  • Gabby Elliott (nine) and McKinna Brackens (seven) have combined for 16 20-point games.
  • In the Big 12, Brackens has the fourth-highest number of double-doubles (seven) and the sixth-highest number of 10-rebound games (seven). In her last four games, Brackens has averaged 19.0 points per game while shooting 58.2 pct (32-55).
  • ASU is 15-1 at home this season, with its only loss coming vs. K-State (74-67 on Feb. 1). The Wildcats made 60 percent (12-20) of their attempts from long range. Since that game, the opposition (vs. Oklahoma St., at Baylor, vs. Utah, at Arizona, at Iowa State, vs. Houston) has collectively made only 25 percent of its 3FG attempts.
  • ASU’s performances in two different types of games this season have been among the important factors that have helped them win 22 games up to this point. In games decided by five points or less/OT, ASU is 6-2. ASU has also proven its resilience a number of times this season as reflected by its 5-1 record in games coming off a loss.
  • On Sunday, ASU will face a ranked opponent for the fourth time this season when it plays at No. 20/21 Texas Tech in the regular season finale. Although they have lost their previous three assignments against ranked teams – all on the road – the improvement they’ve shown in such games can’t be ignored. At No. 10 TCU, ASU was beaten 77-46 (Jan. 11). At No. 22 West Virginia (Jan. 21), it led by as many as eight late in the third quarter and was tied at 41-41 in the final frame before the Mountaineers went on a 12-2 run in the final 2:45 of the game to claim a 53-43 win. In ASU’s 67-64 loss at No. 15 Baylor (Feb. 7) it had the ball in the closing seconds with a chance to send the game to overtime.

Did you know, as a head coach, Molly Miller....?

  • Entered the 2025-26 campaign third in winning percentage among active coaches who have served at least five years as a Division I head coach. At the outset of the 2025-26 campaign, Miller (84.4 pct/297-55 career record) trailed only legendary coaches Geno Auriemma (88.3 percent/1,250-165 career record) and Kim Mulkey (85.9 percent/754-124 career record).
  • Has won 20 or more games 11 times in her 12 seasons as a head coach (including this season). In six seasons at NCAA DII Drury, where she started her career as a head coach in 2014, Miller won no fewer than 26 games, including four seasons with 30 or more wins, and lost no more than five games in a season. Before taking the reins of the Sun Devil women’s basketball program, Miller coached five seasons at Grand Canyon University, where she won more than 20 games four times, including a school record 32 victories that culminated with the program’s first invite to the NCAA Tournament in 2025.
  • Including her 32-3 record at Grand Canyon last season, Miller is  54-10 over the last two seasons.
  • Has won her last 38 of her last 39 home games going back to the 2023-24 season at GCU. Won her 300th game as an NCAA head coach on Nov. 13, 2025.
  • ASU’s wins over Utah (Feb. 11) and at Arizona (Feb. 14) provided further evidence of how far ASU has come this season under Miller. ASU’s 71-61 win over Utah gave the Sun Devils their 20th win, the first time since 2019-20 it had won 20 games. It was also the first time since 2018-19 that ASU swept the regular season series over Utah. With ASU’s 75-69 overtime win at Arizona, Miller set the program record for the most wins by a first-year coach (21/now 22). The win at Arizona was ASU’s first over the Wildcats in Tucson since Feb. 18, 2018 and the first time since the 2017-18 season it swept Arizona.
  • ASU’s 22 wins represent its highest victory total since the 2018-19 squad (22-11) that went on to advance to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.
  • ASU’s seven road wins represent its highest win total in such games since the 2018-19 team went 7-4.

How good was that 15-0 start?

  • ASU started 15-0 this year after going 10-22 last year. How impressive is that? Since 1999-00, only Nebraska has bounced back from a losing record to post more season-opening wins, winning its first 30 in 2009-10 after going 15-16 in 2008-09.
  • On Dec. 6, Miller’s first ASU squad surpassed the 1991-92 team (9-0) for the best start in school history. With its win at Utah (Dec. 31), ASU tied the 2008-09 and 2015-16 teams for the longest winning streak in school history.

Out-of-conference notes

  • Arizona State’s perfect 5-0 road record in out-of-conference play was matched only by Kentucky and Austin Peay. The only other schools in the SEC, Big Ten, ACC, Big 12 and Big East to play at least five true road out-of-conference games were Clemson (3-2), Tennessee (3-2), Georgia Tech (0-5) and Seton Hall (3-3). ASU out-of-conference road wins include top-100 NET teams (as of Feb. 24): Gonzaga (62), Santa Clara (78), Oregon State (87) and Penn State (88). It also won at Utah (55).
  • ASU went 13-0 outside of Big 12 action in 2025. As of Feb. 24, UNLV is 18-9 and 13-4 in the Mountain West Conference… McNeese is 24-4 and 18-1 in the Southland. ASU won at WCC leading Gonzaga (21-8, 13-3), at Oregon State (20-9, 12-4), at Santa Clara (21-8, 11-5) and topped San Francisco (16-11, 9-7) at home... The Zags, Beavers and Broncos are 33-6 in home games outside of the combined three losses to ASU.

It’s no coincidence ... 
When she assumed the reins at ASU, Miller emphasized defense as one of the pillars of success of her past teams, and it would be no different at ASU. Miller’s last two GCU teams were among the best in the nation in scoring defense: 19th in 23-24 (56.4 ppg), 31st in 24-25 (57.2 ppg). It should come as no surprise that those teams won 83.6 percent of their games (56-11). FUN FACT: Going back to her first season at Grand Canyon (2020-21), Molly Miller’s teams are 72-1 when holding the opposition to 55 or fewer points.

Dominant Devil defense

  • ASU has held the opposition to 13 or fewer points in a quarter 48 times this season, including single digits 15 times. At West Virginia (Jan. 21), the Mountaineers scored more than 13 points in a quarter only one time.
  • In its 67-44 win vs. San Francisco (Dec. 6), ASU held the Dons more than 30 points below their scoring average... ASU’s 56-53 win over UNLV (Nov. 22) represented the first time the Lady Rebels were held to 53 or fewer points in 148 games... In its 53-43 loss at West Virginia (Jan. 21), ASU held West Virginia to its second-lowest point total of the season (53), 25.6 points below its scoring average, and 11.1 points below its usual 34.2 percent efficiency from beyond the arc.
  • On Dec. 14, Oregon State (15 points) became the first ASU opponent in six games to reach a double-digit point total in the second quarter. ASU’s previous five opponents scored a combined 28 points in the second quarter (5.6 ppg): Little Rock - 5, SEMO - 5, McNeese - 7, San Francisco - 7, Penn State - 4.
  • ASU has forced 20 or more turnovers 15 times, including a trio of 30+ TO games: 33 vs. Coppin St. (Nov. 3), 31 vs. San Francisco (Dec. 6) and a season-high 36 at Penn St. (Dec. 9).
  • As of Feb. 24, Gabby Elliott has two of the highest single-game steal totals in the Big 12: 8 vs. San Francisco, 7 vs. Coppin St.
  • In its win over Colorado (Dec. 21), ASU’s defense stepped up when it mattered most. After CU made its first three shots of the fourth quarter to pull within two points, 58-56, ASU forced CU into missing seven of its last nine shots and outscored CU 21-7 over the last 7:57 of the game.
  • In their eventual 68-61 win over Arizona on Jan. 28, the Sun Devils did not allow Arizona to go ahead or tie the score after taking a 54-53 lead with seven minutes remaining. In fact, ASU scored the game’s last six points while holding Arizona scoreless over the last 2:13 of the game.
  • ASU had a similar defensive stand in its 74-69 win over Oklahoma State on Feb. 4. After leading by as many as 10 points in the third quarter, the Cowgirls came back to get within a point, 57-56, with 6:40 remaining. Just like against Arizona, the Sun Devils guarded their advantage the rest of the way as the Cowgirls were not able to tie the game or take the lead.
  • Against Utah, the Sun Devils led for 38:31 of the game’s 40 minutes. The Utes were up 7-6 and 9-8 in the first quarter. Utah trailed 15-11 at the end of 10 minutes, got within two points in the second quarter, went to the half trailing ASU 33-30, tied the game at 39-39 and were within one point, 42-41, in the third quarter. After ASU took a 54-43 lead, the Utes pulled within four, 54-50, with 7:19 remaining. They were not able to draw any closer as ASU’s defense slammed the door shut, forcing Utah to miss seven of its last 10 shots.
  • In its two overtime games this season – W, 55-53 at Oregon State (Dec. 14), W, 75-69 at Arizona (Feb. 14) – ASU held the opposition to a combined shooting percentage of 23.5 (4-17 FGs).

Team notes

  • ASU has the top two rebounding games by a Big 12 team this season: vs. Utah Tech (62) and vs. Santa Clara (59). Its rebounding effort vs. Utah Tech represented the third time in the last 25 years it had at least 60 rebounds in a game.
  • ASU has scored 20 or more points in a quarter 31 times. Earlier this season, ASU scored 43 points in the second half of consecutive games – vs. Kansas State (Feb. 1) and vs. Oklahoma State (Feb. 4) – tying the second-highest point total in the second half this season.
  • In its win at San Diego (Nov. 13), ASU tied the single-game program record for 3-pointers (14). As of Feb. 17, ASU’s 63.6 percentage from beyond the arc in that game is the second-highest 3-point shooting percentage by a Big 12 team this season.
  • Six Sun Devils have led/tied for the team lead in scoring: Elliott (12x), Brackens (12x), Carrera (5x), Washenitz (1x), Williams (1x), LoVett (1x).
  • Seven Sun Devils have scored in double figures multiple times: Elliott (25x), Brackens (24x), Carrera (13x), Washenitz (11x), LoVett (5x), Williams (4x) and Poa (2x).
  • Seven Sun Devils have led or tied for the team lead in rebounding: Brackens (13x), Carrera (9x), Elliott (7x), Deborah Davenport (4x), Washenitz (2x), Martina Fantini (1x) and Poa (1x).
  • Elliott, Carrera and Washenitz have started every game this season. Williams (three starts), LoVett (one start) and Davenport (two starts) have played in every game this season.

Individual player notes

  • Gabby Elliott scored a season-high 30 points in ASU’s win at Gonzaga (Dec 16). Two games later, McKinna Brackens topped that with a new career standard of 31 points at Utah (Dec. 31).
  • Elliott (9x), Brackens (7x) and Heloisa Carrera (4x) have combined to score 20 or more points 20x this season.
  • Four different players have posted double-doubles this season: Brackens (7), Carrera (3), Elliott (1) and Poa (1).
  • Poa (10 assists vs. SEMO and vs. Coppin State) and Amaya Williams (11 assists at San Diego) have combined for three double-digit assist games this season. Williams’ 11 assists were the most for a Sun Devil in a single game since current graduate assistant Reili Richardson had 11 at Colorado State on Dec. 9, 2018. Poa hit the game-winning 3-pointer with 16 seconds remaining in overtime in ASU’s 55-53 win at Oregon State (Dec. 14).
  • Brackens’ second half (22 points) and fourth quarter (14 points) at Utah (Dec. 31) were reminiscent of what Elliott did at Gonzaga on Dec. 16. In that contest, Elliott scored 21 points in the second half with 17 of them coming in the final 10 minutes to lead ASU to a 68-66 win.
  • At Arizona (Feb. 14), Brackens scored 19 of her team-high 24 points in the 2nd half (10 points, including the game-tying bucket with 3.3 seconds remaining to send the game to OT) and overtime (nine points).

Sun Devil Athletics counts down to NCAA Women’s Final Four

In October 2020, the NCAA officially named ASU, the city of Phoenix, and the Footprint Center as hosts for the Women’s Final Four Tournament, to be held April 3, 5, 2026.

This past August, ASU head coach Molly Miller joined several key community members at the Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport to unveil the official Countdown Clock to the event.

Unveiled alongside Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallaego, 2026 Women’s Final Four Committee Jay Parry, and NCAA Vice President for Women’s Basketball Lynn Holzman, the clock is located at the busiest terminal in the airport, Terminal 4, on the west end of the baggage claim. The placement means it will see significant foot traffic to build maximum excitement.

Arizona State University had a significant presence at the event. ASU Athletic Director Graham Rossini, Sparky, and Senior Associate Athletics Director Christina Wombacher were on hand to help underscore the University’s role as a proud stakeholder in bringing the Women’s Final Four to the Valley for the first time.