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Game notes for Women's Basketball’s Big 12 Tournament quarterfinal game

Game Notes PDF Opens in a new window Phillips 66 Big 12 Women’s Basketball Tournament Central Opens in a new window
Game notes for Women's Basketball’s Big 12 Tournament quarterfinal gameGame notes for Women's Basketball’s Big 12 Tournament quarterfinal game
Big 12 Conference

Phillips 66 Big 12 Women’s Basketball Tournament Quarterfinal Round

No. 10 seed Sun Devil WBB (24-9, 9-9 Big 12) vs. No. 2 seed West Virginia (24-6, 14-4 Big 12, ranked No. 15 in the nation) 

Up next

For the first time since 2019, the Sun Devil Women’s Basketball team (24-9, 9-9 Big 12, No. 10 seed) will be appearing in the quarterfinal round of a conference tournament when it plays No. 2 seed West Virginia (24-6, 14-4 Big 12, ranked No. 15 in the nation) in the third of four quarterfinal games on Friday (5:30 p.m. CST/4:30 pm MST) at the Phillips 66 Big 12 Women’s Basketball Tournament.

ASU punched its ticket for Friday’s game with one of the nation’s finest defensive performances this season. Fifteen days removed from giving up its most points in a 90-64 loss at Iowa State, ASU was able to flip the script in its 77-68 upset of the No. 7 seed Cyclones, giving ASU two wins in the conference tournament since 2018. 

The winner of Friday’s game will advance to Saturday’s semifinal round (5:30 p.m. CST/4:30 p.m. MST), where it will face either No. 3 seed Baylor (24-7, 13-5 Big 12, ranked No. 20 in the nation) or No. 6 seed Colorado (21-10, 11-7 Big 12).      

Watch/Listen

For rounds 1-4, ASU’s games can be seen on ESPN+ (all begin at 5:30 p.m. CST/4:30 p.m. MST). Sunday’s championship game will be aired on ESPN (4 p.m. CDT/2 p.m. MST). All games can also be heard on KDUS AM 1060. Pregame coverage will start 30 minutes before each game. 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.

Notes from Thursday's win over Iowa State

  • This is the first time ASU has won two games in a conference tournament since the 2017-18 squad went 2-1 at the 2018 Pac-12 Tournament. ASU defeated Arizona 76-47 in the first round and upset Oregon State 57-51 in the quarterfinals before losing to Stanford in the semifinals. ASU last played in the quarterfinal round of a conference tournament in the 2019 Pac-12 Tournament, but it only had to win one game to advance.
  • Now 24-9, ASU’s current win total is its most since the 2015-16 team won 26 games.
  • The 27 points ASU scored in the third quarter vs. Iowa State matched its second-highest total of the season, while its 44 points scored in the second half were the second most scored in a second half this season and matched its fourth most points in a half this season (first or second).
  • Heloisa Carrera: In her last five games, Carrera has averaged 16.0 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 2.6 O-rebs per game and connected on 70.8 of her shots (34-48). The five-game stretch includes career highs of 23 points and 10 field goals made vs. Houston (Feb. 21). Carrera scored 12 points in the first quarter vs. Iowa State (most she has scored in a quarter this season), the fourth time she has scored in double figures in a quarter this season.
  • Gabby Elliott: Came two assists short of a triple-double after scoring 22 points, pulling down 10 boards and dishing out a career-high eight assists. It was her 10th game of the season, scoring 20 or more points, and her second double-double of the season. In the third quarter, Elliott scored 13 points, the fifth time this season she has had a double-digit scoring total in a quarter.
  • Last-Tear Poa: Came one rebound short of a double-double after scoring 12 points and grabbing a career-high nine rebounds.
  • ASU’s opponent 3FG shooting last 10 games: 53-222/23.9 percent: (vs. Oklahoma St., at Baylor, vs. Utah, at Arizona, at Iowa State, vs. Houston, vs. BYU, at Texas Tech, vs Arizona, vs Iowa State). This remarkable stretch started one game after K-State made 60 percent (12-20) of its 3FGs in its 67-64 win at ASU (Feb. 1).
  • Molly Miller: Including her 32-3 record last season at Grand Canyon University, Miller is now 56-12 in the last two seasons. Also, including her five seasons at Grand Canyon, Miller is now 9-4 in DI conference tournaments. At GCU, Miller’s teams advanced to the championship game of the WAC tournament three times (won the championship in 2025) and the semifinals twice.
  • ASU has now scored 75 or more points eight times (including four games with more than 80 points) this season. ASU is 8-0 in those games.

Sun Devils among the most improved teams in the country in 2025-26

As of Mar. 5, ASU trailed only McNeese for the top spot in the nation in the largest improvement in wins from last season. ASU’s current victory total of 24 is more than double the 10 wins it had in 2024-25.

Bubble talk (All data is of March 6)

ASU’s WAB (40) ranking is holding steady, sixth-best among bubble teams via ESPN… ASU is 12-8 vs. top-100 teams, best among bubble teams by three games…ASU is 7-7 in Q1/2 combined wins, which is tied for third-most among ESPN’s 16 Bracketology bubble teams…ASU has five top-100 road wins (Utah, Gonzaga, Santa Clara, Oregon State, Penn State) as well as neutral site Quad 1 win over Iowa State…one of ASU’s Quad 3 wins is against McNeese State, who hasn’t lost since Dec. 15…A Quad 4 win is UNLV, who is 20-10 overall…ASU did not have a chance for a Quad 1 win at home, as TCU, WVU, Baylor, Texas Tech and Iowa State all were on the road…ASU played five OOC road games, four of them against top-100 NET teams.

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) and Kim Mulkey (85.9 percent.
  • Has won 20 or more games 11 times in her 12 seasons as a head coach (including 23 this season with ASU, the most in program history by a first-year head coach).
  • Including her 32-3 record at Grand Canyon last season and 23-9 record this season at ASU, Miller is 55-12 over the last two seasons.
  • Has won her last 38 of her last 40 home games going back to the 2023-24 season at GCU.
  • 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. Under Miller, Drury became the first Great Lakes Valley Conference program to win four consecutive titles and went 105-5 in conference play (55-0 at home). Drury was ranked in the Division II top 25 for a nation-leading 111 consecutive weeks.
  • Upon becoming Drury’s head coach at age 28, Miller led her alma mater to the 2019 Division II Final Four. After a perfect 32-0 record in 2019-20 – when Drury was No. 1 every week in the Division II poll – the Panthers were denied a chance to return to the Final Four after the 2020 postseason was canceled due to Covid-19.
  • Before taking the reins at ASU, 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 NCAA Tournament in 2025.
  • Won her 300th game as an NCAA head coach on Nov. 13, 2025.

We meet again

  • This will be just the fourth meeting between ASU and West Virginia. Prior to West Virginia’s 89-59 win last season in Tempe (Jan. 22, 2025), the only other time the two programs met was Dec. 3, 1988, a contest in which West Virginia came out victorious, 89-75 in Tempe.
  • Earlier this season, the Sun Devils and Mountaineers played in a contest where, as the game went on, it appeared the team that reached 50 points first would win the game. ASU led by as many as eight points 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 the win 53-43 win. The 53 points West Virginia scored were at the time 25.6 points below its scoring average and remained its second-lowest point total of the season.
  • From a wider perspective, the game was noteworthy in that ASU was not awarded a single free-throw attempt the entire game. Fourteen of West Virginia’s 19 free throw attempts came in the final quarter.
  • Gabby Elliott (15 points, six rebounds) and McKinna Brackens (15 points, four rebounds, two steals) led ASU, combining for 30 points and 10 rebounds.

Sun Devil WBB’s notable accomplishments in 2025-26

  • The 15s: Best start in school history (15-0) ... 15-0 in non-conference games... Tied school record for consecutive wins (15)...Went 15-2 at home (tied program’s second-most wins at home)
  • Molly Miller’s 24 wins are a program record by a first-year head coach
  • Swept regular season series vs. Utah for the first time since 2018-19
  • Swept regular season series vs. Arizona for the first time since 2017-18. Also posted a plus-one sweep over Arizona (including conference tournament win) for the third time in program history (2012, 2018, 2026)
  • Won most road games (seven) since 2018-19 Sweet 16 squad won 7-4 in such contests.
  • Won two games in a conference tournament for the first time since 2018.

Sun Devil WBB vs. ranked teams

The Sun Devils women’s basketball team played four ranked teams this season, all four contests coming on the road. After losing their first encounter against a ranked foe, 77-46 at No. 13 TCU (Jan. 11), the Sun Devils nearly came away with upsets at No. 22 West Virginia (Jan. 21), at No. 15 Baylor (Jan. 7) and at No. 20 Texas Tech (Mar. 1). In boxing parlance, it would not be exaggerating to say ASU landed some powerful blows that had its opponent on the ropes in each game.

At West Virginia: See note titled ‘We meet again.

At Baylor: In ASU’s 67-64 loss at No. 15 Baylor, it had the ball in the closing seconds with a chance to send the game to overtime. ASU held Baylor to its third-lowest point total of the season at home, its fewest 3-pointers at home (4) and its lowest 3FG shooting percentage at home (19.0 pct./4-21).

At Texas Tech: The Sun Devils held the Lady Raiders to their fewest points (58) and field goals made (18) of the season. TTU’s 58 points were 14.6 points below its season average of 72.6 points per game and 16.6 points below its season average of 74.6 points per game at home, where it finished 15-2 this season. The 21 turnovers ASU forced were the most by Texas Tech in a home game, and its points (58), field goals made (18), and final rebound total (30) were all season lows at home. ASU was up 27-25 and led by as many as five points in the third quarter in a game where points did not come easily.

Dominant Devil defense  

  • ASU has held the opposition to 13 or fewer points in a quarter 56 times this season, including single digits 18 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 16 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 Mar. 6, Gabby Elliott has the two 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 74-67 at ASU (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, vs. BYU, at Texas Tech) has collectively made only 25.1 percent of its 3FG attempts.
  • In its 54-51 win over Arizona in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament (Mar. 4), ASU held the Wildcats to four points over the last four-plus minutes.
  • In its 77-68 win over Iowa State in the second round of the Big 12 Tournament, ASU held the Cyclones 14.2 points below their scoring average, 12.2 percentage points below their field goal percentage and cut their usual 3-point field goal percentage nearly in half (19.4 percent).

FUN FACT: Going back to her first season at Grand Canyon (2020-21), Molly Miller’s teams are 73-1 when holding the opposition to 55 or fewer points.

Three-dot Devil data

#0 Gabby Elliott , 2026 All-Big 12 Third Team
One of three Sun Devils who has started every game this season...Has scored in double figures 28x, led or tied for team lead in scoring 14x, led or tied for team leads in rebounds 8x and leads ASU in games scoring 20 or more points (10)...Has had 3 or more steals 8x...Averaged 18.8 points and connected on 40.5 percent from long range in ASU’s 14 road games...Playing without injured McKinna Brackens, Elliott scored a season-high 30 points (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 Gonzaga (Dec. 16)....Earlier this season, Elliott scored in double figures in 15 straight games and averaged 18.9 ppg during that span...Had 16 rebounds in win at Santa Clara, the most by a Sun Devil this season...Came within one triple of tying single-game program record with six at San Diego (Nov. 13)...Also had team single-game season high with 8 steals vs. San Francisco (Dec. 6)... Came two assists short of a triple-double after scoring 22 points, pulling down 10 boards and dishing out a career-high eight assists in ASU’s upset of Iowa State (Mar. 5). Elliott scored 13 points in the third quarter, the fifth time this season she has had a double-digit scoring total in a quarter.

#1 Amaya Williams
One of six Sun Devils who have played in every game...Earlier this season started three straight games in place of injured Last-Tear Poa...Dished out season-high 11 assists in win at San Diego (Nov. 13), 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...Has scored in double figured four times, including season-high 18 points vs. Little Rock (Nov. 28)... Was ASU’s top contributor off the bench with six points and four rebounds at Texas Tech (Mar. 1)...Was again ASU’s top scorer off the bench (seven points) in ASU’s 54-51 Big 12 Tournament first round win over Arizona (Mar. 4).

#4 Jyah LoVett
One of six Sun Devils who has played in every game...Started in place of injured Last-Tear Poa at Arizona (Feb. 14)...Has scored in double figures 6x, including season-high 16 points at Baylor (Feb. 7)...Tied for team lead in scoring (15 points) in win vs. San Francisco (Dec. 6)... Has posted multiple steals 14x.

#7 Martina Fantini
Has played in all but two games this season...Has had 5 or more rebounds 4x, including season-high 9 boards vs. Utah Tech (Nov. 25)...Has scored season-high 6 points 3x...Has logged double-digit totals in minutes 9x.

#10 Acacia Hayes  
Has not played this season due to injury.

#11 Marley Washenitz
One of three Sun Devils who has started every game this season...Has scored in double figures 11x, had 3 or more steals 12x, 5 or more rebounds 11x, 3 or more assists 12x and has hit multiple 3-point FGs 9x...Scored double figures in each of season’s first four games: averaged 15.3 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 2.5 spg and shot 47 percent from the floor...During another four-game stretch in Dec./Jan., averaged 11.3 ppg...Led ASU with 17 points in season opener vs. Coppin State (Nov. 3)...Scored season-high 19 points in win at San Diego (Nov. 13)...In what came to be known as the “Hail Marley,” hit game-winning 3-pointer vs. UNLV (Nov. 22). The shot: With only seconds remaining in the game, the shot clock about to expire, with her back to the basket, Washenitz saved the ball before it rolled out of bounds and – in the same motion – turned around and flung a left-handed 3-pointer off the glass. For Washenitz, who came into the game having scored in double figures in each of ASU’s first four games of the season, the improvisational shot was the first – and only – of her seven field goal attempts of the game that resulted in points...Has scored 14 points 2x, most recently in win over Houston (Feb. 21)...Averaged 7.5 rebounds in consecutive games vs. Houston (8) and vs. BYU (7)...Scored eight points in the first quarter in ASU’s 54-51 Big 12 Tournament first-round win over Arizona (Mar. 4).

#12 Makayla Moore                
Has been limited to 16 games this season due to injury...Scored season-high 9 points vs. SEMO (Nov. 29).

#13  Last-Tear Poa   
Has played in 30 games (29 starts)...Games missed and only game she did not start were all due to injury...Has had 5 or more assists 10x, 4 or more rebounds 13x and is one of team’s most reliable players at the free throw line: 84.7 percent (50-59)...In season opener had a career night distributing the basketball, dishing out 10 assists...Has an assist-to-TO ratio of 65-25 in the 10 games she has had 5 or more assists...Knocked down game-winning 3-pointer in ASU’s 55-53 OT win at Oregon State (Dec. 14)...Posted double-double by matching career high in assists (10) and scoring 12 points in ASU’s win vs. SEMO (Nov. 29)... Contributed a strong all-around outing at Texas Tech (Mar. 1) with game highs in assists (six) and steals (three) to go with a team-high seven rebounds and seven points... Came one rebound short of a double-double after scoring 12 points and grabbing a career-high nine rebounds in ASU’s upset of Iowa State in the Big 12 Tournament (Mar. 5).

#14 Heloisa Carrera              
One of three Sun Devils who has started every game this season...Has scored in double figures 19x (7x in last 8 games and 13x in last 17 games) and has scored 20 or more points 4x...Has led or tied for team lead in rebounds 9x, and led or tied for the team lead in scoring 6x...Is second on the team in double-doubles (3)...Scored a game- and career-high 23 points and nearly notched her fourth double-double of the season after tying for the team lead with a game-high eight rebounds in ASU’s win over Houston (Feb. 21)...Scored 10 points – was a perfect 5-for-5 in shooting – to go with six rebounds at Texas Tech (Mar. 1)...Was ASU’s only player to score in double figures (16 points) in ASU’s 54-51 Big 12 Tournament first round win over Arizona (Mar. 4)... Scored 12 of her 17 points in the first quarter and missed only one field goal (5-6) and one free throw (7-8) in ASU’s upset of Iowa State in the Big 12 Tournament (Mar. 5).

#21 McKinna Brackens, 2026 All-Big 12 Third Team
Has scored in double figures 26x and led or tied for team lead in scoring 13x and rebounding 12x...Averaged 18.4 points per game while shooting 50.4 pct (32-55) in five games prior to regular season finale...Is tied for fourth-highest number of double-doubles in the Big 12 this season (seven)...Earlier this season, scored in double figures in 14 straight games and averaged 16.1 ppg and shot 50.3 FG pct., including 50 pct of her 3FGs (11-22) during that span...Established new career standard of 31 points at Utah (Dec. 31), including 22 points in the second half and 14 points in the fourth quarter...In overtime win at Arizona (Feb. 14), scored 19 of her team-high 24 points in the 2nd half (10 points) and overtime (nine points), including the game-tying bucket with 3.3 seconds remaining to send the game to OT...Scored 16 points to go with six rebounds in ASU’s upset of Iowa State in the Big 12 Tournament (Mar. 5).

#22 Timya Grice       
Did not play last season due to injury... Has played in 8 games and has had multiple rebounds in three of those games.

#23 Jordan Jones    
Has not played this season due to injury.

#24 Deborah Davenport    
One of six Sun Devils who have played in every game and started consecutive games at Gonzaga (Dec. 16) and vs. Colorado (Dec. 21)...Has been one of top contributors off the bench...Has pulled down 5 or more rebounds 11x (season-high 9 rebounds vs. Oklahoma State on Feb. 4) and multiple offensive rebounds 10x...Has also posted multiple steals 6x and multiple block 6x...Career highs of 18 points, nine rebounds (led team), three blocks (tied for team lead) and a trio of triples (led team) proved to be significant in ASU’s win over Oklahoma State (Feb. 4)...Scored six points, 3-4 FGs) and had a game-high eight rebounds in ASU’s 54-51 Big 12 Tournament first round win over Arizona (Mar. 4).

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.