The Sun Devil women's basketball team will open play at the 2026 Phillips 66 Big 12 Women’s Basketball Tournament on Wednesday (5:30 p.m. CST/4:30 p.m. MST/ESPN+/ KDUS AM 1060) when it faces Arizona in the third of four first round games at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo.
The Sun Devils (No. 10 seed/22-9, 9-9 Big-12), who closed out the regular season with a 58-51 loss at No. 20 Texas Tech on Sunday, will be taking on Arizona (No. 15 seed/12-17, 3-15 Big 12) for the third time this season. The Sun Devils swept the regular season series over Arizona for the first time since the 2017-18 season after defeating the Wildcats 68-61 in Tempe on January 28 and 75-69 (OT) in Tucson on February 14.
The winner of Wednesday's game will advance to the second round where it will face Iowa State (No. 7 seed/21-8, 10-8 Big 12) on Thursday (5:30 p.m. CST/4:30 p.m. MST).
Earlier in the day, ASU once again proved its ability to compete with both the top teams in the Big 12 and the best in the nation following a 58-51 loss at No. 20 Texas Tech.
The Sun Devils came through with one of their best defensive performances of the season as they...
- Held the Lady Raiders to their fewest points (58) and field goals made (18) this season.
- Forced TTU into committing 21 turnovers, tied for the second most it had in a game this season.
- TTU's final point total (58) vs. ASU, was 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 TTU finished 15-2 this season. The 21 turnovers 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.
Gabby Elliott led ASU in scoring with 15 points, connecting on nearly half of her 3-pointers (3-7) in the game. Heloisa Carrera scored 10 points – was a perfect 5-for-5 in shooting – to go with six rebounds. Also contributing a strong all-around outing with game highs in assists (six) and steals (three) to go with a team-high seven rebounds and seven points was Last-Tear Poa. Amaya Williams was ASU’s top contributor off the bench with six points and four rebounds.
Given the opponent and the environment, ASU’s first half was one its best of the season as it held the Lady Raiders to only 25 points and took a 27-25 lead into the locker room.
ASU led by as many as five in the third quarter. A 6-0 run by Texas Tech was answered by a layup by Marley Washenitz to give ASU a 36-35 lead. ASU’s most difficult stretch on the offensive end came at the same time Texas Tech had its best scoring burst of the game. The Lady Raiders’ 12-0 run to end the third quarter gave them a 47-36 lead going into the final 10 minutes.
Down, but far from out, the Sun Devils struck back in the early minutes of the fourth quarter as a layup by Elliott and a pair of jumpers by McKinna Brackens (scored eight points and had four rebounds in the game) had the Sun Devils back within five points, 52-47, with seven minutes remaining.
From that point, Texas Tech answered each time the Sun Devils scored, as the Lady Raiders retained a lead that never fell below seven.
Unfortunately for ASU, all four of its contests vs. ranked opponents this season – No. 13 TCU, No. 22 West Virginia, No. 15 Baylor, No. 20 Texas Tech – came on the road.
Like Sunday’s game, ASU’s games at West Virginia and at Baylor followed similar trajectories in which the Sun Devils were in position to come away with upset wins.
At West Virginia (Jan. 21), 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. 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.
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. 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).