IOWA CITY, Iowa – In a game that proved to be a battle of wills, the Sun Devil Women’s Basketball team came up short in a 57-55 loss to Virginia in the last of the NCAA First Four contests.
In her final game as a Sun Devil, Marley Washenitz tied her season high with 19 points and made a career-high five 3-pointers, tying the second-most 3-pointers made by a Sun Devil in an NCAA Tournament game. Also playing their final game in a Sun Devil uniform on Thursday were Gabby Elliott (11 points, team-high four assists), Last-Tear Poa (seven rebounds, team-high-tying four assists) and Makayla Moore.
McKinna Brackens and Heloisa Carrera both concluded their first season wearing the Maroon and Gold with 10 points each. Brackens also had a team-high 10 rebounds to notch her team-leading eighth double-double of the season.
Jyah LoVett came off the bench to lead ASU with four steals.
One of ASU’s most impressive statistical performances was in the rebounding department, where it was only minus two (41-39) against a Virginia squad that came into the game 12th in the nation in rebounding margin (+9.5) and 27th in offensive rebounds per game (14.6). And although the Cavaliers had a 15-9 advantage on the offensive glass, it was the Sun Devils who made the most of their second chances, outscoring Virginia 13-5 in second-chance points.
Trailing since the first quarter and down 48-40 with 4:28 remaining, the Sun Devils proved why they were selected to play in the NCAA Tournament. As they had done all season, the Sun Devils would not stop fighting until the end.
After triples made by Washenitz and Elliott, ASU suddenly found itself down 48-46 with 3:20 left in the game.
Another 3-pointer by Washenitz, this one with 41 seconds remaining, capped an 11-3 ASU run and tied the game at 51-51.
Virginia answered with a 3-pointer of its own, only its fourth make of the game from long range, to go up 54-51.
Carrera and LoVett both scored field goals in the final 14 seconds. Coupled with the Cavaliers making only two of their four free throw attempts down the stretch, the Sun Devils had an opportunity to tie the game in the closing seconds. Unfortunately, ASU could not get a shot off as the Cavaliers forced a turnover on the opposite end, and time ran out on the Sun Devils.
Although it was not the ending the Sun Devils wanted, their accomplishments in 2025-26 will far outlast the outcome of Thursday’s game.
Sun Devil WBB’s notable accomplishments in 2025-26
- Earned first NCAA Tournament berth since 2019
- The 15s: Best start in school history (15-0) ... 15-1 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 were 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.
- At the conclusion of the regular season, ASU (+14) trailed only LIU (+15) and McNeese (+18) for the largest improvement in wins in the nation from last season. ASU’s current victory total of 24 is more than double the 10 wins it had in 2024-25