Expectations couldn’t be higher for new head coach Molly Miller after she rejuvenated the women’s basketball program since taking over eight months ago, and the first glimpse of the Sun Devils gave everyone a tease of what could be coming in the future.
Fueled by a fourth-quarter offensive explosion, the Sun Devils opened their account with a 67-53 win over Coppin State on Monday night in front of a noisy crowd at Desert Financial Arena.
The Sun Devils scored 27 points in the final frame, nearly matching their 29-point first-half output, and shot 66.7% from the field. Fifth-year guard Last-Tear Poa was decisive with the ball in her hands, accumulating six of her team-high 10 assists in the fourth, and the experienced guard duo of Penn State transfer Gabby Elliott and Pitt transfer Marley Washenitz took over down the stretch, combining for 15 points on 6 for 9 shooting from the field.
“We just was feeding off each other’s energy,” Elliott said.. “I feel like it started on defense for both of us tonight … it kind of just flowed for me and our teammates found me. I found her, we found each other, and we got the result.”
More impressively, ASU completely stifled the Eagles’ attacks, causing 11 turnovers in the fourth alone and limiting Coppin State to just eight shot attempts.
Miller entered Tempe with the reputation of an energetic, defensive-minded leader. In her first appearance on the hardwood, her squad’s hustle and grit were on display all evening; the Sun Devils came up with 19 steals and forced 33 Coppin State turnovers – marks that would have been season-highs for them a year ago.
“We create havoc,” Miller said. “We really get after it. We make everything really difficult for the teams. We want to disrupt when we defend. We want to make entry passes hard.”
ASU took 23 more shots, scored 37 points off turnovers, had 18 offensive rebounds and seemingly dove on the floor for every loose ball, much to Miller’s delight. The head coach was her typical passionate self, high-fiving players after strong defensive possessions and the same aggressiveness that drove her GCU squad to success last year looks to be transferring over to ASU.
Miller threw a multitude of coverages at the Eagles, applying full-court pressure in the first quarter and trapping ball screens later in the game to add to her opponent’s discomfort. The Sun Devils’ energy level on the defensive end of the court was at full blast, partially because of the scheme Miller runs, which relies on communication and guarding as a collective unit.
“What’s really cool about our system is that all five have to be on the same page,” Miller said. “So if four are out there playing their tails off and one’s not, you stick out like a sore thumb. So no one wants to be the outlier that’s sticking out.”
Those extra opportunities were necessary because ASU lacked any semblance of an outside shot in its opening game. The Sun Devils finished 2 for 19 from behind the arc, and 0 for 11 besides Washenitz. At one point in the fourth quarter, Miller decided to switch up the offense and place an emphasis on going inside more often.
“We kind of changed our mentality and put some middle pick and roll screens in the middle third of the court, which helped open up the space for (sophomore forward Heloisa Carrera) to be able to roll or get a deep catch,” Miller said. “That was pretty intentional. I mean, at that point we made one three. I’m like, ‘unless you’re wide open, we’re not talking anymore.’”
Despite entering the season with only four designated forwards and centers, ASU dominated on the offensive glass and doubled the Eagles’ points in the paint with 36. Carrera and junior forward McKinna Brackens combined for 25 points and 13 boards on an efficient 12-24 shooting, taking advantage of finishing chances near the rim when they were able to seal off their defender or cut inside untouched.
As the game got closer in the second half, Miller heavily leaned on her veterans; Brackens’ 37 minutes led the team and Elliott wasn’t far behind with 36. In spite of the win, there were major areas of growth on both sides.
ASU came out of halftime slowly and was outscored 18-11 in the third to fall behind 43-40. Once again, it turned to the only thing it could control: its effort.
“Every time we set that message, it was, it starts on defense, so we’re very cognizant of the fact that our defense runs the majority of our energy,” Washenitz, ASU’s leading scorer with 17, said.
The Sun Devils committed 23 turnovers of their own, which would have been their most in a game in 2024, and weren’t able to capitalize on a number of chances in transition or near the rim that would have stretched their lead early in the game. ASU’s aggression on defense turned into fouling at some points, like when the Sun Devils entered the bonus four minutes into the third quarter.
But the ASU players understand that the season is long and the first game doesn’t have to be your best outing.
