(Photo via Dylan Wickman/WCSN)
TEMPE — The Sun Devils overcame the Washington Huskies in a double overtime thriller to win their third conference game of the season Friday despite scoring only 15 points in the first half, their lowest-scoring half of the season, and overcoming a 35-21 deficit to win 73-66.
ASU women’s basketball’s first conference win of the season came against Washington on Jan. 21, with sophomore guard Jalyn Brown scoring 34 points and overpowering the Huskies in a game that gave the Sun Devils optimism after a terrible start in Pac-12 play.
This game was not a rehashing of that one, as Brown had scored zero points at the half and started the game 0-for-9. The Huskies showed they had altered their game plan since their first meeting with the Sun Devils and prevented Brown from being the one to defeat them.
Poor offense and even better Washington defense led ASU to an abysmal start after falling victim to Browns’ early slump. A nine-point first quarter gave way to a six-point second frame, and the deficit the Sun Devils faced at the half was 10 – and could have been higher if not for the Huskies’ 1-for-14 first-half three-point shooting.
“We went into halftime down ten, and we talked about the shots we had taken,” ASU head coach Natasha Adair said. “I said 80% of the shots they’ve made before, but we said we have to come out in the third and play some defense. I thought there were moments where that lagged a little early, but in the third, we responded.”
The Sun Devils saw hope for a comeback in the third quarter, an eventual turning point when they scored 17 points in the quarter, more than they had the whole game. The comeback was frontiered by sophomore guard Trayanna Crisp, who finished with a career-high 23 points, scoring eight in the period.
By the fourth, the momentum had entirely reversed in ASU’s favor, as the Sun Devils came out on fire in the fourth quarter. A combined effort from Brown, Crisp, and freshman forward Mallory Miller scored more points than the entire Huskies team in the fourth quarter, and Miller nailed two huge free throws late to tie the game and send it to overtime.
“It is the biggest moment, and there’s a lot of pressure, but it just goes back to being intentional in practice every day,” Miller said. “Having the mindset that we’re doing this because we want to simulate what happens in a game, when it happens in a game, when I have to hit two. That’s why I’m practicing right now.”
Brown came alive in the second half, finishing the game with 16 points after starting 0-for-9, and that carried over into overtime. Brown and Crisp each scored four points early in the extra period, putting the Sun Devils in a firm position to win, but two Washington 3-pointers and clutch defense late allowed senior forward Lauren Schwartz to score a game-tying layup with four seconds remaining, sending the game into a second overtime.
This time around, another overtime was no problem for the Sun Devils, as four quick baskets and a superb defense that kept Washington scoreless until less than a minute remained led to the ultimate victory. It was a marquee win for a squad still struggling to find its footing in midseason.
Graduate guard Isadora Sousa’s flawless 5-for-5 shooting, 16 points, eight rebounds, and two steals, combined with Miller’s seven points, 10 rebounds, and three blocks, proved to be the difference in a game where Brown was unable to find her shooting touch. The Sun Devils’ depth allowed them to win this one.
“If I’m going to coach against us, we’re going to try and take the ball out of Brown’s hands,” Adair said. “If they’re going to double her, someone else needs to step up. We said, ‘We need multiple players in double digits today.’ We said on day one we don’t care who gets the credit. We just say be ready when your name is called.”
ASU will now turn its attention to Sunday’s game against Washington State. The Sun Devils lost their previous meeting to the Cougars 79-64, and Crisp had to leave the game early due to an injury. The Sun Devils will be looking to see if Crisp’s return will make a difference as the team looks to start a Pac-12 winning streak for the first time since 2022.
“I think the win is huge,” Adair said. “I think it’s a confidence builder in February, because it does feel like a tournament type of game, and it also lets them know their hard work is paying off. We’ve had good moments throughout the year. We’ve had good quarters. We’ve played for 20 minutes. We’ve played for 30 minutes. … I thought there were moments where what they do every day at practice came to life.”
