Sun Devils Escape Wildcats in First Round of Big 12 Tournament

(Photo: Sun Devil Athletics)

KANSAS CITY, Mo – There is an age-old saying that says great things come in threes.

On Wednesday, 10th-seeded Arizona State (23-9, 9-9) women’s basketball lived up to the saying, completing a season trifecta of wins against intrastate 15th-seeded rival Arizona (12-18, 3-15) in the first round of the Big 12 tournament.

The Sun Devils fought through hard fouls, deficits and bloody noses to overcome the Wildcats 54-51.

“They play hard and we play hard,” ASU head coach Molly Miller said. “This type of game is rock fight. It’s not always going to be pretty with these two teams, but we battled and found a way.”

All three Territorial Cup games this year were decided by single-digit deficits.

Early on, the momentum suggested Arizona was poised to dominate the contest. It jumped to a 10-2 first-quarter lead, forcing four ASU turnovers in an equal amount of minutes.

But a senior, who was fighting to prolong her waning college career, stepped up to propel her team back in the game.

Senior guard Marley Washenitz – a defensive sparkplug who has at times struggled with shotmaking – rallied the Sun Devils to a one-point lead at the end of the first quarter, scoring eight points in the period. Her two 3-pointers were ASU’s only made triples of the game.

The Wildcats’ frenzied 3-2 zone defense negated the Sun Devils’ three-point offense, but it helped open up looks in the post. ASU doubled Arizona in points in the paint, 36-18. Sophomore forward Heloisa Carrera consistently capitalized on defensive mismatches against undersized opponents. The Brazilian native led all scorers with 16 points and was able to snag five rebounds.

Carrera was a go-to for Miller in the clutch.

“Being in that position is a lot of pressure,” Carrera said. “But I love the pressure.”

On an inbounds play at the beginning of the fourth quarter, Carrera took an elbow to the nose courtesy of Arizona’s Nora Francois. Francois was ejected from the contest after receiving her second flagrant foul. Carrera remained in the game with a bloodied paper towel dangling from her nose.

Hard fouling and tough, rugged defense have become a staple of a Molly Miller-Becky Burke matchup. Wednesday was no exception, with 38 personal fouls dished out between the two teams.

The abundance of fouls came with a flurry of free throws for either side. ASU struggled from the charity stripe, going 6-for-12. Arizona’s 10-for-14 mark surpassed its rivals, but the four that didn’t fall were ultimately the game’s deciding factor.

Despite fouls playing a major role throughout the game, Miller’s decision to consciously withhold from fouling on the game’s final possession proved pivotal in the Sun Devils’ victory.

With eight seconds remaining, Arizona emerged from a timeout, trailing by three. The Wildcats’ ensuing play found its most potent three-pointer shooter, junior guard Sumayah Sugapong, behind the arc.

Yet, ASU’s frenetic defense rallied again, double-teaming Sugapong and forcing the ball to freshman Daniah Trammell, who had not made a triple all season.

Trammell’s effort clanged off the front of the rim, and the Sun Devils were able to let out a big sigh of relief, having escaped an upset from their rival.

ASU doesn’t have much time to celebrate, though. It faces Iowa State in the second round on Thursday, a team it lost to by 26 in mid-February.

Miller doesn’t see her team’s previous matchup against the Cyclones as a cause for concern for what is to come on Thursday, she sees it as a chance to get even and a chance to prove why her team deserves a bid to the NCAA tournament.

“We’re ready for this moment,” Miller said. “We’re ready for March.”