Sun Devils Stay Perfect, Survive Late Gonzaga Push to Move to 13-0
SPOKANE, Wash. - Short-handed and on the road, Arizona State women’s basketball showed exactly what toughness looks like. Missing two key players, the Sun Devils leaned on grit, clutch scoring, and relentless defense to hold off a late Gonzaga surge and escape with a 68-66 win, capping off their non-conference slate with a spotless 13-0 record.
This wasn’t just a win - it was a statement. A team that’s already made history under first-year head coach Molly Miller continues to find new ways to rise to the moment.
Elliott Goes Off
When ASU needed someone to take over, Elliott delivered in a big way. She poured in a season-high 30 points, putting the team on her back in the fourth quarter with 17 of ASU’s 19 points - the most by any Sun Devil in a single quarter this season. Her 21 second-half points also set a new season-high mark for points in a half by a Sun Devil.
Elliott was aggressive and efficient, attacking the rim and drawing contact. She set new career highs in both free throws made (7) and attempted (10), showing the kind of assertiveness that turns good players into game-changers.
Balanced Support Behind the Star
While Elliott was the closer, ASU got key contributions across the board. Marley Washenitz came out firing in the first half, scoring all 12 of her points before the break and adding four rebounds, four assists, and three steals. She set the tone early with her energy on both ends.
Off the bench, Jyah LoVett and Martina Fantini gave ASU exactly what it needed. LoVett added 12 points, including a crucial late layup, while Fantini chipped in seven points, a team-high six rebounds, and two steals. Together, they outscored Gonzaga’s bench 19-13 - a difference-maker in a two-point game.
Last-Tear Poa quietly ran the offense with a team-best five assists, and Deborah Davenport, making her first career start, played solid minutes with four points and four rebounds.
Defense Defines the Win
For all the scoring heroics, ASU’s calling card this season continues to be its defense - and it showed up again in a big way. The Sun Devils forced 26 turnovers, turning them into 26 points on the other end. That’s been a consistent theme this year, and it was crucial on a night when Gonzaga was finding success from deep.
ASU’s pressure defense helped them control large stretches of the game. They limited Gonzaga to just 13 points in both the second and third quarters, a defensive feat they’ve now pulled off 27 times this season.
Game Flow: Runs, Responses, and a Final Stand
The Sun Devils jumped out to a pair of seven-point leads in the first quarter, only to see Gonzaga claw back each time. That back-and-forth rhythm would carry through the night.
ASU closed the second quarter on an 8-0 run and opened the third with a quick bucket to take its largest lead of the game at 38-29. But Gonzaga wouldn’t go away. The Bulldogs cut it to two before ASU responded again, finishing the third quarter on a 5-0 burst to push the lead back to seven.
In the final frame, Gonzaga caught fire from beyond the arc, hitting six of their 10 made threes in the last 10 minutes. They trimmed the lead to one, 62-61, with just over two minutes left. That’s when LoVett and Elliott stepped up - LoVett with a tough layup, Elliott with a smooth jumper - to stretch the lead back to five.
The Bulldogs had a shot to tie or win in the final seconds, but Heloisa Carrera came up with a game-saving block, swatting away a Taylor Smith attempt. Gonzaga’s final heave from deep missed, and ASU walked away with its second straight two-point win.
Making History - and Chasing More
This win pushed ASU’s record to 13-0, already the best start in program history. The current streak is the program’s longest since the 2015-16 team tied the school record of 15 straight wins. One more victory would tie the second-longest streak in Sun Devil history, set by the 2014-15 squad.
Here’s where the Sun Devils stand in the record books:
- 15 wins: Dec. 6, 2015 - Jan.
29, 2016
- 15 wins: Jan.
28 - Mar. 5, 2009
- 14 wins: Nov. 30, 2014 - Jan.
23, 2015
- 13 wins: Nov. 3, 2025 - current
This isn’t just a hot start - it’s a team playing with purpose, confidence, and cohesion.
What’s Next
ASU now turns its attention to Big 12 play, opening conference action on Sunday against Colorado. It’ll be a special day on campus, as fans can celebrate World Basketball Day with a Holiday Hoops doubleheader. The men’s team tips things off at 1 p.m. against Oregon State, followed by the women at 5 p.m.
With momentum on their side and history within reach, the Sun Devils are proving they’re more than just a feel-good story - they’re a team to watch, and a team that just keeps finding ways to win.