(Tempe, AZ) Fresh off their two game road trip to California, ASU came into this game undefeated at (4-0). A dominate effort saw the Sun Devils win easily in SanDiego against the Toreros 79-47. The following game wasn’t so easy as Santa Clara made them work for a hard fought 82-77 win.
Now back in the confines of Desert Financial Arena, Arizona State will have six consecutive home contests.
First up in the Running Rebels of UNLV (2-2). They’ve been very successful in recent seasons, making it to The Dance the last four years. This year already, they’ve faced #7 Baylor losing at the end for one of their two losses.
First Quarter
It took a bit, but ASU got on the board first with a McKinna Brackens three pointer.
Not til 6:05 did the Rebels score on a three of their own to tie it at 3-3. After that, UNLV went on a little 4-2 run causing Coach Molly Miller to call a timeout to settle her team down.
Arizona State was very cold from the field, they went 3-16 (19%). The Rebels didn’t fare much better at 5-14 (36%), But half their points came inside the paint.
UNLV led 12-7 at the end of the quarter.
Second Quarter
The Rebel defense caused ASU out of their comfort zone not being able to get the ball inside on the block.
The shooting did pick up as the Devils tied it at 15-15 after they hit 4-5 field goals, two down low as they figured out a way to get it into the post and only trailed 18-17 at the 4:49 mark til halftime.
The Sun Devils took the lead with 3:05 off a steal and a layup by Carrera followed by Braken’s three pointer 24-20. ASU finished the quarter with an 11-4 run to lead at intermission 28-24.
ASU Coach Molly Miller/Photo – X
Halftime
As in the previous two home games, the Sun Devils started slow in the opening quarter, but picked it up off strong defense and better shot selection in the second quarter hitting 10-16 (62.5%). Arizona State didn’t go to the free throw line in the first half.
McKinna Brackens and Heloisa Carrera paced the Devils with 12 and 10 points respectively.
UNLV’s shooting went south in the second quarter only hitting 4-13 (30.8%). The Rebels 4 baskets beyond the arc kept them close. Las Vegas spread out their scoring with seven different players making shots, Lott leading the way with 7 points.
Third Quarter
UNLV started the scoring on a weak side layup and short jumper that tied the score 28-28.
The Sun Devils scored off transition with Marley Washenitz assist to Gabby Elliott for the layup.
Both teams traded three’s but Molly MIller’s halftime adjustments had the Sun Devils ball movement much improved. At the media timeout at 5:22, ASU led 37-30.
The Devils had 22 points in the paint after extending UNLV’s defense out front to go alongside with 12 points off turnovers.
Brackens continued her hot shooting on 8-13 from the field but at the same time, the Rebels found their touch from the field and pulled within three 41-38.
Jyah Lovett got a steal with 29 seconds left but the Sun Devils couldn’t convert.
Fourth Quarter
Borth teams stats were very close with UNLV having the edge in bench points 16-0, but the Devils with a 24-10 advantage in points in the paint.
The Rebels pulled within one 41-40 off a drive from Meadow Roland.
At 8:03, Vegas took the lead off a three from Mariah Elohim 43-42. ASU took it right back of a Carrera jumper and then back and forth we went with teams trading baskets.
Rebels tied it at 50-50 with 2:48 left in regulation. Each team hit clutch three’s that knotted it up again 53-53 and 1:48 left on the clock.
With 35.4 seconds left, Shelbee Brown missed both free throws as the score remained tied. Miller called a timeout to set up their offense.
With time on the shot clock running out, Marley Washenitz hit an off-balance three from the right wing to give the Sun Devils the lead 56-52 with 4 seconds left.
Vegas called a timeout with 3.2 seconds left after a brief inbounds play. Out of the timeout, Meadow Roland threw up a prayer and it went unanswered.
Final Score Arizona State 56 Nevada-Las Vegas 53. The afternoon attendance was 2,728.
Wrap Up
It was a special night or McKinna Brackens as she faced her former team before her transfer to the Sun Devils. Her double-double saw her shoot 10-17 from the field and hot 3-5 three pointers. Double figures in points 23 and rebounds 10.
Heloisa Carrera provided her down low presence with 16 points and 8 rebounds.
UNLV’s bench kept the Rebels in the game with 19 points as Coach Miller went primarily with her starters and a single point from the reserves.
The Devils doubled up UNLV in the paint 32-16. They also had a edge in points off turnovers 17-11.
Washenitz, who normally scores in double figures lone points was the off balance trey with 4 seconds left to win the game.
Miller’s staff will have to work on a more productive first quarter (shot 18.8%) as they have started slow in the three games at Desert Financial.
Up Next
Utah Tech is next up for ASU on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.
