Arizona State women’s basketball got off to a sluggish start on Friday night, Dec. 5, playing up the street from its home gym at the home of ASU hockey, Mullett Arena, because Desert Financial Arena was hosting Sun Devils volleyball in the NCAA Tournament.
The Sun Devils turned the ball over on seven of their first eight possessions against McNeese State and eight times in the first quarter alone. But ASU righted itself in a big way in the second quarter and held on for a 57-47 win on the first night of the Briann January Classic to improve to 9-0.
ASU Sun Devils guard Gabby Elliott (0) drives past Coppin State Bald Eagles guard Erin Henry (20) at Desert Financial Arena on Nov. 3, 2025.
The Sun Devils outscored the Cowgirls 23-7 in the second quarter and led by as many as 18 points in the second half. But McNeese cut the lead to 45-40 early in the fourth quarter before Gabby Elliott hit back-to-back jumpers to push the lead to nine.
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Elliott’s 19 points led ASU, with 14 points and 14 rebounds from McKinna Brackens.
Arizona State tied its best start to a season since going 9-0 to begin the 1991-92 campaign. On Saturday, Dec. 6 the Sun Devils can reach 10 straight wins when they host San Francisco at Mullett Arena.
USF defeated Nevada and former ASU star Amanda Levens, now the Wolfpack’s head coach, 68-45, in the first game Friday.
McNeese led by as many as six points in first quarter and the Cowgirls were up 12-10 after one quarter, with ASU out of sync.
But Arizona State’s defense helped the Sun Devils take control, forcing tough shots late in the shot clock and using a size advantage to affect shot attempts. On offense, the Sun Devils outscored the Cowgirls 28-18 in points in the paint.
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Elliott caught a long outlet pass from Last-Tear Poa off a missed shot and converted a fastbreak layup with 3:38 to go until halftime. Then Elliott spun inside for a short bank shot while being fouled, and ASU went up 25-15 after her free throw.
Brackens knocked down a 3-pointer at the 2:02 mark, forcing a McNeese timeout with ASU ahead 28-15. The Sun Devils took a 14-point lead into halftime, 33-19, and outrebounded McNeese 22-9 in the first half, 46-26 for the game.
Second quarters have been key for the Sun Devils. They have outscored opponents by an average of about 12 points in the second 10 minutes of six consecutive games and have scored 20 or more points in a quarter 14 times this season.
ASU scored just nine third-quarter points but held McNeese to seven. Then the Cowgirls rallied in the fourth but couldn’t get closer than a five-point deficit.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Gabby Elliott leads ASU women’s basketball to win over McNeese
