Back-to-back road losses tend to sink a team's momentum.
Getting a win at home in one of the most weighted rivalries in Arizona sports is a good way to bring it back up.
ASU women's basketball did just that on Jan. 28, in its Territorial Cup showdown with UA, remaining undefeated at home with a 68-61 triumph.
"Rivalry week is the best, no matter where you're at," ASU head coach Molly Miller said at a press conference on Jan. 26. "But when you're talking about Arizona State and Arizona and the battles with every sport back and forth, that's a pride win — you don't lose that game. Whatever game is up next, we want to win, but this one means a little bit more."
It was a back-and-forth battle all night. The Wildcats scored 13 unanswered points out of halftime, but the Sun Devils kept their composure when it mattered most. Graduate student guard Gabby Elliott led the team in scoring with 22 points, and junior McKinna Brackens and sophomore Heloisa Carrera each had double-doubles of their own.
"It really means a lot, because it's not just about us," Elliott said at a press conference on Jan. 26. "It's about the people who are coming to watch us in the stands and the people who graduated and played before us as well."
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Last season, ASU lost both of its games against the Wildcats. Through the last 14 matchups of the series, UA has come out on top in 11. This year, a team full of fresh faces managed to flip the script — fueled by the passion of Reili Richardson, a graduate assistant on the team and former player.
Richardson played for ASU from 2016-20 and finished her tenure on the court as the program's career leader in assists. After all of her time as a Sun Devil, few know more about what the rivalry means to fans and alums alike.
"You could even hear the passion in her voice," Miller said about Richardson. "Practices were rough and tumble leading up to this game."
Heading into this matchup, the Sun Devils had played eight of their last 11 games on the road, and they came up short in four of their last six. Despite the tough stretch in recent weeks, Miller doesn't see any need to "reinvent the wheel" anytime soon.
"I think it's an effort thing," Miller said. "We're not probably going to outscore teams, outshoot teams, out-stat teams. We're just going to have to win with our effort and our energy and our defense."
The latest clash between the devils and cats also made historic strides in terms of attendance. 6,121 fans were in the building — the most ever for a women's basketball game between the two schools in Tempe.
"The number of fans that I've seen in the stands has been unthinkable," Elliott said. "Honestly, I haven't played in a better home crowd in all of my college career. Seeing people come and show out and show support, we're definitely feeding off that."
Though they didn't achieve their desired outcome, UA head coach Becky Burke is proud of the fight her team put up.
"That's what you want a rivalry game to feel like," Burke said. "You want it to be punches thrown back and forth ... and that's exactly what that was. So I know we're really excited for the opportunity to have them in a couple weeks down in Tucson, but (I'm) really proud of my group."
Next up, ASU will look to stay undefeated at home when it hosts Kansas State on Feb. 1.
On Feb. 14, a rivalry rematch will take place at McKale Memorial Center, and Elliott is looking forward to the challenge.
"Hopefully they bring a little bit more, because they're going to need it," Elliott said.
Edited by Alan Deutschendorf and Sophia Braccio.
Reach the reporter at holtzingerethan@gmail.com and follow @EthanZinger6 on X.
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Ethan Holtzinger is a sports reporter for The State Press who has previously worked for Cronkite News and the Arizona Interscholastic Association. He is in his 2nd semester with The State Press and 5th semester at ASU.
