TEMPE- After winning a crucial game over the Houston Cougars at home on Saturday, the Arizona State women's basketball team looks to continue to build its momentum for the last two games of the season and, potentially, this year's NCAA Women's Tournament.
When Molly Miller was head coach for the Grand Canyon University Lopes last March, she led them to their first-ever appearance in the tournament and WAC Championship.
According to ESPN, the Sun Devils are projected to be the last team in for the upcoming tournament, especially after the big turnaround they have shown so far compared with last season.
“We talk about statement wins, especially right now," Miller said Saturday. "Eyes are on March, eyes are on bubble teams, eyes are on the bracket, (and) postseason possibilities. So we’ve got to be clean, sharp, and playing our best basketball. We practice well and we talk in the locker room. This is a group that’s unique.”
When Miller was hired to take over the Sun Devils women's basketball program last March, she brought up the attention of bringing in recruits and rebuilding the program.
So far, it's clicking on all cylinders for her and the coaching staff, as their identity from the start of the season is known for their tough defense, which has been turning into points scored.
After starting the season undefeated by winning 15 straight games, Arizona State (22-7, 9-7 Big 12) is seventh in the Big 12 Women's basketball standings with a 9-7 record.
When a reporter asked senior guard Marley Washenitz what the team needs to do to prove to the nation that they are in the tournament for a reason, she emphasized the importance of team chemistry and resiliency on both ends of the court.
“Clicking on all cylinders and then playing with that chip on our shoulder," Washenitz said. "We're playing for something bigger right now and we know that. It’s kind of like what (Head Coach) Molly said after our Iowa State game was that we need to either kill or be killed. I think that's what our mentality was coming into tonight's game. I think you could see it, and for me personally, I thought on the defensive end, I think (Fifth Year Guard Last-Tear) Poa set the tone on defense. She was pressuring their point guard from the jump, and because you see her pressuring, you’re like, ‘I got your back Poa,’ and it gets you fired up.
"Once everyone starts getting on the same page and we all start matching each other's energy, I think that's where we can be dangerous. Like I said, it starts on the defensive end. When we can hold opponents under a certain amount of points and then not only hold them to that, but then capitalize on our steals and their turnovers. That's huge for us, and those are easy ways to score the ball, so it starts on the defensive end for us.”
The Sun Devils will welcome the BYU Cougars in Tempe on Wednesday, February 25, before traveling to face the No. 20-ranked Texas Tech Red Raiders on Saturday, February 28.