TEMPE- For the first time since the 2019-2020 season, the Arizona State women's basketball team has achieved 20 wins in the first year of Molly Miller leading the way as head coach.
The Sun Devils' defense forced the Utah Utes into 21 turnovers and scored 16 points off those turnovers, leading to a 71-61 victory at home in Tempe on Wednesday.
"This team will enjoy that for a split second, but we want it to be 20 and counting," Miller said postgame. "We're not satisfied. We're looking to win in February, and so right now we're zero and zero. 20 sounds good, but we're zero on zero, looking for the next one. Really proud and happy for this group."
Arizona State's identity throughout the season has been playing intense defense and converting turnovers into points—the Molly Miller way.
Guard Gabby Elliott has been one of the major contributors to the Sun Devils' success in Miller's first year as head coach.
Throughout the game, she led Arizona State in scoring with 19 points, had five rebounds and four steals, and eclipsed 500 career rebounds.
"It feels really good," Elliott said of achieving the milestone. "I'm not gonna lie, especially because I really didn't know what was happening. So you look up, huddle, and everybody's cheering for you, pushing you forward. But it's great. I love the group of girls that I'm playing with. The team is so great and so supportive from our social media team down to our coaches, so great that I got to do it here."
To add onto Elliott's impressive performance, forwards McKinna Brackens and Heloisa Carrera scored 26 combined points.
After being swept by Arizona State in the season series, Utah head coach Gavin Petersen noticed how the Sun Devils' defensive pressure had made a significant difference in the Utes' loss.
"Their teams play hard," Petersen said. "Her team plays hard. They fight, their hearts know whether they're playing at home or on the road. That's been a consistent staple of her program, and hats off to them [for their fight]."
As the Sun Devils prepare for the dog days of the season and preparation of this year's Big 12 Tournament, they have five games remaining in the season.
Arizona State will travel to Tucson to face the Arizona Wildcats for the second and final time on Valentine's Day.