After a lengthy losing skid in conference play, few believed in Arizona State Women’s Basketball (9-19, 3-13 Big 12) prior to Saturday’s game against BYU. Yet, on the road, head coach Natasha Adair’s Sun Devils battled through adversity to piece together one of their most complete performances of the season and win their first game since Jan. 4.
Junior guard Jalyn Brown led the way with 23 points and hit a few massive shots down the stretch to secure an 85-73 overtime victory over the Cougars (13-14, 4-12 Big 12) in Provo.
Heading into the weekend, the Devils were in search of any momentum in hopes of possibly making a run in the Big 12 tournament.
With only eight players available heading into the evening tilt, Adair’s squad faced another tall task ahead of it on the road.
Additionally, ASU’s depth was tested early when it lost sophomore guard Jyah LoVett left the game early in the first quarter with a left ankle injury.
Despite the concerns in the depth department, the Sun Devils pushed forward, especially on the defensive end. They held BYU to 3-16 from the field and a shocking 0-8 from three in the first quarter.
However, the shooting woes didn’t last long for the Cougars, as exceptional freshman guard Delaney Gibb caught fire and knocked down three shots from beyond the arc in the second.
Gibb’s scorching hot scoring sequence propelled the Cougars to a 22-point second quarter, with BYU freshman guard Brinley Cannon’s buzzer-beating 3-pointer providing the exclamation point on the half.
In the final few minutes, both teams faced major foul trouble. Two of BYU’s frontcourt pillars had four fouls in the fourth quarter, which limited the squad’s size inside.
This Sun Devils took advantage by getting more aggressive down low and constantly feeding the ball to senior center Nevaeh Parkinson in post-up situations.
Unfortunately for Parkinson, an untimely offensive foul followed by a defensive foul at the other end of the court led to her picking up her fourth and fifth fouls, effectively ending her night.
Nonetheless, the Sun Devils still received offensive production elsewhere.
Junior guard Makayla Moore manufactured a career night while tying her career best in 3-pointers. She swished four triples from deep, including several clutch buckets in the fourth quarter and overtime.
Meanwhile, senior guard Tyi Skinner also turned in another huge performance for the Sun Devils. She finished the game with 22 points and nailed the game-tying free throws with 12 seconds remaining in regulation.
ASU opened up overtime with an 8-0 run highlighted by Moore’s fourth 3-pointer of the night.
Big-time three from @MooreMakayla22!!
— Sun Devil WBB (@SunDevilWBB) February 23, 2025
Her fourth three of the game as the Sun Devils open overtime with an 8-0 run!
ASU 79 | BYU 71 #ForksUp /// #O2V pic.twitter.com/tOPbpmiRyF
BYU had no answer, as the Devils proceeded to snap their recent 12-game losing streak, winning their third game in the Big 12 and ninth game overall.
A major factor in Saturday’s contest was ASU’s efforts in the turnover department. The Maroon and Gold won the turnover battle with 17 turnovers compared to BYU’s 20. The Sun Devils now have a 4-6 record in games where they have fewer giveaways than their opponent.
Looking ahead, both teams have two regular-season games remaining before the Big 12 tournament. Up next, ASU looks to continue to build on its momentum in a Wednesday night matchup on the road against the Colorado Buffaloes (17-10, 8-8 in Big 12) at 7 p.m. MST.
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