UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — In the first game of its three-game road stretch, Arizona State took down the Penn State Nittany Lions 74–60 in Happy Valley.
The victory kept the Sun Devils (11-0) unbeaten under first-year coach Molly Miller and added to their best start in program history.
Additionally, the night marked a homecoming for Arizona State graduate guard Gabby Elliott, a former Nittany Lion who transferred to ASU from Penn State during the offseason. In her return to State College, she posted one of her best games as a Sun Devil, recording a game-high 27 points to pair with three rebounds and three assists, as a core component of the ASU win.
Arizona State started slow, trailing 18–13 heading into the second quarter. However, in the second quarter, ASU shone the brightest, outscoring PSU 20 to four, taking an 11-point lead into the break.
From then on, the Maroon and Gold extended their lead and didn’t look back, garnering a 26-point lead at one point. After being down 59–38 going into the fourth, the Nittany Lions tried their best to stay in the game and fight back, cutting the lead down to 12. Still, it was to no avail, as ASU managed to take the 74–60 victory.
Although Elliott shouldered most of the load offensively, junior forward McKinna Brackens also chipped in with a double-double, picking up 15 points and 11 rebounds in the win.
She also made an impact on the defensive end, securing five steals to contribute to Arizona State’s 18 total steals on the night.
Turnovers were plentiful for both teams, as they combined for 66 giveaways — 30 for ASU and 36 for Penn State.
In addition to winning the turnover battle, ASU locked down PSU’s star, senior center Gracie Merkle, who leads the team in points, rebounds, and blocks per game. She logged 17 points, five fewer than normal, and also coughed up the ball eight times, the most by any player in the contest.
The Sun Devils also outshot PSU, shooting 45% from the field, 10% more than the Lions, while also shooting 13% from beyond the arc, burying four of their 12 3-point attempts.
With ASU securing the win over Penn State, it remains one of the few undefeated teams left in Division 1 basketball.
Up next, Arizona State will gear up to take on the second opponent of its three-game road trip, Oregon State, on Dec. 14 at 2 p.m. MST.
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