TEMPE – Clashing chants of “ASU” and “U of A” echoed through the chambers of Desert Financial Arena on Wednesday night, as two first-year coaches – Arizona State’s Molly Miller and Arizona’s Becky Burke – opened up a new era of the Arizona-Arizona State rivalry in women’s basketball.
One characterized by its defense, physicallity and renewed energy. A total of 6,121 fans – the most ever at Desert Financial Arena to watch an ASU-Arizona game- filled the stands to create an environment reflective of the new buzz around the programs.
It marked a stark contrast from years past, especially recently. The Wildcats captured the last seven contests between the programs, winning 11 of the last 14 Territorial Cup games.
Miller and Arizona State broke the trend on Wednesday Night, defeating Arizona 68-61 in a tightly contested game.
“It’s good for women’s basketball,” Miller said on the environment on Wednesday night. “It’s awesome for the community. … Everything’s thrown out the window when you play a Becky Burke team, but especially when it’s Arizona and Arizona State. It’s great for the game. I’m glad we get to see them twice.”
Sporting a white coat with a Sun Devil logo printed on the back, Miller’s clothing reflected the much brighter days her team has experienced so far – an 18-4 record on the back of an undefeated start at home.
On the other end stood first-year Arizona coach Becky Burke, who has struggled to get off the ground and running in Year 1 in Tucson. Her dark, navy and black attire mirrored the gloomy stretch her team finds themselves in – a five-game losing streak amid a 1-8 start to Big 12 play.
Still, in a game that proved competitive from start to finish, the coaches’ fiery personas had a chance to shine through, giving fans a glimpse of what could be to come in a coaching matchup between the two who were hired just 18 days apart.
“We’re both a little fiery,” Miller said. “The player comes out in you. If you can’t affect it directly on the court you just pour into your players with passion, energy and competitiveness. Becky’s going to do great things. She’s doing great things. I really admire what she’s done with her program.”
The game played out exactly to the Maroon and Gold’s preferred style in the first half: muddy, physical and defensive-centric.
Employing her signature full-court pressure, Miller’s squad made the Arizona offense uncomfortable, forcing 14 turnovers in the first half and 20 total in the contest.
Graduate guard Gabby Elliott led the scoring effort for Sparky in the first half, tallying 10 points to put ASU up 33-26 at the half. She fell hard on her backside early in the second half, but returned a few minutes later, ending with a game-high 22 points.
Out of the half, a 13-0 Wildcats run prompted Miller to call an early timeout. A reenergized Arizona squad awakened the sea of red behind the Wildcats bench, as Burke turned to the visiting crowd, raising her arms in celebration.
Graduate guard Noelani Cornfield stepped up for U of A early in the third and throughout the second half, notching 15 second-half points.
However, the Sun Devils responded, carrying a one-point lead heading into a drama-filled fourth quarter.
In a 10-minute stretch of immense physicality, ASU clamped down on the Wildcats, holding Arizona to just 12 points in the fourth quarter.
With the game in the balance, the game’s leading scorer, Elliott, stripped Wildcats sophomore guard Camryn Kitchens, leaping on the ball and ultimately drawing a foul. With her teammates standing above and screaming in unison, the play encapsulated the culture that Miller has brought to Tempe.
Shortly after, she calmly stepped up to the charity stripe and buried two free throws to extend Arizona State’s lead to two possessions, dashing the visitors’ hopes of a comeback.
“It’s a true rivalry here, and it’s bigger than basketball,” the fifth-year guard Elliott said. “It’s bigger than just basketball. This is definitely the biggest rivalry game I’ve been a part of.”
After a late turnover against Cincinnati in the Sun Devils’ previous contest, Elliott showed resilience with the strong performance against the Wildcats.
“I’m really proud of Gabby,” Miller said. “We have these unspoken kind of eye connections, and I could tell she was ready for this game. You kind of have to flush that and have a short-term memory.”
As the clock dwindled down, Miller let out an exhale, flailing her arms in appreciation of the fans in attendance to see the Sun Devils’ first win in the rivalry in nearly four years.
Up next, Arizona State will return to Desert Financial Arena to host Kansas State at 1 p.m. MST.
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