Arizona State Sun Devils Triumph Over Arizona Wildcats
In a tense first-round clash at the Big 12 Tournament on Wednesday, the Arizona State Sun Devils triumphed over their archrivals, the Arizona Wildcats, with a narrow score of 54-51. Heloisa Carrera emerged as the game’s standout player, contributing a total of 16 points and hitting a crucial jumper that secured the lead for Arizona State late in the fourth quarter.
Game Highlights
Throughout the game, the Sun Devils (23-9) maintained a slight edge in the score, never pulling ahead by more than four points during the second half. Despite this, the Wildcats, seeded 15th and boasting a season record of 12-18, briefly took control with a jumper from Blessing Adebanjo that put them ahead 51-50 with just 2:51 remaining. However, Arizona State quickly reclaimed the advantage with back-to-back mid-range jumpers from Carrera and Last-Tear Poa, sealing their victory without the teams scoring again before the final buzzer.
Other notable performances included Daniah Trammell and Sumayah Sugapong, each of whom added 12 points to the Wildcats’ effort, with Noelani Cornfield contributing 10 points. The game saw three lead changes and three ties in the opening minutes of the third quarter, reflecting the intensity of this rivalry matchup. Arizona State led narrowly at the end of the first quarter at 18-17 and by just one point at halftime, 29-28.
Next Steps
Next, Arizona State advances to face Iowa State, seeded 7th, on Thursday. The winner will move on to the quarterfinals to compete against the second-seeded West Virginia team.
Follow the AP polls and get updates on women’s college basketball through the season.
