Tempe, Ariz. — McKinna Brackens insisted there was no bad blood toward her former team, but she also made one thing clear: she had no intention of losing her first game against UNLV since transferring to Arizona State.
Her teammates understood the weight of the moment — and they rose to meet it.
Behind Brackens’ dominant double-double and a stunning late-game heave from Marley Washenitz, Arizona State pulled out a gritty 56–53 win over the Lady Rebels on Saturday, Nov. 22, at Desert Financial Arena. It was ASU’s closest contest of the season, a back-and-forth struggle that remained tied until the final seconds.
UNLV nearly stole the game late, tying the score with 1:48 left and then earning a chance to take the lead when Shelbee Brown went to the free-throw line with 36.2 seconds remaining. She missed both attempts, keeping the door open for the Sun Devils.
ASU called timeout with 14.6 seconds to play and only nine seconds remaining on the shot clock. Gabby Elliott nearly turned the ball over near the top of the key, but Washenitz scooped up the loose ball and tossed up a high-arching desperation shot. It dropped cleanly with 4.5 seconds left, giving Arizona State the late advantage it needed.
While Washenitz delivered the biggest moment of the night, the Sun Devils leaned on Brackens from start to finish. After a slow opening quarter, the junior forward erupted for nine points in the second, helping ASU find its offensive rhythm. She finished with 23 points and 10 rebounds, punishing UNLV in the paint and along the high post.
“Her versatility is what makes her special,” head coach Molly Miller said. “They were sagging off her early, and we told her, ‘If you’ve got it, shoot it.’ Once we got her in the right spots, everything opened up.”
Heloisa Carrera powered the Sun Devils as well, adding 16 points and eight rebounds, providing a much-needed complement to Brackens.
Slow Start Before the Turnaround
The opening quarter belonged to UNLV, which took advantage of ASU’s early offensive struggles to build a 12–7 lead. Arizona State shot just 18.8% (3 for 16), committed five turnovers, and allowed the Lady Rebels to close the period on a 9–2 run.
Brackens provided the only consistent spark with three points and four rebounds, but ASU lacked fluidity on both ends.
Second Quarter Sparks
Everything changed in the second. Brackens connected on four of her five shot attempts, powering a 7–0 burst that gave ASU its first sustained momentum. The Sun Devils tightened their ball security as well, committing only two turnovers while forcing eight from UNLV.
Arizona State entered halftime leading 28–24 — a testament to its defensive energy and Brackens’ emergence.
Third Quarter Surges, Fourth Quarter Grit
ASU opened the second half slowly but surged ahead thanks to another personal run from Brackens, who scored seven straight points during a 9–2 spurt. She entered the fourth quarter with 19 points and eight boards, helping ASU maintain a 41–38 lead.
UNLV refused to fade, stringing together a 6–0 run and holding the Sun Devils scoreless in the final three minutes of the third. The score tightened, the tension mounted, and the stage was set for ASU’s late-game heroics.
The Final Word
When Washenitz’s improbable shot splashed through, Desert Financial Arena erupted. Brackens sealed the win with defensive rebounds on the final possession, completing the statement performance she had hoped for against her former team.
It wasn’t clean. It wasn’t easy. But it was exactly the kind of gritty win Arizona State needed — and exactly the moment Brackens had been waiting for.
