Tempe, AZ — Arizona State head coach Molly Miller sensed a response coming from her team, and on Wednesday night, the Sun Devils delivered.
Playing their first home game of 2026, Arizona State overwhelmed UCF in a convincing 68–45 victory at Desert Financial Arena, showing renewed focus and intensity after their previous outing.
Miller said the win felt inevitable long before tipoff, not because of matchups or statistics, but because of how her players carried themselves in practice.
“This group is special,” Miller said. “I could tell two days ago we were ready. It was in their eyes, in how they prepared and responded after the BYU game. That resolve says everything about who they are. We talk about being zero-zero — not living off wins or losses — just staying locked into the next opponent. Tonight it was UCF, and now our attention turns to TCU.”
The Sun Devils set the tone early with physical play inside, controlling the glass and dictating the pace. Arizona State won the rebounding battle 37–28, a major improvement after being outrebounded heavily in its previous game.
Rebounding was a point of emphasis all week, according to forward McKinna Brackens, who finished with a double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds.
“We really focused on rebounding in practice,” Brackens said. “I made it a priority to crash or box out every possession. Whether I got the rebound or helped a teammate get it, that was the goal. Everyone contributed.”
Arizona State’s interior dominance showed up on the scoreboard as well. The Sun Devils outscored UCF 40–18 in the paint and clamped down defensively after halftime, allowing just 24 second-half points.
Forward Heloisa Carrera led all scorers with 20 points, including 15 in the second half, while adding five rebounds and two steals. Carrera said the team’s defensive edge and rebounding focus were fueled by lessons learned earlier in the season.
“We were outworked on the boards against BYU,” Carrera said. “So coming into this game, we wanted to prove that we’re a team that plays hard, defends, and forces turnovers. That’s who we are, and tonight we showed it.”
With momentum back on their side, the Sun Devils now prepare for one of their toughest tests of Big 12 play. Arizona State will travel Sunday to face No. 13 TCU and star guard Olivia Miles, a matchup that will offer another opportunity to measure the team’s growth.
