“It was cool with 0.8 seconds left to look around and give a nod to the crowd,” Miller said. “I see what excellence is and what I want it to look like … I was not just proud of the team and the program, but every touch point in the program. 

In its season opener, Arizona State won a rematch of last year’s loss against Coppin State, topping the Eagles 67-53. The highly anticipated battle at Desert Financial Arena ended with celebration and a newfound identity for the maroon and gold Monday night. 

Junior forward McKinna Brackens and fifth-year guard Gabby Elliott led ASU’s late surge, combining for several late baskets to secure the win. The Sun Devils closed the game on a 12-2 run, fueled by improved ball movement and lockdown defense. 

Arizona State struggled to find a rhythm early, shooting 10-for-32 and 1-for-14 in the first half. At halftime, ASU had only managed to score 29 points, highlighted by a tough put-back layup for fifth-year guard Last-Tear Poa.

Senior guard Marley Washenitz led the scoring charge for the maroon and gold with 17 points on a 5-for-13 shooting clip. The transfer from Pittsburgh had a steady three-pointer shot all game and nailed the only two shots from downtown for ASU.

“We didn’t try to find specific players,” Washenitz said regarding her team’s strategy. “The ball just fell into our hands at the right time in the right place. We couldn’t do it without everybody.”

The Sun Devils dominated in the paint, outscoring the Eagles 36-18 in that category. ASU also out-rebounded Coppin State 36-31, as they registed an impressive 18 rebounds on both sides of the ball. 

Sophomore forward Heloisa Carrera anchored the paint attack through her scoring and rebounding . The Brazilian Ole Miss transfer camped in the low post and inside paint area, accounting for 13 points and five boards.

“They were really boxing us out,” Carrera said. “Just go and work hard every time. It was good because at the end of the game, those rebounds really matter.”

Arizona State’s small-ball lineup featured no player taller than 6-foot-2 and relied on pace in transition and fast breaks. ASU dominated in points off turnovers, with an impressive 37-15 advantage in that category. 

The Eagles mounted their strongest push in the third quarter. Senior guards Paris McBride and Khila Morris each hit huge three-pointers as Coppin State seized a seven-point lead, taking advantage of the Sun Devils’ cold shooting.

CSU ended up outscoring ASU 18-11 in the third quarter, heading into the final 10 minutes with a three-point lead. 

In the fourth quarter, Arizona State took control of the game. Carrera scored off of a smooth pick-and-roll pass from Poa, and Washenitz followed it up with a steal and a pull-up three. 

The Sun Devils’ defensive intensity ramped up, forcing the Eagles into rushing their possessions and missing opportunities from the free-throw line. Coppin State ended the night 8-of-18 from the stripe, a 45% clip that proved costly to the final score. 

Poa continued to make an impact as a playmaker, threading a beautiful pass to Carrera late in the fourth quarter again and then having a successful drive of her own soon after. The LSU experienced transfer finished the night with 10 assists on only five turnovers.

“We couldn’t have gotten our shots and our points without (Poa) finding us,” Washenitz said. “We want to celebrate our assists as much as we celebrate the points scored. She deserves a lot of credit for tonight.”

ASU returns to Desert Financial Arena later this week with a matchup against Eastern Washington to continue its energetic early-season debut under Miller. The team looks forward to refining an offense that showed flashes of balance once it settled into rhythm. 

“I knew it would take a little while to knock off the rust and calm the jitters,” Miller said. “Our defense kept us in it for three quarters. Playing from behind going into the fourth quarter is a testament to our team and our perseverance.”