Arizona State Women's Basketball: Early Roster Gaps Filled by Veteran Forwards

Arizona State women’s basketball started its 2026-27 season with a 84-41 victory over Jackson State on Monday night in Tempe. The Sun Devils entered the game with only four returning players, creating early uncertainty about how the new group of transfers and recruits would perform under head coach Molly Miller.

The contest began with an 11-2 deficit for ASU, a result of initial communication breakdowns on the floor. Miller noted that the team needed to over-communicate in the first quarter to manage nerves in front of a live crowd. Despite the early stumble, the Sun Devils did not panic. Miller briefly sat on the bench to observe the play before the offense stabilized.

Veteran forwards Heliosa Carrera and McKinna Brackens took over the scoring duties. They were the only players to score for ASU during the entire first quarter. Their interior presence triggered a 13-0 run that reclaimed the lead, and the team maintained its offensive pressure for the remainder of the game. Carrera finished with 15 points on five-of-six shooting and nine rebounds. Brackens contributed 14 points and eight rebounds.

Carrera stated that dominating in the paint is the team's primary objective. She emphasized that her and Brackens' ability to operate both inside and outside the three-point line benefits the roster. Miller indicated that opponents will likely focus their scouting on Brackens, but the coaching staff now expects pressure to spread across all guards.

Freshman guard Averie Lower provided a bright spot among the newcomers. In her collegiate debut, Lower scored 15 points and hit five three-pointers. She made five of her 12 three-point attempts after missing her first four tries. Lower said she maintained confidence in her shooting mechanics, trusting that subsequent attempts would fall. Miller praised this approach, describing it as a shooter's next-shot mentality where players must continue shooting regardless of previous misses.

The team secured 51 total rebounds, including 20 offensive boards, and recorded 26 assists while allowing only 12 turnovers. The largest margin of victory was 47 points. Miller highlighted the team's aggression on loose balls, stating that every 50-50 ball is considered 100 percent theirs. The Sun Devils will next host Northern Arizona University on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. MST.

Miller's squad demonstrated a team-oriented identity in this opener. The performance showed how the new roster pieces integrate with the returning players. The next game will test this dynamic against a different opponent in the same arena.