STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (Interstat) — The Arizona State women’s basketball team remained undefeated Tuesday night, defeating Penn State 74-60 at Bryce Jordan Center. The Sun Devils improved to 11-0 while the Lady Lions fell to 6-3. Arizona State used a dominant 20-point second quarter, holding Penn State to just four, to build a 33-22 halftime lead. The Sun Devils extended their advantage with a 26-point third quarter. Penn State’s Gracie Merkle scored 17 points and blocked three shots in the loss. The result defied a pregame statistical projection that heavily favored the Lady Lions. Attendance was 1,590.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (Interstat) — In a game defined by relentless defensive pressure and a staggering 64 combined turnovers, the undefeated Arizona State Sun Devils used a dominant second quarter to seize control and defeat the Penn State Lady Lions 74-60 in a nonconference women’s basketball game Tuesday night at Bryce Jordan Center. The contest, played before an announced crowd of 1,590, was a sloppy affair from the opening tip. Both teams applied full-court pressure, leading to a frantic pace and a plethora of mistakes. The Sun Devils, however, proved more adept at weathering the chaos, particularly during a pivotal stretch before halftime that ultimately decided the outcome. Penn State started strong, leveraging its size inside with 6-foot-6 center Gracie Merkle. The Lady Lions led 18-13 after a competitive first quarter, with Merkle scoring six early points. The game’s trajectory shifted dramatically in the second period, as Arizona State’s defensive intensity reached another level. The Sun Devils held Penn State to a mere four points in the quarter, forcing 10 Lady Lion turnovers while committing seven of their own in a disjointed 10-minute span. Arizona State closed the first half on a 15-0 run, turning an 18-18 tie into a 33-18 lead at the break. The Sun Devils’ offense, while not efficient, generated enough opportunities through their defense. Guard Gabby Elliott, the game’s standout performer, keyed the run with a steal and a transition assist, while backcourt mate Amaya Williams hit a critical three-pointer during the surge. Penn State missed 10 of its 11 field goal attempts in the quarter and went scoreless for the final 7 minutes, 57 seconds. The third quarter saw Arizona State extend its lead, outscoring Penn State 26-16 to take a 59-38 advantage into the final period. Elliott took over offensively, scoring 11 points in the quarter, including a three-pointer and a perfect 4-for-4 from the free-throw line. The Sun Devils’ lead ballooned to as many as 23 points. Penn State showed resilience in the fourth quarter, mounting a 22-15 scoring edge behind the bench scoring of Shayla Smith, who tallied 10 of her 12 points in the final frame. The Lady Lions cut the deficit to 12 points on multiple occasions but could never draw closer, as Arizona State consistently answered with crucial baskets, often from Elliott or forward McKinna Brackens, to stymie any sustained rally. Elliott, a guard from Detroit, finished with a game-high 27 points in 36 minutes, adding three assists. She was instrumental in both orchestrating the offense and applying defensive pressure. Brackens, from Fairfield, Texas, provided crucial support with 15 points, three assists and a steal. Williams chipped in 12 points, three assists and two blocks for the Sun Devils. Penn State was led by Merkle, who posted 17 points and three blocks before fouling out. Smith’s 12 points off the bench provided a late spark, and guard Kiyomi McMiller added 12 points and three assists. The Lady Lions were hampered by 34 turnovers and poor shooting, connecting on just 4 of 20 attempts from three-point range. Arizona State improved to 11-0 on the season, one of the few remaining unbeaten teams in Division I. The Sun Devils shot 44.6% from the field and converted 20 of 27 free throws. Penn State fell to 6-3, suffering its second consecutive loss after a defeat to Nebraska on Saturday. The Lady Lions shot only 35.5% from the floor. The most important part of the game was unquestionably Arizona State’s second-quarter defensive lockdown. With the game still in the balance, the Sun Devils’ pressure completely disrupted Penn State’s offensive flow, generating a series of live-ball turnovers and contested shots. That defensive stand, leading directly to the game-deciding 15-0 run, allowed Arizona State to build an insurmountable cushion despite its own offensive struggles with 30 turnovers. The quarter exemplified the Sun Devils’ formula for success this season: winning through defensive tenacity and capitalizing on opponent mistakes. Arizona State next travels to face Oregon State on Sunday. Penn State will visit top-ranked South Carolina, also on Sunday.

Undefeated Arizona State Women Set for Road Test at Penn State STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (Interstat) — The unbeaten and 10th-ranked Arizona State Sun Devils put their perfect record on the line Tuesday night in a nonconference clash against the Penn State Lady Lions. Arizona State (10-0) arrives as one of the nation’s remaining undefeated teams, though they are coming off a pair of lower-scoring victories. The Sun Devils defeated San Francisco 67-44 on Saturday after a 57-47 win over McNeese State last Friday. Defense has been a staple, as no opponent has scored more than 77 points against them this season. Guard Gabby Elliott leads a balanced Sun Devils attack. She is averaging 15.4 points per game and is coming off a 19-point performance against McNeese State. In a November win at Santa Clara, Elliott posted a dominant 20-point, 16-rebound, 5-assist stat line. Penn State (6-2) looks to rebound from a high-scoring 101-83 home loss to Nebraska on Saturday. The Lady Lions’ offense, averaging over 83 points per game, will face its stiffest defensive test of the season. The focal point for Penn State is center Gracie Merkle, a formidable interior force. Merkle is averaging 23.6 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. She scored 39 points in a narrow road loss to Princeton on Nov. 22 and had 26 points and 12 rebounds in a win at San Diego State two days later. Tuesday’s matchup pits Arizona State’s stringent defense against Penn State’s potent offense. The Sun Devils have held opponents to 53.9 points per game, while the Lady Lions boast the nation’s 12th-ranked scoring offense. “We have tremendous respect for their program and their start,“ Penn State coach Carolyn Kieger said. “It’s a great opportunity for our team to compete against an elite defensive unit and we need to be sharp and disciplined on both ends.“ Arizona State coach Natasha Adair emphasized the road challenge. “Penn State is explosive and well-coached. Merkle is a tremendous player. We need to be who we are—detailed, communicative, and tough—for 40 minutes in a hostile environment.“ The game tips off at 7 p.m. EST at the Bryce Jordan Center. Arizona State continues its road trip at Oregon State on Sunday, while Penn State travels to face top-ranked South Carolina.