Arizona drops overtime game to Arizona State in front of season-high crowd

By Lori Burkhart

Posted on February 15, 2026

*Arizona guard Sumayah Sugapong steals the ball from ASU’s Jyah Lovett during the Wildcats’ 75-69 overtime loss to the Sun Devils (Stephanie van Latum/AllSportsTucson)*

Arizona and Arizona State faced off on Saturday in McKale Center at ALKEME Arena for a rivalry rematch. The Wildcats were looking to grab the win and even the series against the Sun Devils, who won the first game on Jan. 28 in Tempe. Arizona took Arizona State to overtime before losing 75-69.

The last time Arizona State (21-6, 8-6 Big 12) swept the series with Arizona and the last time the Sun Devils won in McKale was the 2017-18 season.

While both Arizona State coach Molly Miller and Arizona coach Becky Burke are in their first year of a rebuild, Miller was able to retain guard Jalyn Brown, forward Kennedy Skinner and guard Jyah Lovett from the previous coaching staff. Burke retained one player, Montaya Dew, who has been rehabbing a knee injury and hasn’t played. That means Burke is playing a completely new team to start her first season at Arizona.

As both coaches recruit and rebuild their programs, the rivalry and women’s basketball in the state of Arizona will be the ultimate benefactor of home run hires by both universities.

“Just a fantastic environment. I know we won on the scoreboard, but women’s basketball won today.” Miller said.

“Great for our game, it’s great for the state of Arizona obviously,” Burke said. “I don’t think there’s any negatives to it at all. It was a great game. The crowd, the environment, though, Tucson did their thing per usual.”

A season-high 8,766 fans were in attendance for the rivalry game.

With ESPN College GameDay in town for the Arizona and Texas Tech men’s game, the atmosphere on campus was electric.

As Wildcat fans lined up to enter McKale for the live GameDay broadcast, Burke was out doing her part by handing out donuts and tickets for the women’s game to those in line. She was joined by Arizona athletic director Desiree Reed-Francois.

While the game didn’t end the way the Wildcats would have liked, they had their chances to win.

Arizona led by four with 43.3 seconds to go in regulation. Arizona State’s Gabby Elliot was fouled while shooting a 3-point shot and hit two out of three free throws, getting the Sun Devils to within two with 37.7 seconds left.

Arizona (11-14, 2-12) missed a layup and Arizona State’s McKinna Brackens hit a short jumper to tie and send the game into overtime.

Arizona State would jump out to a four-point lead in overtime, eventually stretching the lead to six to secure the win.

“We were in a position to win it, and then we did a couple silly things where we gave them some hope and then they make a tough shot to send it to overtime,” Burke said.

“It’s hard for a team that’s young and whatnot to see a shot like that to go in to send it to overtime. You think you’re about to win and then, like, regroup and be mature and be tough enough to go to overtime and play a solid five minutes. I think we came out okay and I think we did a couple silly things about a minute, minute and a half into overtime that let them stretch the lead a little bit.”

Stats Roundup

Noelani Cornfield led the team in scoring with 24 points. She also had four rebounds, six assists and seven steals in 41 minutes.

Cornfield, who didn’t start and was held out of the Wildcats’ game against Cincinnati due to coach’s decision, came in with 5:49 remaining in the first quarter.

Sumaya Sugapong had 23 points, four rebounds, three assists and four steals.

Tanyuel Welch hit the boards and had eight rebounds and 16 points.

Welch and Nora Francois led the team in rebounds with eight each.

Arizona shot 94% from the free-throw line hitting 16 of 17.

Arizona had 25 points off of 23 Arizona State turnovers and outscored the Sun Devils in the paint, 38-26.