SANTA CLARA, Calif. (Interstat) — The Arizona State Sun Devils used a dominant first half and held off a late surge from the Santa Clara Broncos to secure an 82-77 victory in a non-conference women’s basketball game Sunday at a sparsely attended Leavey Center.

Arizona State improved to 4-0 on the young season, while Santa Clara fell to 3-2.

The Sun Devils seized control early, erupting for 26 points in the opening quarter and adding 24 more in the second to build a commanding 50-37 halftime lead. The offensive engine was powered by a relentless attack in the paint, where Arizona State finished with a decisive 48-24 advantage.

Gabby Elliott, a 5-foot-10 guard from Detroit, was instrumental in building that lead, finishing with a stat line of 20 points and 16 rebounds. Her frontcourt partner, 6-foot-1 forward McKinna Brackens of Fairfield, Texas, led all scorers with 23 points and grabbed 11 rebounds.

However, the Broncos refused to capitulate. They chipped away at the deficit throughout the second half, outscoring Arizona State 20-12 in the third quarter. The Sun Devils’ offense, so fluid in the first half, grew stagnant, and their 18 total turnovers gave Santa Clara opportunities to claw back into the game.

Santa Clara’s comeback bid was fueled by a perimeter shooting barrage, attempting 44 shots from beyond the arc and making 14. Maia Jones, a 5-foot-10 guard from Tasman, New Zealand, led the charge with 20 points, many coming from deep. Sophie Glancey, a 6-foot-2 forward from Boise, Idaho, added 17 points and eight rebounds for the Broncos.

The Sun Devils’ lead, which once seemed comfortable, was whittled down to a single possession in the final minutes. A key sequence came with just over a minute remaining when Santa Clara’s Ashley Hawkins found Glancey for a turnaround jumper, cutting the Arizona State lead to 79-77.

On the ensuing possession, Arizona State’ Last-Tear Poa, a 5-foot-11 guard from Melbourne, Australia, was fouled and calmly sank two free throws with six seconds left to extend the lead to four and effectively seal the victory. Poa finished with 14 points, five rebounds and five assists.

Despite the loss, Santa Clara’s defensive pressure was notable, tallying seven steals and seven blocks. Ava Schmidt, a 5-foot-10 forward from Sammamish, Washington, was a force defensively with four of those blocks.

The game was a tale of contrasting styles. Arizona State’s efficiency inside and at the free-throw line, where they made 19 of 25 attempts, ultimately overcame Santa Clara’s volume three-point shooting and ability to force turnovers. The Sun Devils also won the rebounding battle, particularly on the offensive glass with 16 rebounds leading to second-chance opportunities.

Arizona State next hosts UNLV on Saturday, Nov. 22. Santa Clara travels to face San Diego State on Wednesday, Nov. 19.