TEMPE, AZ (November 5, 2026) – Ruby Whitehorn is already making her presence felt at Arizona State. The standout guard delivered a dominant 25-point, 10-rebound performance Thursday night, leading the Sun Devils to a convincing 79-52 victory over Northern Arizona and improving their record to 2-0 to begin the 2026-27 women’s basketball season.
Whitehorn was nearly unstoppable offensively, connecting on an impressive 11 of 13 field-goal attempts while going a perfect 3-for-3 from the free-throw line. She also made her presence known defensively, tying her career high with three blocked shots. Her all-around performance provided an early glimpse of the impact she could have on a Sun Devil program looking to build on last season’s success.
Arizona State wasted little time establishing control, shooting 56 percent from the field in the opening quarter behind Whitehorn’s 12 points on 6-of-7 shooting. The Sun Devils jumped out to a commanding 25-10 lead before Northern Arizona mounted a second-quarter comeback. The Lumberjacks cut the deficit to five points late in the first half, but ASU responded to take a 38-30 advantage into the locker room.
Any hopes of a Northern Arizona comeback quickly disappeared in the third quarter. Arizona State came out firing, using a 13-2 run to extend its lead to 51-32. The Sun Devils shot a blistering 67 percent from the field during the period, outscoring the Lumberjacks 24-10. Averie Lower capped the quarter with a three-pointer in the closing seconds, sending ASU into the final frame with a comfortable 62-40 lead.
While Whitehorn led the way, the Sun Devils received contributions throughout the lineup. Rashunda Jones finished with 11 points, six rebounds, six assists and four steals, providing energy on both ends of the floor. Madison Morson added nine points, while Heloisa Carrera, McKinna Brackens and Ayanna-Sarai Darrington each chipped in eight. Lower also connected on two three-pointers for the second consecutive game.
Arizona State’s efficiency was another major factor in the victory. The Sun Devils committed just nine turnovers and led by as many as 30 points in the closing minutes. Under second-year head coach Molly Miller, ASU has now won 15 consecutive regular-season nonconference games, continuing the momentum established during last season’s historic 15-0 start.
With Whitehorn emerging as a major offensive weapon and the supporting cast contributing across the board, Arizona State has opened its season with two impressive victories.
The Sun Devils will now turn their attention to a road matchup against UNLV in Las Vegas on Tuesday, November 10. The contest will renew a series that produced a dramatic finish last season when Arizona State escaped with a 56-53 victory on a last-second three-pointer by Marley Washenitz.
