WSU women’s basketball (15-6, 5-5 Pac-12) won their first game in Tempe, Arizona against the Sun Devils in 10 years, beating ASU 61-57.

The last road win Wazzu recorded was Feb. 1, 2013.

Charlisse Leger-Walker returned to the team after spending the previous week in New Zealand for a family matter.

The Pac-12’s leading scorer provided 12 points on a 4-for-14 clip in which two of her shots were successful 3-pointers. She nailed both free throws with 15 seconds remaining in the game to put the Cougs up by two scores.

“She rarely gets beat off the bounce, she knows scouts and personnel, she’s the leader everywhere on the court. You know, it’s going to take a minute. The speed of the game is the hardest thing to get back,” head coach Kamie Ethridge said. “She’s one of those unique players that it doesn’t matter if she’s scoring or not, she’s affecting the game and making a bunch of winning plays.”

The Cougs started the game fast with two 3-point shots, one from Johanna Teder and one from Tara Wallack. The Sun Devils caught up to make it a 1-point game before Leger-Walker, surveyed the defense from beyond the arc, seemingly teleported to the Pac-12 logo on the floor, 12 feet out to nail the jumper for her first basket of the game.

Later in the first quarter, Ula Motuga pitched the ball to Teder who immediately nailed the shot for her 131st career 3-pointer, the 10th-most 3-pointers in program history.

The Cougars’ quick start and 17-10 lead after the first quarter were thanks to four 3-point shots —two each from Wallack and Teder.

Late in the second quarter, Motuga dished out another assist to Jessica Clarke to extend the Cougar lead to 9 points.

Motuga made her 100th career start Friday to become the ninth player in program history with 100 starts to their name.

In her 100th career start, Motuga contributed 6 points, five rebounds and two assists with a 2-for-3 clip and 2-for-2 clip from the free throw line.

The Cougars sustained a 9-point lead into the halftime break, but the Sun Devils were not about to lose so easily.

In the third quarter, Bella Murekatete took the ball from the top of the key to the basket to extend the Cougar lead back to 9 as the Sun Devils practically let her run all by herself.

The Sun Devils dug in their heels and found a way back into the game in the third quarter. Leger-Walker once again proved her value transcends the points she scores herself, but rather includes her ability to create scoring opportunities for her opponents.

Late in the third quarter, Astera Tuhina pitched the ball to Leger-Walker in transition, who immediately found Motuga all by herself as the Sun Devil guarding her fell out of the play in an attempt to deflect Leger-Walker’s pass.

In the fourth quarter, Tuhina did her best Leger-Walker impression from the other side of the court as she drove the ball and hit the jumper to keep the Cougs up by 4 down the stretch.

With under four minutes to go, the Cougars conceded the lead as they failed to score a single field goal in the final five minutes and 30 seconds.

With the game hanging in the balance, Wazzu stepped up. They sunk six of their final seven free throws and made the defensive stops when it counted.

Leger-Walker made her final two free throw shots to put the Cougs up by two scores for one final time.

The Sun Devils tried to make something happen with 13 seconds left in the game, but Wallack capped off her 15-point, 11-rebound day by making her second block of the night count.

Wallack’s 11 rebounds tied her single-game career high.

On Sunday, Wazzu took a near loss against ASU and turned in an all-around dominant, 11-point takedown of No. 19 Arizona, 70-59.