(Tucson, Az)
Bill McCulloch
Coming off the big win Friday, Arizona wanted to build some momentum to end the non conference part of their schedule with the next two games.
Hawaii came in a less than impressive 5-4 record. A long plane flight from Oahu, playing a PAC-12 opponent at their house seemed to favor the Wildcats.
Arizona started off with a flurry and we’re up 8-0 before the seats got warm at McKale thanks to two three point baskets by Sophomore Lucia Alonso.
Within a minute and a half after the media time out Hawaii found themselves tied with he young Cats 10-10. The Lady Rainbow Wahines finished up the quarter scoring the last five points to just one bucket for the Wildcats and the score was 15-12.
The second period swung back in favor of the Cats as Freshman Sam Thomas came alive with seven points after going scoreless in the first quarter. Alonso still had her touch from the perimeter and Senior JaLea Bennett also continued to be her consistent self.
There was much better off the ball movement, screens, give and go’s, but a running half court shot by Thomas was what put the Cats in the lead 30-28 at the half.
Carrying the momentum to start the third quarter off Thomas’s amazing shot, the Wildcats got six offensive boards giving them multiple opportunities to score. The jumpers by Alonso kept falling, but the bright spot was down low where Zona outscored Hawaii 8-0 in the paint.
The Rainbow Warriors only had two field goals in the third period, one two point and one three point basket with their remaining points coming off free throws.
For the second consecutive period, the Wildcats outscored Hawaii 17-12 to take a 47-40 lead with one quarter to go.
Only playing a seven person rotation, Arizona starters played 89% of the minutes by the end of the third quarter. The toll was beginning to show. Bennett picked up three fouls in the period to give her four for the game and a diminished role heading down the stretch.
Alonso continued her great shooting with a pair of jumpers, including a three pointer to go along with two free throws. That stretched the lead to ten 58-48, but the grind of a short bench began to show.
Running on fumes, quickly became an empty gas tank as Bennett fouled out and the Cats could only score a single basket by Thomas as Hawaii went on a 19-2 run to close out the game. Final score 65-60 Hawaii.
No momentum to carry into the last non conference game. Weary and short handed, the Cats will need to regroup and make use of the lessons learned from not only this game, but also the entire non conference schedule.
The Lady Cats return to action next Wednesday, December 20th against Southern Utah at McKale at 7 pm for their final tuneup before the PAC-12 play begins against the Utah Utes.
