(Tucson, AZ) Fresh off their win over UCLA, the LMU Lions came out scrappy and determined against the young Cats.
Loose balls, diving on the floor was abundant in the first four and a half minutes of the opening quarter on both sides.
After all that Arizona held a 5-4 lead at the first media time out. Neither team was able to settle into an half court offensive flow.
With a 16-4 run the rest of the quarter, the Lions found their touch from the outside as Zona shot 1-12 from the field.
At the end of the quarter LMU lead 20-9.
The Cats got into a better flow at the start of the second quarter hitting 4-7 at the midway point of the second quarter, but the constant ball push up the court by LMU withstood Arizona’s run.
The half ended with a 36-24 Lions lead.
Arizona shot 46.2% from the field in the second quarter, but only hit 1-6 from behind the arc. Free throws making 9-11 kept the Wildcats within striking distance.
Aari McDonald went 6-8 from the line after she was fouled on a number of drives. She hit 3-8 from the field.
Cate Reese found the going tough as the Lion defense limited her to just four shot from the field.
The Lions had fourteen more field goal attempts, but neither team shot well from the field.
Jasmine Jones led the Lions with fourteen points on 6-7 shooting from the field including a three point basket.
Into the third period the Cats and Lions traded points even but Arizona was still looking for a way to cut into LMU’s lead that their slow first quarter put them in the hole.
Eight minutes into the third quarter Arizona was still trying to find an offensive rhythm but had cut the lead 49-42.
At the end of the third quarter the Lions still had a eleven point lead 53-42.
Cats were still searching for a way to cut into the LMU lead but defensive lapses and the lack of moving without the ball on offense kept the Lions lead in double digits.
Then the spark that had eluded Zona all game showed up just in time.
The Cats came roaring back off turnovers created by the full court press. With 1:02 left Arizona had cut the lead to 63-60.
Forward Dominique McBryde scored a layup off the inbound pass to cut the lead to one 63-62 with 15.4 seconds left.
LMU’s Brittany Reed missed both free throws after an Arizona foul, but the ball went off the Cats to give LMU possession with 8.5 seconds left.
After free throws back and forth, the Cats magic ran dry succumbing to LMU 66-64.
Click on our sponsor’s logo
A valient effort in the fourth quarter by the young Cats showed a lot of determination. This type of game last year would have been a blowout. Coach Adia Barnes has horses, just more training and learning are needed, but the season is still young.
The Lions low post defense took Cate Reese totally out of her game only getting nine shots up and making only three field goals. This will be a learning opportunity for the freshman as the season progresses.
Another thorn in he Cat’s side was the eleven offensive rebounds they gave up in the first half and eighteen for the game. Coach Barnes said they would be working on rebound position going forward.
Raychel Stanley, Chelsey Gipson and Jasmine Jones were the nucleus of the Lions offense throughout the contest. Stanley’s defense on Reese was key.
Give the Wildcats credit for clawing back in the fourth quarter and in a position to steal a win. The Coaching staff knows that McDonald’s record tying 39 points and no one else in double figures, won’t win games against PAC-12 Schools.
Off to Hawaii on Wednesday morning where Arizona will compete in the Bank of Hawaii Classic. Friday afternoon at 3 pm Mountain Time they’ll square off against the Seattle RedHawks and then again on Sunday against another Northwest school the Portland Pilots also with a 3 pm start.
