(Tucson, AZ) Arizona looked for the sweep against Colorado, which would be the first conference sweep this season. The Buffaloes came into the game having only won one conference game.
Cats got off to a quick 5-0 lead before the Buffaloes hit a three at the 8:02 mark of the quarter. Both teams looked evenly matched as the score at the first media time out was tied at nine.
Coach Adia Barnes went to the bench early as both Samaj Smith and Bryce Nixon were both inserted into the lineup to give Colorado different looks to keep them off balance.
Arizona’s ball movement was intended to get the other players involved besides just Aari McDonald whom defenses have began to double or play deny defense.
The Wildcats looked more relaxed than they have been on Sundays this season, as they led 18-12 at the end of the third quarter.
McDonald opened up Arizona’s scoring with a nice drive off the left side for a layup after the Buffs got on the board first in the second quarter.
The Cats then went on a 7-0 run complimented by Sam Thomas’s three pointer from the left baseline. Colorado was forced to call a timeout to try to stop the momentum. Zona led 25-14.
McDoanld out of the Colorado timeout did a nasty crossover dribble to score a layup leaving the Buffalo defender in the dust.
Colorado showed a little life and came back with a quick seven points and a three pointer from Mya Hollingshed to cut the deficit to 27-23 with under two minutes left in the half.
Arizona stopped the Buffs run with a three pointer off the left wing by Tee Tee Starks and finished the half with an offensive rebound and put back by Reese to take a 34-25 lead into the lockeroom.
Arizona’s scoring in the first half was very balanced with Reese leading the team with nine points and McDonald adding eight. Seven players scored including two bench players, Smith and Destiny Graham.
Colorado shot 31% in the first half with the Wildcats at 37.5%. Arizona had a big edge on the boards leading 24-15.
Dominique McBryde opened up the third quarter scoring with a basket to give Arizona a double digit lead and then followed with a three pointer from the left baseline and McDonald adding a basket causing the Buffs to call a timeout. Zona had a 41-25 lead off a quick 7-0 run with only 2:32 gone in the second half. McBryde continued her hot shooting hitting another three as the Cats came out of the locker room with their foot on the pedal.
The Buffaloes had no answer for Arizona’s speed, especially in translation as Reese ran the floor for a uncontested layup to put the Cat up 48-32 with under three minutes left in the third quarter.
Colorado cut the Wildcat’s lead back to eleven before Reese scored again inside. Barnes went deep into her bench when Lindsey Malecha came into the game with a under a minute left in the third quarter. Going into the final quarter the Cats led 50-39.
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McDonald started the fourth quarter with a three off the left side, but Colorado wouldn’t go away and scored seven quick points to get back into the game. Smith being Arizona ‘s tallest player then shot a three that rolled around and in bringing the crowd to its feet.
Thomas hit a three off the right wing at the five minute mark to give Zona a 61-48 lead at the final media timeout.
Both teams didn’t score for the next two and a half minutes until the 1:40 mark when Reese scored inside to out the Cats up by fifteen, 63-48.
Colorado closed the scoring with a three as the Wildcats won 63-51 and swept the weekend. A big stat was that Arizona lead the almost the entire game except for eight seconds when the Buffs had a very brief lead at 9-7.
The announced attendance was 2,321.
Arizona didn’t shoot particularly well in this game as they went 24-65 for 36.9% but the Buffaloes only shot 30.6%.
For the second consecutive game, the Wildcats won the battle of the boards 43-42. Barnes has been critical of her team’s lack of boxing out and she was ecstatic upon seeing her young team’s edge on the boards.
Seven Wildcats scored in today’s game led by Reese with seventeen points and McDonald and McBryde tossing in thirteen apiece. This was one of the few games this season where McDonald wasn’t the high scorer.
Former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was in attendance at the game for the Champions of Change and even spoke to the Wildcats in their locker room. Coach Barnes was very greatful and said she will hand out literature to the players on the history of Gifford’s career and the tragic attempt on her life and what she’s gone through since. The McKale crowd erupted when Gifford was introduced.
Arizona hits the road to the Bay Area next weekend to face California and Stanford in a crucial road trip. The Wildcats are in the running for a post season berth either in the NCAA’s or NIT.
Four games left in the regular season and Coach Barnes looks to finish strong and receive the schools first post season berth since 2011.
Considering the Coaches picked the Cats to finish tenth in preseason voting, Barnes and her staff have done a tremdous job staying ahead of the curve. Stay tuned, the best is yet to come.
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