(Tucson, AZ) Both teams coming into this game we’re looking for their twentieth wins as the round of thirty two began.
Cate Reese won the tip for Arizona and seconds later scored down low to start the game. These Wildcats had a energy to spare coming out of the locker room.
The Tigers redshirt freshman guard Valerie Higgins and junior Jessica Blakeslee both scored to keep pace, but four quick turnovers later, Arizona has a 14-7 lead and the electricity of the crowd magnified their play. UOP Head Coach Brad Davis was forced to call a time out to stem the tide.
Out of the timeout, Zona guard Aari McDonald hit a sixteen foot jumper to extend the lead to ten 17-7 midway through the first quarter.
Not wanting to fall behind big the Tigers came back on a 5-0 run to cut the lead in half 17-12 at the four minute mark.
Arizona’s speed was evident early on as the Cats pushed the tempo on every possession.
Arizona forward Dominique McBryde who missed the first round game against Idaho State due to strep throat, showed early in the first quarter she was back and in form by hitting a three pointer and followed by a seventeen foot jumper.
Arizona reasserted themselves in the last three and half minutes of the quarter by going on an 8-0 run themselves. Score at the end of one, Zona 25 Pacific 12.
The Cats dominated in the paint in the quarter by outscoring the Tigers 12-6. McDonald back to her “old self” after a less than stellar shooting performance last Thursday had ten points to pace the team.
This was a bad match up for Pacific inasmuch as the Wildcats were taller and faster than the Tigers and it showed early. The goal for Arizona was to run them out of the gym.
McDonald continued to drive in the lane breaking down the Tiger defense. She and McBryde carried the first half load.
At the six minute mark, Blakeslee had half of Pacific’s twenty two points with eleven. Considering the circumstances of playing at Arizona and the Cats hitting on all cylinders offensively, the Tigers kept the ballgame in reach with the help of Higgins with six points.
McBryde was sharp in the first half hit another jumper off the right wing at the 1:46 mark before the half.
As well as Arizona played in the first half, they only maintained a six point lead 35-29 due to seven turnovers that contributed to twelve first half points.
Pacific outscored the Wildcats 17-10 in the second quarter largely on defensive breakdowns and and aforementioned turnovers.
Pacific hit a twelve foot jumper on the lane to open up the scoring, but Reese came right back and scored down low again. 37-31 Cats.
Tee Tee Starkes stole the ball off the 2-3 zone the Wildcats deployed and went coast to coast to score at the 7:58 mark of the third quarter.
Off a three offensive rebound possession by Arizona yielded nothing and the Tigers Ameela Li hit a three pointer off the right wing. Suddenly the Zona lead was down to three, 39-36 and a timeout.
The McKale Center scoreboard acknowledged Wildcat Softball Pitcher Alyssa Denham’s no hitter on her birthday earlier at Hillenbrand Stadium as the crowd gave a standing ovation.
On a steal by McBryde at the the 1:43 mark she was mugged with no foul called missed her layup but an alert McDonald picked up the errant ball and scored and fouled. She completed three point play and the Cats got a reprieve to lead by eight 48-40 at the end of the third quarter.
After shooting 58.8% in the first quarter, the Cats cooled down considerably to 30.8% in the second quarter and 29.4% in the third.
Three baskets by Reese down low using her size to start the final quarter and a nice cut in the lane by McBryde got the Zona lead back in double digits 56-40 with seven minutes left in the game.
Pacific went 0-3 to start the final stanza. Looking tired from McDonald and company pushing the ball and to keep pace with the Cats, UOP began to turn the ball over and the Wildcats took advantage on the other end scoring. Arizona subsequently scored again before the Tiger’s coach called timeout.
The Cats looked rejuvenated and were flying all over the court offensively and on defense. A nice pass and stellar move in the paint by Freshan Samaj Smith that faked out her defender to score and a rebound by Sophomore Sam Thomas had Arizona back in command with a twenty point lead 62-42 and sealed the deal with only 1:35 left in the game.
The Wildcats played well in the first and fourth quarters and never let Pacific take the lead in the entire game.
Holding the Tigers to 30% shooting from the field was key in the victory, but the inside game of Reese and McDonald breaking down the Pacific defense determined the outcome in favor of Arizona.
Higgins led the Tigers with nineteen points, ten rebounds and drew the praise of Coach Barnes.
The Cats moved on the the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1998 with a 64-48 win and keep the season alive. Next opponent will be the Idaho Vandals on Thursday at 6:30 pm back at McKale Center.
With the push for ticket sales throughout the week, the announced attendance was 3,534 fans. Coach Barnes said, “it felt like 5,000” and had McDonald and Reese thank the crowd after the game on the public address system.
So on to the Sweet 16 which keeps the Cats with a huge home court advantage, the building continues in this magical season and the plan is win the WNIT. Don’t bet against this team who are playing their best basketball currently and the ear to ear smiles from the coaches to the players faces show it.
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