(Tucson, AZ) Coming off a huge 69-60 come from behind victory on Sunday at San Diego State, the Cats were riding high and wanted the momentum to continue against the Montana Grizzlies.
The annual Student Day at McKale made for a raucous crowd of kids from local Tucson area schools which drew 4,703 in attendance.
At the first media time out at the 4:24 mark in the first quarter, Arizona controlled the boards with a 9-1 rebounding edge and a 14-8 lead. Zona owned a size advantage over the Grizzlies.
Montana was shooting 66.7% early, but with only six attempts compared to the Wildcat’s thirteen attempts. Early on Arizona would get second and third attempts off of seven offensive boards. This is a focus point that Coach Adria Barnes has been working to improve before the conference season begins later this month.
Comimg out of the timeout, Arizona went on a 10-1 to lead 24-9 at the end of the first quarter.
The Wildcats only allowed six field goal attempts and one three point attempt implementing tough man to man defense.
The second quarter was much of the same, Arizona inside-outside game was clicking on all cynliders. Rebounding was all Wildcats with a 28-11 edge, including 16 offensive boards.
Arizona’s one-two punch of Aari McDonald and Cate Reese each had twelve points on a combined 8-16 shooting. McDonald went 2-6 from behind the arc.
Reserve players Tee Tee Starks and Semaj Smith played over nineteen minutes in the first half as Barnes looked to developing depth and confidence. Starks went 4-4 and 1-1 from the line for nine points. Smith shot 3-5 from the field and had a “not in my house” statement block on a Grizzly inside post move that sent the crowd into a frenzy.
Katie Mayhue was the lone bright spot for Montana in the first half with eleven points off of 4-6 shooting.
Arizona led at the half 53-25.
The third quarter began the same as the first with the Cats exerting their dominance in size and speed. Even when the Grizzlies played good defense, redshirt junior Dominique McBryde hit a fall away jumper from five feet at the shot clock buzzer.
At the third quarter media time out, Arizona led 66-29 using a 13-4 run out of the locker room.
Barnes had the players working their offensive sets and going deep into the shot clock to develope another weapon come conference time.
Once again, McBryde hits a three as time expired for a 76-39 lead to finish the third quarter.
Heading into the final quarter, Barnes went to the bench again with Bryce Nixon and Smith working back and forth to each other at the top of the key and Smith shooting a three pointer that just rimmed out. More evidence on the building process that this team is experiencing with the coaching staff.
The Cats out of the final media time out were looking at the scoreboard at 90-48. Would this team reach 100 points?
Clearing the bench and “calling off the dogs” Zona ran clock and worked their offensive sets but Nixon hit the shot at the buzzer for a 100-51 win. The first time to the century mark since 2013.
Balanced scoring and getting everyone involved in the offense was the huge advantage Arizona enjoyed throughout the game.
Heres some of the stats from the winning effort.
Arizona 51% Field Goal Pct.
Montana 35% Field Goal Pct.
Aari McDonald 9-18 FG 3-7 3 Pt 28 Pts
Cate Reese 7-17 FG 18 Reb 20 Pts
Sam Thomas 4-10 FG 2-5 3 Pt 12 Pts
Dominique McBryde 4-5 FG 1-1 3 Pt 11 Pts
Tee Tee Starks 4-4 FG 2 Blks 9 Pts
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