Courtesy of Arizona Communication Servces.
Here’s a preview of Sunday’s game at noon.
(TUCSON, AZ) Coming off a hard-fought victory over No. 24 California, the Arizona Wildcats (13-2, 3-1 Pac-12) will host No. 6 Stanford (13-1, 3-0 Pac-12) on Sunday in McKale at noon MST on the Pac-12 Networks.
Sunday, Jan. 13 vs. Stanford at noon MS
TV: Pac-12 Networks (Cindy Brunson & Joan Bonvicini)
Radio: 1400 AM (Derrick Palmer)
Twitter: @ArizonaWBB
#MadeForIt
FROM THE TIP
Arizona beat their second-straight ranked opponent in No. 24 California on Friday. The last time Arizona beat two ranked opponents in one season, as well as two in a row, was during the 2002-03 season.
Aari McDonald was named to the Wooden Award Midseason Top 25 on Wednesday and is the first player in school history to make the list since Shawntinice Polk (2003-04).
McDonald, the nation’s leading scorer, has scored 30 points in three-straight games after pouring in 36 against Cal on Friday. She is the first Pac-12 player since Kelsey Plum (2016-17) to score at least 30 points in three-straight games.
Arizona is looking to break a six-game losing streak vs. the Cardinal and will go for their first win over a top-10 team since beating No. 7 Stanford in 2004.
The Wildcats are one of nine teams in the nation to allow fewer than 53 points per game and are the only team in the Pac-12 to do so.
McDonald is the first player since Adia Barnes (97-98) to score 30 points in five games in one season.
Last Five vs. Stanford
1/28/18: at Stanford 79, Arizona 42
1/5/18: Stanford 61, at Arizona 46
1/20/17: at Stanford 74, Arizona 46
1/1/17: Stanford 77, at Arizona 55
2/12/16: at Stanford 82, Arizona 58
Scouting the Cardinal
Stanford is coming off a tough road win over Arizona State by a score of 72-65 and have won seven in a row, including wins over Baylor and Tennessee. The Cardinal are led by Alanna Smith, who averages 19.7 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game. Kianna Williams and DiJonai Carrington also score in double figures at 14 points and 13 points per game. Head coach Tara Vanderveer is three wins away from 900 career victories at Stanford.
Aar it Out
After all the anticipation, redshirt sophomore guard Aari McDonald is finally eligible to put on the block A and represent the Wildcats on the court after transferring from Washington back in 2017. She stormed onto the scene and tied the single-game record with 39 points against Loyola Marymount in just the second game of the season and is currently the nation’s leading scorer at 26.1 points per game. The Fresno native is also the first player in school history to score at least 15 points in the first 15 games of the season and is the first player in school history to score 30 points in three-straight games. Additionally, McDonald is the first Pac-12 player to score 30 points in three-straight games since the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer Kelsey Plum had four-straight in Jan. 2017 She has scored at least 30 points in five games this season, becoming the first player to do so since Adia Barnes had five during her senior season (1997-98). During her freshman season in 2016-17, McDonald was named Pac-12 All-Freshman after averaging just under 10 points per game while shooting 47% from the field in 24.1 minutes per game. She started in 21 games for the Huskies, who would advance to the Sweet 16.
McDonald Named to Wooden Award Midseason Top 25
McDonald was named to the Wooden Award Midseason Top 25 list on Wednesday and is the first Wildcat since Shawntinice Polk (2003-04) to be named to the list. She is one of six Pac-12 players on the list, the most of any other conference in the country, and is one of five underclassmen (Frosh & Soph.) on the list.
A Premier Bucket Getter
No player in Arizona history has led the nation in scoring and only two Wildcats (Adia Barnes and Dee Dee Wheeler) have led the conference in scoring. In fact, only Barnes averaged at least 20 points per game in one season when she scored 21.8 per game during her senior season (1997-98). In order for McDonald to break the single-season scoring record, McDonald needs to score 262 more points. She has scored 392 through 15 games and the Wildcats have 14 more regular season games.
NCAA’s Leading Scorers
- Aari McDonald (Arizona): 26.1
- Megan Gustafson (Iowa): 25.93
- Cierra Dillard (Buffalo): 25.92
Div. I Players, Most Recent Streaks of 3+ Games with 30+ Points
Aari McDonald, Ariz 3 01/04/2019 – 01/11/2019
Mikayla Ferenz, Idaho 3 11/23/2018 – 12/01/2018
Terriell Bradley, NorTx 3 11/24/2018 – 12/01/2018
Randi Brown, UNO 3 02/25/2017 – 03/04/2017
Kelsey Plum, Wash 4 01/06/2017 – 01/15/2017
Pac-12 Players, Streaks of 3+ Games with 30+ Points – Since 1999-00
Aari McDonald, Ariz 3 01/04/2019 – 01/11/2019
Kelsey Plum, Wash 4 01/06/2017 – 01/15/2017
Kelsey Plum, Wash 3 12/04/2016 – 12/11/2016
Chiney Ogwumike, Stan 4 01/03/2014 – 01/12/2014
Pac-12 Players, Streaks of 3+ Conference Games with 30+ Points – Since 1999-00
Aari McDonald, Ariz 3 01/04/2019 – 01/11/2019
Kelsey Plum, Wash 4 01/06/2017 – 01/15/2017
Chiney Ogwumike, Stan 4 01/03/2014 – 01/12/2014
Pac-12, Most Games in a Single Season with 30+ Points – Since 1999-00
2016-17 Kelsey Plum, Wash 17
2013-14 Chiney Ogwumike, Stan 14
2015-16 Kelsey Plum, Wash 10
2014-15 Kelsey Plum, Wash 7
2011-12 Nneka Ogwumike, Stan 6
2018-19 Aari McDonald, Ariz 5
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