(Tucson, AZ)
Bill McCulloch
Coming back home still winless in league play, the Lady Cats set their sights on Colorado.
This Wildcat team all season has been learning different pieces of the puzzle of success. Each and every game you can see improvement in different aspects team wise and individually.
The obstacles that Arizona faces is a short bench only going seven players deep in most games and a lack of height. Those two things cannot be taught. Coach Adia Barnes uses different offensive and defensive combinations, but four of her five starters still log well more than thirty minutes a game. The height issue is combatted by sound fundamentals of getting in the proper position to box out on the boards.
In the first quarter, all five starters scored and JaLea Bennett returned back to form after a few uncharacteristic low scoring games.
Colorado used its height advantage early by scoring in the paint, but the Cats hit outside shot, including three point baskets by Bennett and Kat Wright. Arizona only had two baskets down low as Barnes’s team led after one quarter 15-14.
The sharp shooting continued in the second quarter as the Lady Cats moved the ball around the perimeter to find the open shot with Wright hitting two treys. The Buffaloes had to extend their defense and that allowed Arizona to penetrate the lane and also score inside.
Colorado out shot the Wildcats by ten attempts, often getting long rebounds off missed three pointers. The one negative aspect of the zone defense is you’re often times out of position to rebound, but the Buffs could only get six second chance points. At the half they trailed 35-28.
Arizona shot sixty percent in the second quarter with Bennett leading the way going seven for seven. The hot hand of Kat Wright from three point land kept the Buffalo defense off balance and allowed the Cats to score inside. This was the best shooting half by this team at home all season.
Colorado’s shooting woes from the perimeter continued but their ability to out rebound the Wildcats on the offensive boards allowed them to keep the game competitive. The Buffs gathered seven offensive boards in the third quarter that translated into second and third chance scoring.
Arizona still shot over fifty percent and extended lead to ten points with a quarter to go 51-41.
The Cats were living on the edge in the final quarter as Colorado continued to out rebound them and were getting more offensive attempts at the basket.
Then it happened, the Buffaloes outside shooting awoke and they went on a 8-0 run to cut the lead to a mere two points as Alexis Robinson found her rhythm.
Bennett and Lucia Alonso stopped the run with two key baskets, one from two and a three pointer. Lead was now back to seven 56-49.
Robinson reloaded and scored the next five Colorado points and their deficit was once again only a basket shy.
Just like two boxers going toe to toe, Wright came back with two three point bombs to once again give the Cats a little breathing room.
Without hesitation, Robinson matched Wright with two of her own three pointers and the Buffaloes still had a chance but with under a minute left, the clock was a factor and they were forced to foul.
Destiny Graham would hit seven of eight free throws in the waning seconds to salt the victory away for Arizona 72-63.
The win was the first conference victory for the young Cats and although Colorado beat them up on the glass, a superior shooting night allowed Arizona a chance to celebrate.
There were many lessons to take away from this game as the learning continues. The Cats will have to improve their rebounding as a much taller Utah Squad comes to town Sunday at noon.
Help is on the way next year as three tremendous players sitting out this season and the addition of McDonalds All American Cate Reese and the number three recruiting class in the nation will make the Lady Cats a very scary opponent. Stay tuned!
