The University of Arizona women’s basketball team (11-7, 2-3 in Big 12) lost to Iowa State University (12-6, 3-2 in Big 12) 79-58 on Saturday, Jan. 11 in McKale Center. The Wildcats’ losing streak extends to two games after falling to Baylor University on Jan. 8 in overtime 81-76. 

Jada Williams led Arizona, dropping 17 points and shooting 42.8% from the floor with four assists and four boards. The sophomore guard had 10 points through the first two quarters on 4-7 shooting with all coming from the second period.

Arizona started the game slow, shooting just 15.4% in the opening period and getting outscored by the Cyclones 15-6. In the second quarter, however, the Wildcats shot 53.3% as a team, with Big 12 Freshman of the Week Lauryn Swann shooting 3-5 and dropping 9 points in the period after drilling a half-court buzzer beater to cut the deficit to 34-28 going into halftime. 

“[Swann] has a chance to be a really good player,” head coach Adia Barnes said.

In the second half, Iowa State did not look back as the Cyclones shot 61.5% as a team to Arizona’s 42.9%, outscoring the Wildcats 45-30. The Iowa State defense contained Breya Cunningham to just 37.5% shooting as she finished with 7 points and eight rebounds before fouling out of the game. 

The Cyclones also held senior Isis Beh to 7 points on 3-10 shooting, leaving the Arizona offense one-dimensional when playing through Williams. 

“When Breya [Cunningham] is having a tough time, […] we need other people to step up,” Barnes said.

Arizona went toe-to-toe with Iowa State in points in the paint, getting outscored 30-26, yet the Cyclones’ bench dominated the game outscoring the Wildcats’ second unit 30-16.

Looking ahead

Arizona will go on the road to take on No. 12 Kansas State University on Thursday, Jan. 16 in the Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan, Kansas at 5:30 p.m. The matchup on Jan. 16 will be a first for both programs, who have not faced each other in their program’s histories.

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