The University of Arizona women’s basketball team (15-12, 6-8 in Big 12) sets to host BYU (13-12, 4-10 in Big 12) on Wednesday, Feb. 19 in McKale Center at 6 p.m. The Wildcats look to bounce back after suffering an 85-73 loss to No. 11 TCU on Feb. 16.
History vs. BYU
The two programs already faced off in the Marriott Center in Provo, Utah on Dec. 21, where the Wildcats came away victorious 57-53. This would be Arizona’s first win in Provo since November 2004. The Cougars look to win in Tucson for the first time since 2012 in Wednesday’s matchup.
BYU players to watch
BYU is led by third-year head coach Amber Whiting. Before her coaching tenure with the Cougars, Amber Whiting played for BYU in 2001. In 2022, Amber Whiting brought home Burley High School’s third state championship.
The Cougars are led by freshman Delaney Gibb who averages 16.9 points, almost four assists and 1.6 steals per game. Gibb shines on the road putting up 17.3 points, five rebounds and shooting at 49.3% on average.
In the last matchup against Arizona, Gibb finished with a game-high 23 points and eight rebounds while going 9-15 from the floor.
Amari Whiting is a player to keep an eye on. Amari Whiting averages 9.4 points while shooting 36.7%, but she leads the team in assists and steals, dishing out four assists and almost two steals a game.
Amari Whiting does all the small things that break down defenses. In a win against ASU on Feb. 1, Amari Whiting secured 7 points, five boards, six assists and a pair of takeaways.
Wildcats to watch
Arizona is led by head coach Adia Barnes, now in her ninth season with the program. Barnes has led the team to 10 wins at home this season. In 2021, Barnes was a Naismith Coach of the Year Semifinalist, WBCA Coach of the Year Finalist and an AmeriCup Gold Medalist all while taking Arizona to the National Championship that same year.
Skylar Jones remains the focal point for the Wildcats’ offense, averaging 10.2 points and 1.6 steals on the season while shooting an efficient 42.2% from long range and 49% from the field.
In the loss to No. 11 TCU on Feb. 16, Jones finished with a career-high 30 points and five rebounds while going 81.8% for the game. In the last five games, Jones is averaging 14 points, 4.2 rebounds and shooting roughly 50% during that span.
Breya Cunningham looks to get going in Wednesday’s duel. In her previous five games, Cunningham has struggled, averaging just 6.4 points, four boards and just under a block a game. During that span, Cunningham has been in foul trouble, averaging four fouls keeping her off the floor in much-needed situations.
“We need her [Cunningham] and we’re better with her on the court,” head coach Adia Barnes said after the loss to No. 11 TCU.
On the year, Cunningham is averaging 11 points, a team-leading 6.9 rebounds and 1.7 blocks a game. Cunningham looks to repeat her performance in the first matchup against BYU earlier this season. Cunningham finished with a team-leading 21 points and eight rebounds with a pair of blocks and steals to go with her name.
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