The University of Arizona women’s basketball team improved to a 3-0 record this season after securing an 85-64 victory over Grambling State University on Sunday, Nov. 16, in McKale Center.
Four Wildcats finished the night in double figures, with graduate guard Mickayla Perdue and freshman forward Daniah Trammell leading the game with 15 points apiece. Additionally, graduate guard Noelani Cornfield had a game-leading 10 assists.
Game recap
Arizona guard Sumayah Sugapong opened the first quarter with strong defensive pressure, forcing fouls to build on Grambling State guard Douthsine Prien. After Prien was called for an offensive foul and Grambling State brought in guard Alieghya Bartholomew.
The Wildcats tried to attack the lane on most possessions but came up unlucky with short jumpers. Sugapong went down with an injury with 2 minutes left in the quarter, causing Arizona to bring Molly Ladwig in at guard. With under a minute to go, a big 3-pointer from Monica Marsh followed by another from Bartholomew gave the Tigers the edge and they closed the first quarter with a 22-13 lead over Arizona.
During the first play of the second quarter, a traveling violation was called on Arizona, giving possession to the Tigers as Shaniah Nunn quickly picked up her first offensive foul. On the next possession, Perdue was fouled in the key and knocked down both free throws to end Arizona’s scoring drought.
Sugapong returned in the game, immediately giving a spark to the offense, firing a breakaway pass to Perdue for an easy layup, cutting the deficit to 22-17. Moments later, Sugapong drilled a 3-pointer off a feed from Nora Francois, who had secured the offensive rebound, pulling Arizona within one. With the crowd growing louder, Francois pushed a fast break and finished the layup to put the Wildcats ahead 31-29 and shift the momentum inside McKale Center.
Bartholomew’s second offensive foul led to a timeout with under 5 minutes left before the half. Out of the break Tanyuel Welch scored in the paint to keep Arizona rolling.
With 30 seconds left, Blessing Adebanjo added a free throw to extend the lead. On the Tigers’ final possession, Nunn committed her third offensive foul of the game and the Wildcats closed the quarter in front 38-33.
Out of the half, Arizona came out with a successful layup from Perdue, setting the tone for the next 20 minutes. Backing down her opponent in the paint, Trammell was able to secure a bucket for the Wildcats. Trammell found back-to-back baskets in the paint off an assist from Cornfield.
After an incredible breakaway layup, Perdue continued to fuel the Arizona fans in the arena on the gloomy Sunday in Tucson. Proving to be trouble to defend, Trammell was racking up points for the Wildcats in the paint. A 3-pointer from Welch led the teams to a timeout, allowing time to rest after an intense stretch of play.
Perdue, being a force to reckon with on the court, went in on another breakaway layup, giving the Wildcats an 8-point lead over the Tigers with under 3 minutes to go in the quarter. Grambling State’s Claire Simmons, with her third foul of the gam,e put Cornfield on the line after making her layup to secure that 3-point play for the Wildcats, carrying Arizona into the fourth quarter with a double-digit lead 63-47.
Trying to climb back quickly, Grambling State pushed for fast possessions and drove hard to the rim. Trammell finished through contact in the paint and earned a trip to the line for a 3-point play. Showing her steady presence again, Trammell knocked down the free throw to extend Arizona’s lead.
With 7 minutes left, Arizona called a 30-second timeout. Out of the break, Cornfield attacked the lane and scored, pushing the Wildcats ahead by 20. As the Tigers’ offense grew sloppy, the Wildcats took advantage and widened the gap.
Looking to disrupt Arizona, the Tigers set up a three-man full-court press on the inbound hoping for a quick steal. Arizona stayed composed, breaking through the pressure to advance the ball with ease.
As the fourth quarter wound down, the Tigers’ defense slowed which opened the door for Arizona to continue building its lead. The energy in McKale Center remained electric with fans thrilled to watch Arizona women’s basketball secure its third straight win of the season. The final score was 85-64 for the Wildcat win.
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