The University of Arizona women’s basketball team (7-2) is set to host Chicago State University on Monday, Dec. 15, at 6 p.m in McKale Center. The Wildcats look for their second consecutive win after beating Eastern Kentucky University 87-83 on Dec. 10. Arizona is 1-2 in its last three matchups. 

History vs. Chicago State

Arizona boasts a 4-0 record against Chicago State, with the program’s first meeting dating back to Dec. 19, 2004. The Wildcats’ largest margin of victory came last year on Nov. 16 in Chicago, when they won 84-48.

Cougars to watch

Chicago State is led by 5-foot-3 sophomore guard Aiyanna Culver. Culver is averaging 12.4 points per game this season on 41% shooting, while only averaging playing 26 minutes per game. 

As a team, the Cougars are 1-9 for the season and coming off a loss against California State University Fresno. Throughout the season, Chicago State has averaged shooting 35.6% from the field and 24.1% from beyond the arc.

Wildcats to watch

The Wildcats are led by 5-foot-7 guard Mickayla Perdue, a graduate student transfer from Springfield, Ohio. On her previous team, Cleveland State University, Perdue averaged 20 points per game, 3.3 assists per game and was named the Horizon League Player of the Year. She also earned First Team All-Horizon League honors.

This season, Perdue has picked up right where she left off. She leads the team by averaging 17.2 points per game on 47% shooting. Additionally, Perdue is 32% from 3-point range this season. Against Eastern Kentucky University, Perdue scored 27 points, a come-back performance after shooting 1-for-9 against University of New Mexico. 

Graduate guard Noelani Cornfield has been dominating the floor, putting up a combined 42 points and 11 rebounds in her last two games. Coming from the University of Buffalo, Cornfield helped lead the program-record 30 wins and a WNIT Championship. She continues to be an asset to the team, leading the Wildcats in assists and steals, averaging 7.9 and 2.2 steals, respectively. Additionally, Cornfield is the second-leading scorer for Arizona, averaging 14.1 points per game.

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