The Arizona women’s basketball team knew the road was only going to get tougher as it played deeper into the regular season. The Wildcats met their first test of adversity on Saturday when they Wildcats fell to San Diego State 57-38.
Arizona (2-1) was not able to enforce its up-tempo offense the entire game, holding a 3-2 lead with 17:06 left in the first half before the Aztecs (3-0) took control and never looked back.
The Wildcats finished with 27 turnovers, a glaring statistic that revealed what caused the offense’s inability to find a rhythm during the game.
“”They were aggressive with us all night long. I think our turnovers, they caused,”” Arizona head coach Niya Butts said after the game. “”For us it’s not OK when you turn the ball over almost as many times as you shot the ball.””
San Diego State also had an issue with turnovers, handing the ball to the Wildcats 24 times by the end of the game.
Arizona was not able to take advantage of the Aztecs’ missteps, however, and shot just 31 percent from the field and 12.5 percent from the 3-point line.
San Diego State crashed the boards all night long, outrebounding the Wildcats 45 to 34, and fed the ball to inside center Paris Johnson, who led all scorers with 18 points while grabbing 10 rebounds.
Butts was aware of the Aztecs’ ability to score in the paint coming into the game, but in the end, that didn’t matter.
“”We knew what we had to do defensively, but we just did not execute our game plan,”” Butts explained. “”I think they are a really good team. They are a well-coached bunch, they get aggressive and they’re good at what they do.””
Junior Ify Ibekwe was the lone bright spot for Arizona, recording her third double-double in as many games by finishing with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
“”It’s our first big game, San Diego, they’re scrappy, they’re physical, they have intensity,”” said Ibekwe. ””It was a good test for us. It just shows how we have to respond tomorrow.””
Ibekwe will be looked upon to help the Wildcats rebound today when they take on Ole Miss (3-0) in Arizona’s home opener.
The meeting with the Rebels is only the second in history, with Arizona getting the best of Ole Miss in their last meeting in Tucson on Dec. 18, 1989, which they won 67-61.
The Wildcats will welcome a Rebel team that comes in with an unblemished record playing good basketball, led by 2009 All-SEC guard Bianca Thomas, who is coming off a career-high 31-point effort against University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
Tip-off for Monday’s matinee is scheduled for 11 a.m..
