The University of Arizona women’s basketball team cruised to a 62-39 win over Tarleton State University on Thursday, Nov. 7 at 6 p.m. in the McKale Center. The team finish their first homestand undefeated going 2-0.
Arizona started the game aggressively with sophomore guard, Skylar Jones getting a bucket and a foul on the first possession then full-court pressing TSU after converting the free throw.
After a timeout, the Wildcat defense forced the Texans to go on a long scoring drought including five turnovers, which allowed Arizona to lead 18-10 after the first quarter. However, during the intermission, sophomore guard Jada Williams was assessed her first career technical foul for arguing with a player on Tarleton State.
“We’re young […] we have a lot of learning to do,” said head coach Adia Barnes.
In the second quarter, both offenses came out sluggish with Arizona having back-to-back turnovers and going on a scoring drought that lasted more than two and a half minutes. The Texans drought didn’t end til 3 minutes left in the period. Later on, Jones ended the drought for the Wildcats and finished with 8 points in the quarter and 14 for the half giving the team a 33-17 lead into the break.
“[Jones] was determined, aggressive and was on a mission,” said Barnes.
Coming out of the locker rooms both squads went back and forth for most of the third quarter. TSU switched from man to zone defense giving the Wildcats a different look, but that was no problem for Jones. She once again got another bucket and drew the foul but was subbed out before attempting the free throw and would not return because of cramping in her legs.
In the final ten minutes of regulation, redshirt sophomore Montaya Dew scored for the first time in a Wildcat uniform by knocking down a three-pointer. This shot put the game to bed and give the Wildcats their second win of the year.
Skylar Jones led Arizona with 16 points and 2 steals while shooting 5-8 from the floor. Right behind her was sophomore forward Breya Cunningham, with 15 points, 8 rebounds and 3 blocks while shooting 7-12.
The Wildcats dominated the Texans in second-chance points with 15 to TSU’s 2. Yet the team only shot 40% from the field going 22-55 and 25% from downtown shooting 4-16 which Barnes says needs improvement.
“It wasn’t pretty, it wasn’t high scoring at times, but we improved from the last game […] I wish we shot the three a little bit better, but we’re a working progress,” said Barnes.
Looking Ahead:
Arizona will now go on the road for the first time this season to face the University of California San Diego on Sunday, Nov. 10 at 3 p.m. in LionTree Arena.
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