Preview:
Last year Arizona, behind Aari McDonald, beat us in a squeaker. On January 1 this year we defeated them handily 81-54 in one of our best games against good competition this year. Our thread for that game is here:
https://thecardboard.org/board/showthrea...ht=arizona
That game was during a Williams slump, but Jones, Lexie, Brink and Belibi were all in double digits, Wilson was 3/4 from long range and we were 8/18 from distance. It was a surprisingly lopsided win, considering how highly ranked Arizona has been. We managed to control McDonald (Wilson did) to just 12 points on 3/18 shooting. If Wilson does that again I think she should be a cinch for defensive player of the season. Sam Thomas, however, had a good game and led them with 14.
Since Jan 1 much has changed--Williams has gotten hot and Brink has blossomed on our end. Arizona has had a lot of games cancelled, which has let them get out of playing UCLA a second time (they won the first meeting narrowly in December.) In the games they have played, they are 8-1 since that last meeting. The one loss was to WSU, but they beat Oregon twice (once by 20). Against Cal on Friday, Cal took the lead against them early in the 4th quarter, but Arizona pulled ahead for the victory--so it was certainly not a blowout. McDonald had 28 points.
What I notice looking over their stats is that they are much better balanced than in the past, and they have a lot of capable three point shooters, including their post Cate Reese. Spreading the floor with three point bombing while McDonald has driving lanes to take it inside--that is a challenge to defend.
Arizona is going to be highly motivated and very well prepared after their last debacle. Massey has them at 9, AP at 10, Coaches at 7.
Last year Arizona, behind Aari McDonald, beat us in a squeaker. On January 1 this year we defeated them handily 81-54 in one of our best games against good competition this year. Our thread for that game is here:
https://thecardboard.org/board/showthrea...ht=arizona
That game was during a Williams slump, but Jones, Lexie, Brink and Belibi were all in double digits, Wilson was 3/4 from long range and we were 8/18 from distance. It was a surprisingly lopsided win, considering how highly ranked Arizona has been. We managed to control McDonald (Wilson did) to just 12 points on 3/18 shooting. If Wilson does that again I think she should be a cinch for defensive player of the season. Sam Thomas, however, had a good game and led them with 14.
Since Jan 1 much has changed--Williams has gotten hot and Brink has blossomed on our end. Arizona has had a lot of games cancelled, which has let them get out of playing UCLA a second time (they won the first meeting narrowly in December.) In the games they have played, they are 8-1 since that last meeting. The one loss was to WSU, but they beat Oregon twice (once by 20). Against Cal on Friday, Cal took the lead against them early in the 4th quarter, but Arizona pulled ahead for the victory--so it was certainly not a blowout. McDonald had 28 points.
What I notice looking over their stats is that they are much better balanced than in the past, and they have a lot of capable three point shooters, including their post Cate Reese. Spreading the floor with three point bombing while McDonald has driving lanes to take it inside--that is a challenge to defend.
Arizona is going to be highly motivated and very well prepared after their last debacle. Massey has them at 9, AP at 10, Coaches at 7.
