Jan. 7, 2012
Complete Stats 
Postgame Quotes
Postgame Press Conference
Photo Gallery
TUCSON –In a game that saw four ties and nine lead changes, including a 16-point deficit, the University of Arizona Wildcat women's basketball team fell to the USC Trojans, 72-67, at McKale Center on Saturday. The Cats moved to 12-3 overall and 1-2 Pac-12 play. The Women of Troy moved to 8-6 overall and 3-1 in league action.
“This was a tough one but we battled back,” head coach Niya Butts said. “We had a stretch we're not proud of. There were good moments, we just ran out of time. Davellyn Whyte gave a great effort. We weren't rebounding well but she was a monster on the boards. I'm proud of the group.”
“I thought (Davellyn's last three point attempt) was in,” Butts said. “It was on target and it just rimmed out. That happens to the best. Davellyn is our go-to player. She wanted the ball and that was the biggest thing for me. She's the reason we made that run.”
Junior guard Davellyn Whyte led all scorers with 23 points and collected her third double-double of the season with 13 rebounds. She shot 9-of-19 from the field, 1-of-4 from three-point range and 4-of-4 from the charity stripe. In 38 minutes of play, she also had four assists and two steals.
Sophomore forward Erica Barnes (17) and senior guard Reiko Thomas (16) were also good for double-digit efforts. Barnes also had eight rebounds and three assists in 31 minutes of play. Thomas was 4-of-5 from behind the arc and recorded four rebounds, three assists and three steals in 39 minutes of play.
USC and Arizona were even in turnovers (11) and second-chance points (11) but the Women of Troy outrebounded the Wildcats, 43-39, including 14 offensive boards. UA shot 38.1 percent from the field (24-63), 29.4 percent from three-point range (5-17) and 77.8 percent from the free throw line (14-18).
Arizona's starting five included senior guard Shanita Arnold, Barnes, freshman center Aley Rohde, Thomas and Whyte. Junior forward Cheshi Poston had the most minutes off the bench with 20. She had two points, three rebounds and one steal.
For the Women of Troy, senior Briana Gilbreath was the leading scorer with 17. She also had nine rebounds, five assists, two blocks and two steals. In total, USC had five players score in double digits. USC shot 38.3 percent from the field (23-60), 25 percent from three-point range (5-20) and 75 percent from the free throw line (21-28).
Arizona will play next at Oregon on Thurs., Jan. 12. Game time is set for 7 p.m. PT/8 p.m. MT.
