University of Arizona
6-3
UAB
4-4
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| UAB | 14 | 30 | 44 |
| Arizona | 27 | 22 | 49 |
Cats Bounce Blazers For Fourth Straight Win
12/14/2014 | Women's Basketball
TUCSON, Ariz.--- The Wildcats sported two players in double figures and forced the Blazers into a season-high tying 21 turnovers, as Arizona defeated UAB, 49-44, Sunday afternoon at McKale Center, clinching UA's fourth straight victory.
For Arizona (6-3), the win marks its sixth victory in its last seven contests and its fourth straight home win, as the Cats improved to 4-1 at McKale Center this season.
Senior guard Candice Warthen led the team in scoring for the fifth time this season, as she put in 12 points and dished out a team-high equaling three assists in the win. She's led the team in assists in four straight games and in seven of nine games overall this season.
Sophomore guard Malena Washington also poured in 11 points on 3-of-8 shooting, recording her third double-digit scoring game of the season, and the second in her last three contests.
Sophomore forward LaBrittney Jones led the rebounding effort for Arizona, pulling down a team-high five boards, while contributing six points on 3-of-5 shooting from the field. Freshman guard Charise Holloway also produced off a solid game off the bench, recording six points and grabbing four rebounds.
The Wildcats scored 12 points of off 21 forced turnovers, while they won the battle of the benches for the fifth time this season, outscoring the UAB reserves 16-13.
The Cats jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead early, as they improved to 4-2 on the season when scoring first. Arizona bumped its first half lead to as high as nine points on two separate occasions before finally breaking through and claiming a double digit advantage near the end of the first half.
The Wildcats put together a mini 6-0 run in the final minutes of the half to cap-off an overall 18-4 scoring run over the final 12 minutes of the half to take a commanding 27-14 advantage into intermission.
The Cats scored eight points off of 12 forced first half turnovers, while the bench scored 11 of Arizona's total 27 first half points.
Arizona kept things rolling in the second half, never trailing the rest of the contest, while at one point extending its lead to as high as 15 points.
However, UAB made things interesting late, cutting UA's lead to just one point on three separate occasions in the second half, but the Cats put down some clutch free throws late to hold on for the five-point win.
The Wildcats will head back to the state of Texas for the second time this season, as Arizona will take on Stephen F. Austin, Saturday at 3:30 p.m. MST in what will mark the Cats' final road game of the non-conference slate.
Game Notes: Arizona picks up first-ever victory over UAB (1-1)…Cats have held opponents to 45 points or less in back-to-back games for the first time since Dec. 11, 2011 vs. Long Beach State (W, 66-42) Dec. 18, 2011 at Arkansas-Pine Bluff (W, 67-37)…Cats held UAB to a season-low equaling 14 first half points (14- vs. UCSB on Nov. 25).
ARIZONA POSTGAME QUOTES
Head Coach Niya Butts
Opening Statement
"We have to work for every win. We got a little too relaxed in the second half. I give credit to UAB today. They made some great moves, which forced us to have to do some things a little differently. But at the end of the day the goal is to win. We talked before the game that if we look at the scoreboard and we have more points than the other team, then good job. However, we know we have a lot to work on and we have to clean up some things offensively and defensively."
On why the team is performing so much better this season
"Overall we are just better. We have more bodies this year and a lot of resistance. We had a lot of close games last year, like today's, that we weren't able to win. Right now the group is showing resolve and those few points we got at the end really made a big difference today."
On the team's first half performance
"We stayed disciplined for the most part, but we were giving them some easy lanes to the basket, but they just didn't capitalize on that. Anytime you can hold a team to 14 points as a coach I have to take a step back and acknowledge that that's a great job defensively. Offensively, we were patient. We moved the ball better and shared the ball better."
On the team's balance
"For the most part we have had really great balance all season. There are always three or four people playing consistently with each other. Two players in today's game that had incredible moments were Breanna Workman and Charise Holloway. Breanna had some key stops defensively and Charise had some timely rebounds for us."
Senior Guard Candice Warthen
On winning four in a row
“It is a great feeling. Coming into this year we really were focused on making our record better and just coming off of losing seasons, it feels a lot better to start this way.”
On what was working in the first half
“I think our defense was better in the first half, we kind of contained their key players in the first half and in the second half they kind of went on a run and we got lost a lot. It was the defense I think.”
On keeping the positive momentum rolling
“We have to continue to do what we know we can do. We have to buckle down on defense and rebound the ball and execute our offense. We haven't been doing a great job of that, but the more the season progresses, the more we have to focus on defending, getting stops, and executing. All the little things count.”
Sophomore Guard Malena Washington
On keeping the positive momentum rolling
“We have to stay focused at practice and in the game. Throughout the whole game, not just the first half, because we have a bad habit of coming out with less intensity in the second half. We have to learn how to stay focused and keep playing our game throughout the whole entire game.”
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