LAWRENCE, Kan. – Head coach Adia Barnes and the Arizona women's basketball team (7-1) are set to face off against the Kansas Jayhawks (4-5) on Saturday morning at 11 a.m. MST at the historical Phog Allen Fieldhouse. The game will be aired live on ESPN3.
 
On the Jayhawks
Kansas comes into the game with a record of 4-5 and is coming off a dominating 72-36 victory over Rhode Island at the iconic Phog Allen Fieldhouse. The Jayhawks hold a record of 3-3 at home with two overtime wins as well in Lawrence. McKenzie Calvert and Jessica Washington lead Kansas as they score 13.9 and 10.9 points per game, respectively. Chayla Cheadle is right behind them though at 9.0 points per game while she leads the team with 6.8 rebounds per game. The Jayhawks have quite a bit of depth as 10 players average at least 15 minutes per game. One knock against the Jayhawks is that they are not particularly efficient from the field as they shoot 35.1% overall and 30.1% from downtown. They do make 6.9 three-pointers per game though. On defense though, the Jayhawks allow just 65.8 points per game and force 19 turnovers per game. Like Arizona, Kansas has had their fair share of struggles in the first quarter as they average just 12.6 points per game in the first period.
 
Last 5 vs. Kansas
11/23/15: at Arizona 67, Kansas 52
12/29/00: at Arizona 81, Kansas 73
12/21/99: at Kansas 71, Arizona 68
1/31/98: at Arizona 67, Kansas 62
1/5/87: Kansas 70, at Arizona 68
 
LB in the Arizona Record Books
Senior LaBrittney Jones is back for her senior season in Tucson. Jones will go down as one of the great Wildcats as she is sure to climb the record books should all go well. She is currently fifth all time in blocked shots with 115 and needs seven more to pass Marte Alexander for fourth. Jones is also 48 rebounds away from cracking the top 10, which shouldn't be an issue as she has averaged a little over 161 boards a year. She already has 70 this year for an average of 8.8. Her average of 6.0 rebounds per game for a career is seventh all time. Finally, Jones needs just 57 points to crack the top 20 in Arizona history. Jones' average of 15.4 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.0 blocks and 48.9% shooting are all career highs.
 
Jones in the Pac-12
Through eight games, Jones averages 15.4 points per game, which is ninth in the Pac-12, 8.8 rebounds per game, which is sixth in the Pac-12 and 2.0 blocks, which is ranked third in the Pac-12. Additionally, Jones' 7.3 defensive rebounds per game is second and she is also 10th with 29.3 minutes per game. Jones has led the Wildcats in scoring four times this season and has led the team in rebounds five times.
 
Washington's World
Although she is a senior, Washington is entering just her third season as a Wildcat as she started her career at Tyler Junior College, where she was named a JC All-American. Washington exploded for a career-high 26 points against New Mexico State. 22 of her points came after halftime and 14 of them came in overtime. The senior also grabbed a career-high eight rebounds and made a career-high 10 free throws. She made eight alone in overtime, which would've been set a new career-high even if she hadn't made one before overtime. Washington led the Wildcats in scoring against Grambling State as she scored 13 points on 5-10 shooting in 28 minutes. The senior averages 13.5 points per game, which is second on the team and 14th in the Pac-12. Washington also shoots 84.6% (22-26) from the free throw line, which is third in the conference.
 
TG For Three
Redshirt Sophomore Taryn Griffey has been through her fair share of adversity as she has undergone multiple knee surgeries, but she is back this year after having a solid start to her college career in the 2015-16 season. Last year, she shot 42.4% from downtown, which was the third-highest three-point percentage for one season in school history. So far this year, Griffey is 12th in the Pac-12 in three-point shooting percentage as she has knocked down 42.3% of her threes this year (11-26). The redshirt sophomore has a career three-point field goal percentage of 42.3% (47-111). Griffey came off the bench and scored a season-high 19 points in a season-high 27 minutes against Florida Atlantic. She was 3-5 from beyond the arc and now leads the team with 11 three-pointers made this season. Griffey is also starting to see an uptick in minutes played as she has played at least 23 minutes in three of the last four games. The redshirt sophomore sat out against San Diego and Grambling State due to precautionary reasons.
 
Buenos Dias, Lucia
Freshman guard Lucia Alonso has started in the first eight games of her college career at the point guard position. So far, she averages 7.6 points, 3.5 assists, 2.1 rebounds, just under one steal and makes one three-pointer per game. Alonso was red hot from the field against FAU as she scored a career-high 15 points in the first half. For the game, she shot 5-6 from the field and was 3-4 from behind the arc. Alonso scored just three points against Grambling State, but dished out four helpers and had two steals as well. Through the first eight games, Alosno is 13th in the Pac-12 in three-point shooting (42.1%) and third in minutes played (33.1), which leads the team as well.
 
We See Ya JaLea
Junior wing JaLea Bennett had a career night against Southern Utah on Nov. 26 as she scored 21 points off the bench for a new career high. Her previous career high was 18 points. Against Southern Utah, she shot 7-11 from the field, made one three-pointer and was 6-6 from the charity stripe. Bennett started her first game of the season against Grambling State and scored 10 points and grabbed four rebounds in just 17 minutes. Her 10 points per game are tied for third on the team and her 4.4 rebounds per game are fourth on the team. The junior has never averaged more than six points per game in one season. Bennett also leads the team in steals with 1.5 per game after swiping one against the Lady Tigers. The junior is second in the Pac-12 in free throw percentage as she is 21-24 from the line (87.5%).
 
Bucket City
Through eight games this season, the Wildcats average 73.8 points per game. The last time an Arizona team averaged at least 70 points through eight games was back in 2011 when they averaged 78.1 through eight games. Davellyn Whyte averaged 19.4 points and Candice Warthen averaged 16.8 points per game. Additionally, Arizona has three double-digit scorers through eight games for the first time since 2013. Back then, Candice Warthen averaged 14.5 points, Kama Griffits averaged 12.6 points and Erica Barnes averaged 10 points.
 
Top Individual Scoring Efforts
26, Malena Washington (at NMSU, 12/4/16)
23, LaBrittney Jones (vs. North Texas, 11/22/16)
21, JaLea Bennett (at Southern Utah, 11/26/16)
20, LaBrittney Jones (vs. San Diego, 12/7/16)
20, LaBrittney Jones (at George Mason, 11/18/16)
 
About That Third Quarter
It's not even close, the third quarter has been Arizona's best quarter in the 2016-17 season. Through eight games, the Wildcats have scored 173 points, good for an average of 21.6 points. Arizona outscores their opponents by 6.6 points in the third quarter. The next best quarter for Arizona is the fourth quarter as they have scored 157 (19.6 avg.)
 
Donating to the Charity Stripe
Through the first eight games of the season, Arizona is shooting 73.4% from the free throw line (124-169). That is the second-highest percentage in the Pac-12 behind Washington (79.2%). Arizona had another solid night at the line as they were 15-21 against Grambling State. The Wildcats have two individuals in the top-three in free throw shooting percentage in the Pac-12 and one more in the top-10. JaLea Bennett is second (87.5%), Malena Washington is third with an 84.6% mark and Breanna Workman is ninth as she is 19-24 (79.2%). No other school in the Pac-12 has more than two players in the top-10.
 
Like Clockwork
It's inevitable that Arizona will have at least one big quarter in a game, it just depends on when. Arizona's best quarter of all time though came last game against San Diego as the Wildcats scored 33 points in the third period, which is the most points scored in one quarter in Arizona history. They also hit 12 of their 16 shots, which is the most made shots in one quarter as well. Against Grambling State, Arizona scored 24 points on 10-16 shooting in the third quarter. The Wildcats outscored the Lady Tigers 24-12 in the third.
 
List of Arizona's highest scoring periods (game-by-game)
Alcorn State: 21 (3rd/4th qtrs.)
George Mason: 28 (4th qtr.)
North Texas: 19 (2nd/4th qtrs.)
Southern Utah: 23 (4th qtr.)
Florida Atlantic: 26 (3rd qtr.)
New Mexico State: 18 (OT)
San Diego: 33 (3rd qtr.)
Grambling State: 24 (3rd qtr.)
Average: 24 points
 
Cats Have the Clutch Gene
Through seven games this season, Arizona has shot a combined 50.4% (59-117) in the fourth quarter and overtime. Additionally, Arizona is 52-68 (76.5%) from the free throw line in the fourth quarter and overtime. The Wildcats were perfect from the line in overtime against New Mexico State (12-12) to seal the deal in a 74-63 victory.
 
It's a Block Party and LB is Hosting
Senior LaBrittney Jones has 115 career blocks through 92 games, which is good for an average of 1.3 swats per game. Last year, she blocked 23 shots in 21 games. Throughout her career, she has posted 30 games where she has blocked multiple shots and as blocked 3+ shots in 16 games. Her career high was set back on Feb. 1, 2015 when she sent six shots into the seats. This year, Jones is third in the Pac-12 with 2.0 blocks per game.
 
Arizona Career Blocked Shots Leaders
1. Shawntinice Polk, 222
2. Ify Ibekwe, 166
3. Elizabeth Pickney, 147
4. Marte Alexander, 121
5. LaBrittney Jones, 115
6. Dana Patterson, 91
7. Anne McFadden, 87
 
Depth Isn't Overrated
Last season, nine Wildcats averaged at least 15 minutes on the floor per game. What is the significance of that? Eight of those players are back for the 2016-17 season, so they know what to expect when it comes to college basketball. So far this season, seven players average at least 20.5 minutes per game.
 
2016-17 Minutes (min. 20.5 mpg)
1. Lucia Alonso (33.1)
2. LaBrittney Jones (29.3)
3. Malena Washington (26.5)
4. Breanna Workman (21.3)
5. JaLea Bennett (21.1)
6. Destiny Graham (20.9)
7. Taryn Griffey (20.5)
 
One Last Go Around
Of the 13 players on the roster, six of them are seniors, which is the most in the Pac-12 as no other team has more than four seniors on their roster. Those six seniors include LaBrittney Jones, Malena Washington, Breanna Workman, Lauren Evans, Dejza James and Farrin Bell. They have combined to play in 397 games.
 
Experience Pays Off
Although there is a brand new coaching staff in place, this team is generally made up of players who were a part of the 2015-16 campaign. 11 of the 13 current players on the roster are returning this year and have played in a combined 569 games. Only one other school in the Pac-12 has more than nine returners (Colorado returns 11).
 
Barnes is Back
Adia Barnes is back in Wildcat Country, and this time it's as the head coach of the University of Arizona. Barnes is known as one of, if not the best women's basketball player to come through Tucson. As a player, she is the program's leading scorer as she finished with 2,237 career points (18.5 ppg). She is also second all-time in career rebounds (921). During Barnes' freshman year in the 1994-95 season, the Cats finished with a record of 11-19. The next three years were a complete turnaround as the Wildcats won at least 22 games in each season and made a three-straight postseason appearances. Over those three years, Arizona was 68-23, which is still the best three-year stretch in Arizona history.
 
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