TUCSON, Ariz. – The Arizona women's basketball team is fresh off a victory against Florida Atlantic on Thursday evening, but there is no time to celebrate as they hit the road on Saturday morning to Las Cruces, N.M. for a game against New Mexico State on Sunday, Dec. 4 at 1 p.m. MST
 
On New Mexico State
The Aggies come into the game with a record of 6-2 and are winners of four straight. Most recently, they defeated the Lobos of New Mexico by a score of 77-70. New Mexico State has five players who score in double-figures with Brooke Salas leading the way at 14.1 points per game. Salas also leads the team with 7.7 boards per game. Tamera William is second on the team and just behind Salas with 7.4 rebounds per game. So far, New Mexico State is outscoring their opponents by 11.1 points per game and force 23 turnovers per game.

Last 5 vs. New Mexico State
12/2/15: Arizona 68, New Mexico State 64
11/21/11: Arizona 84, New Mexico State 67
12/19/10 Arizona 71, New Mexico State 59
12/30/91: Arizona 100, New Mexico State 97
12/9/90: New Mexico State 82, Arizona 73
 
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 108 and needs 14 to pass Marte Alexander for fourth. Jones is also 71 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 47 this year. Her average of 6.0 rebounds per game for a career is seventh all time. Finally, Jones needs just 95 points to crack the top 20 in Arizona history.
 
Jones in the Pac-12
LaBrittney Jones had another solid game against Southern Utah as she scored 11 points and grabbed a team-leading nine rebounds against Florida Atlantic. Through five games, Jones is seventh in the Pac-12 in scoring (17 ppg) and is fifth in rebounds per game (9.4). She is also seventh with 1.8 blocked shots per game.
 
Washington's World
Malena Washington led the Wildcats in total points scored last year as she scored 346 for an average of 10.8 per game. She also led the team with 146 three-pointers made, which was the most in one season since Davellyn Whyte knocked down 218 in the 2012-13 season. 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 averages 12 points per game through the first five contests of the season, which leads the team. After scoring all 13 of her points in the third quarter against FAU, she is now 23rd in the Pac-12 in scoring.
 
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 ninth in the Pac-12 in three-point shooting percentage as she has knocked down 45.8% of her threes this year (11-24). The redshirt sophomore has a career three-point field goal percentage of 43.1% (47-109). Griffey came off the bench and scored a season-high 19 points in a season-high 27 minutes. 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 the last three games.
 
Buenos Dias, Lucia
Freshman guard Lucia Alonso has started in the first five games of her college career at the point guard position. So far, she averages 8.4 points, 3.2 assists, 2.0 rebounds, one steal and 1.2 made-threes 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. Through the first five games, Alosno is second in the Pac-12 in three-point shooting (60%) and is sixth in field goal percentage (60%). The freshman also leads the team in minutes played per game (33.4) and is fourth in the Pac-12.
 
We See Ya JaLea
Junior wing JaLea Bennett had a career night against Southern Utah last Saturday 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. After scoring four points and grabbing five rebounds against Florida Atlantic, she averages nine points per game and 4.4 rebounds per game, which are both third on the team. Bennett also leads the team in steals with 1.4 per game after swiping two against the Owls. The junior is also the only player in the Pac-12 to be 100% from the free throw line as she is 12-12 from the charity stripe.
 
Donating to the Charity Stripe
Through the first five games of the season, Arizona is shooting 76.1% from the free throw line (70-92). That is the second-highest percentage in the Pac-12 behind Washington (80.6%). The Wildcats have two individuals in the top in free throw shooting percentage in the Pac-12. JaLea Bennett is tied for first as she is 12-12, Breanna Workman is fifth as she is 13-15 (86.7%).
 
Loving the Long Ball
Arizona made 10 three-pointers against George Mason on Nov. 18, which is the most since the Wildcats made 12 in a win against Oregon back on Jan. 13, 2013. Arizona was 12-27 (44%) overall from downtown in the Oregon game while the Wildcats were 10-18 (56%) against George Mason. In the second half alone, Arizona shot 7-10 from distance against George Mason. Arizona went 7-10 from behind the arc in one half again, but this time is was in the first half against Florida Atlantic on Thursday evening. The Wildcats ended up shooting 8-16 from downtown, thanks to a combined 6-9 by Taryn Griffey and Lucia Alonso. Malena Washington and Breanna Workman also each chipped in a trey ball.
 
Finishing Strong
Arizona shot 10-11 (91%) in the fourth quarter against George Mason on Nov. 18 That is the highest percentage Arizona has ever shot in a single quarter and it is tied for the second most-made shots in a quarter. Arizona made 10 against New Mexico State (12/5/15) and USC (2/28/16) last year. 28 points is also the second-most points scored in a quarter. The Wildcats scored 30 points and made 11 shots against Gardner-Webb on Dec. 21, 2015. This time, it was the defense that stood out in the fourth quarter as Florida Atlantic only managed eight points on 4-17 shooting in the final period. So far this year, Arizona has scored a total of 104 points in the fourth quarter for an average of 20.8, which is the most of any quarter.
 
Cats Have the Clutch Gene
Through four games this season, Arizona has shot a combined 54% (37-69) in the fourth quarter. Additionally, Arizona is 27-36 (75%) from the free throw line in the fourth quarter. 
 
It's a Block Party and LB is Hosting
Senior LaBrittney Jones has 108 career blocks through 89 games, which is good for an average of 1.2 swats per game. Last year, she blocked 23 shots in 21 games. Throughout her career, she has posted 27 games where she has blocked multiple shots and as blocked 3+ shots in 15 games. Her career high was set back on Feb. 1, 2015 when she sent six shots into the seats. This year, Jones is seventh in the Pac-12 with 1.8 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, 108
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 18.4 minutes per game.
 
2016-17 Minutes (min. 18.4 mpg)
1. Lucia Alonso (33.4)
2. LaBrittney Jones (28.4)
3. Malena Washington (25.6)
5. Taryn Griffey (22.4)
4. Destiny Graham (19.8)
6. Breanna Workman (19.2)
7. JaLea Bennett (18.4)
 
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 380 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 541 games. Only one other school in the Pac-12 has more than nine returners (Colorado returns 11).
 
Pack the House
Through the first few weeks of the season, Arizona is second in the Pac-12 in average attendance (3,616). Back on Nov. 22, Arizona set a single-game attendance record of 8,442 on school day.
 
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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