TUCSON, Ariz. – The Arizona Wildcats (9-2) open up Pac-12 play against No. 21 California (12-0) on Thursday night at McKale Center with tipoff set for 7 p.m. MST.
 
On the Golden Bears
California enters Thursday's game unscathed as they sport a record of 12-0 while outscoring their opponents by a shade under 20 points a game. Kristine Anigwe is not only one of the best players in the Pac-12, but the country. She averages 25.1 points and 10.2 rebounds on 66% shooting. The Bears have one more double-digit scorer in Courtney Range as she scored 13.8 points per game and grabs 6.2 rebounds per game. California makes their money from inside the arc as they shoot 57% from two-point range. A trend that has developed for Cal this year is that they get off to rocking starts to begin the game as they average 20.8 points in the first quarter and allow an average of 13.3 points. Cal holds a slight edge over Arizona in the all-time series as they Golden Bears have a record of 32-30 against the Wildcats. The two teams split the season series last season. Prior to last season, Cal had won 17 in a row and 18 of 19, and prior to that, Arizona had won 19 in a row and 23 of 25, so it has been a streaky all-time series to say the least. 
 
Last 5 vs. California
2/14/16: at Cal 75, Arizona 56
1/4/16: at Arizona 576, Cal 52
2/6/15: Cal 65, at Arizona 46
1/18/15: at Cal 68, Arizona 56
2/14/14: at Cal 65, Arizona 49
 
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. After blocking two shots against Portland State on Dec. 27, she is now fourth all-time in Arizona history in career swatations with 123. She passed Marte Alexander, who had 121 career blocks. Jones is also 32 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 86 this year for an average of 7.8. Her average of 6.0 rebounds per game for a career is seventh all time. Finally, Jones needs just 20 points to crack the top 20 in Arizona history. Jones' average of 14.5 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.2 blocks are all career highs.
 
Jones in the Pac-12
Through 11 games, Jones averages 14.5 points per game, which is 12th in the Pac-12, 7.8 rebounds per game, which is eighth in the Pac-12 and 2.2 blocks, which is ranked second in the Pac-12. Additionally, Jones' 6.5 defensive rebounds per game is fifth in the conference. Jones has led the Wildcats in scoring five times this season and has led the team in rebounds six 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 scored 10 points against Portland State on Tuesday. The senior is 16th in the conference in scoring with 13.2 points per game and is second in free throw shooting (87.5%), only behind Washington's Kelsey Plum (91.8%). The Beaumont native has scored in double-figures in all but two games this season and has led the Wildcats in scoring three times this season.
 
Buenos Dias, Lucia
Freshman guard Lucia Alonso has started in the first 11 games of her college career at the point guard position. So far, she averages 6.8 points, 3.4 assists, 2.2 rebounds, just under one steal and makes about 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. The Spaniard is second on the team in field goal percentage (47.5%) and three-point percentage (40%) and is also second in the Pac-12 in minutes per game (33.3), just behind Washington's Kelsey Plum (35.6).
 
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 is fourth in the Pac-12 in free throw shooting (82.1%) and leads the team with 1.6 steals per game. Bennett has missed the previous two games.
 
Give 'em That Work
Senior Breanna Workman came off the bench in the first nine games of the season and has started in the last two against Utah State and Portland State. Over the last seven games, Workman has scored 9.9 points per game and has grabbed 6.3 boards per game in 23.7 minutes per contest. She is also shooting 46% from the floor in that time. In the first four games of the season, Workman scored just 5.3 points per game and averaged 2.5 rebounds per game on 29% shooting. Workman has scored 12 points in three of her last six games, which all tie a season high. She scored 10 points and had five rebounds against Portland State.
 
Go DJ, That's My DJ
Senior Dejza James had the best game of her career against Utah State as she recorded her first career double-double in the first half alone. She finished the game with a season-high 14 points and brought down a career-high 14 rebounds. James has scored in double-figures two out of the last four games and averages 7.5 points per game and 6.0 rebounds per game over the last four contests. During that time, James is shooting 54% from the field and has also knocked down two of her five three-pointers attempted.
 
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, has knocked down 44.2% of her threes this year (13-31) and has a career three-point field goal percentage of 42.2% (49-116). 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 still leads the team with 11 three-pointers made this season. After sitting out against San Diego, Grambling State, Kansas and Utah State due to precautionary reasons, she came back against Portland State and scored six points off the bench in 15 minutes. She knocked down two three-pointers and blocked a career-high two shots.
 
Bucket City
Through 11 games this season, the Wildcats average 70.6 points per game. The last time an Arizona team averaged at least 70 points through 11 games was back in the 2011-12 season when the squad averaged 74.3 points per game. Davellyn Whyte averaged 18.7, Candice Warthen averaged 16.8 and Erica Barnes averaged 12.8 points per game. That team had a record of 10-1 through 10 games.
 
Top Five 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 11 games, the Wildcats have scored 238 points, good for an average of 21.6 points. Arizona outscores their opponents by 6.2 points in the third quarter. The next best quarter for Arizona is the fourth quarter as they have scored 204 (18.6 avg.).
 
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. Once again, the third quarter was the big one for Arizona against Portland State as they scored 29 points on 63% shooting.
 
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.)
Kansas: 16 (4th qtr.)
Utah State: 21 (3rd qtr.)
Portland State: 29 (3rd qtr.)
Average: 23.5 points
 
You'll Get Nothing and Like It
Arizona allowed just 52 points to Portland State on Tuesday, which is the second-lowest score Arizona has given up this season. Additionally, the Vikings made just 16 buckets, which is tied for the fewest the Wildcats have allowed this season.
 
Cats Have the Clutch Gene
Through nine games this season, Arizona has shot a combined 49% (79-163) in the fourth quarter and overtime. Additionally, Arizona is 58-76 (76%) from the free throw line in the fourth quarter and overtime.
 
It's a Block Party and LB is Hosting
Senior LaBrittney Jones has 123 career blocks through 95 games, which is good for an average of 1.3 swats per game and is fourth on the Arizona all-time shot blocking list. Last year, she blocked 23 shots in 21 games. Throughout her career, she has posted 33 games where she has blocked multiple shots and as blocked 3+ shots in 17 games. Her career high was set back on Feb. 1, 2015 when she sent six shots into the seats. This year, Jones is second in the Pac-12 with 2.2 blocks per game after blocking two shots against Portland State.
 
Arizona Career Blocked Shots Leaders
1. Shawntinice Polk, 222
2. Ify Ibekwe, 166
3. Elizabeth Pickney, 147
4. LaBrittney Jones, 123
5. Marte Alexander, 121
6. Dana Patterson, 91
7. Anne McFadden, 87
 
Converting on Turnovers
Against Portland State, Arizona forced 23 Viking turnovers and had 13 steals, which the most the Wildcats have had in one game this season. On those 28 turnovers, Arizona scored a season-high 28 points.
 
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 19.7 minutes per game.
 
2016-17 Minutes (min. 19.7 mpg)
1. Lucia Alonso (33.3)
2. LaBrittney Jones (29.5)
3. Malena Washington (26.2)
5. Breanna Workman (21.5)
4. JaLea Bennett (21.4)
6. Destiny Graham (20.5)
7. Taryn Griffey (19.7)
 
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 414 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 591 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.

FOLLOW WOMEN'S HOOPS ON SOCIAL MEDIA!
Fans can keep up with the latest in Arizona women's basketball by following us on Facebook (Facebook.com/ArizonaWomensBasketball), Twitter (@ArizonaWBBall), Instagram (@arizonawbball), Vine (@arizonawbball) and Snapchat (arizonawbball).