TUCSON, Ariz. – The Arizona Wildcats (9-1) are going for their ninth-straight win over NAU on Friday, Dec. 21 at 6:30 p.m. MST in McKale Center on the 127th birthday of the game of basketball. Margaret Naismith Jonker, Dr. James Naismith's great-granddaughter will be in attendance as well as Mayor of Tucson Jonathan Rothschild.
 
Friday's game will be live streamed on ArizonaWildcats.com and can be heard on 1400 AM with Derrick Palmer on the call.
 
Friday, Dec. 21 at 6:30 p.m. MST
Live Stream: ArizonaWildcats.com
Radio: 1400 AM (Derrick Palmer)
Twitter: @ArizonaWBB
#MadeForIt
 
FROM THE TIP

• Arizona has won eight-straight for the first time since the 2003-04 season after taking down UTEP in McKale Center on Monday. The Wildcats are off to their best start (9-1) since the 2011-12 season.
   
• The Wildcats are looking to avenge their road loss to NAU last year and are going for their ninth win in the last 10 meetings against the Lumberjacks.
   
• Aari McDonald is the nation's third-leading scorer at 24.6 points per game. She is the only player in the country to average 20 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals per game and is the first player in school history to score at least 15 points in the first 10 games of the season.
   
• Arizona is fourth in the country and first in the Pac-12 in points per game allowed (50.4) and is also eighth in the country with an average margin of victory of 26.5, which is also third in the Pac-12.
   
• Arizona won their third game by at least 40 points against Montana on Dec. 5, making it the first time in school history the Wildcats have won three games by 40 or more points in one season.

Last Five vs. NAU
12/7/17: at NAU 84, Arizona 66
11/15/10: at Arizona 71, NAU 49
12/6/07: at Arizona 75, NAU 54
11/22/03: at Arizona 89, NAU 67
12/1/97: UA Arizona, at NAU 66
 
Scouting the Lumberjacks
The Lumberjacks are looking to snap a three-game losing streak with a victory before heading into Big Sky play. NAU opened the season 4-1, but sit at an even 4-4 on the heels of its current skid. During their three-game losing streak, the Lumberjacks' offense has endured a slump with NAU averaging only 52.3 points per game and shooting 28.3 percent overall during this stretch. Kaleigh Paplow leads NAU in both scoring and rebounding at 16.3 points and 6.1 rebounds per game.
 
Aar it Out
After all the anticipation, redshirt sophomore guard Aari McDonald is finally eligible to put on the block A and represent the Wildcats on the court after transferring from Washington back in 2017. She stormed onto the scene and tied the single-game record with 39 points against Loyola Marymount in just the second game of the season and is currently the third-leading scorer in the nation at 24.6 points per game. The Fresno native is also the first player in school history to score at least 15 points in the first 10 games of the season. After dishing out a career-high nine assists against UTEP on Monday, she is now the only player in the country to average 20 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals per game. During her freshman season in 2016-17, McDonald was named Pac-12 All-Freshman after averaging just under 10 points per game while shooting 47% from the field in 24.1 minutes per game. She started in 21 games for the Huskies, who would advance to the Sweet 16.
 
A Premier Bucket Getter
No player in Arizona history has led the nation in scoring and only two Wildcats (Adia Barnes and Dee Dee Wheeler) have led the conference in scoring. In fact, only Barnes averaged at least 20 points per game in one season when she scored 21.8 per game during her senior season (1997-98). In order for McDonald to break the single-season scoring record, McDonald needs to score 408 more points. She has scored 246 through 10 games and the Wildcats have 19 more regular season games.
 
NCAA's Leading Scorers
1. Cierra Dillard (Buffalo): 25.8
2. Megan Gustafson (Iowa): 24.7
3. Aari McDonald (Arizona): 24.6
4. Najai Pollard (Delaware State): 23.7
5. Kristine Anigwe (Cal): 23.6
 
McDonald Named Pac-12 Player of the Week Again
Aari McDonald was named Pac-12 Player of the Week for the second time this season on Dec. 3 after averaging 26.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 3.5 steals in Arizona's two wins against Incarnate Word and San Diego State. She won her first on Nov. 19 after averaging 32 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 2.3 assists and 2.7 three-pointers per game on 56% shooting from the field over the three games.
 
Reese's Buckets
Cate Reese entered the season with lofty expectations, and she has surely lived up to those expectations. The freshman became the first Wildcat since Shawntinice Polk in 2002 to record a double-double in her collegiate debut and became the first freshman to score at least 20 in her first career game since Davellyn Whyte in 2008 after scoring 21 points and bringing down 10 rebounds in the opener against Idaho State. Through 10 games, Reese averages 13.8 points and 9.7 rebounds per game, which are both the most of any freshman in the Pac-12.
 
Reese's Boards
Against Montana, Cate Reese became the first Wildcat to grab at least 18 rebounds in a game since Ify Ibekwe (Feb. 13, 2011) and is the first freshman to do so since Polk (Dec. 22, 2002). She is the 10th player in school history to finish a game with at least 18 rebounds. Head coach Adia Barnes' career-high in rebounds was 18 back on Jan. 7, 1995.
 
Reese Named Arizona's First Pac-12 Freshman of the Week
Cate Reese was named Arizona's Pac-12 Freshman of the Week on Nov. 26 after her 19-point and 16-rebound performance against South Carolina State. Reese became Arizona's first Pac-12 Freshman of the Week in school history.
 
I'll Have a Double-Double
Reese has the third-most double-doubles among all freshmen in the country with four through 10 games. After scoring 20 points and grabbing 18 rebounds against Montana, Reese became the first freshman since Ify Ibekwe to have four double-doubles in one season. Additionally, the last player to have five or more double-doubles in a season was Davellyn Whyte in the 2012-13 season.  
 
Reese Cashes in From the Charity Stripe
Reese leads Arizona and is second in the Pac-12 in free throw percentage as she is shooting 90.3% (28-31) from the line. She also has the fourth-best percentage among all freshmen in the nation and is one of 23 players in the country to shoot at least 90% from the line. The Cypress, Texas native has had three such games where she has been perfect from the line with at least five attempts.
 
Sam I Am
Sam Thomas had a typical Sam Thomas game in the opener, scoring 15 points, bringing down nine rebounds and swiping four steals, but then struggled on the offensive end in the next six games averaging just 5.7 points per game. The sophomore has gotten back to her old ways in the last three games, averaging 14 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game while shooting 52% from the field and 53% from deep. Although her offensive production hasn't been there all season, she has brought it day in and day out on the defensive end, recording at least three steals in five games and blocked five shots against South Carolina State.
 
Old Man Dominique
Ask anyone to characterize redshirt junior Dominique McBryde's game and they will all say "old man game." McBryde, who transferred from Purdue after the 2016-17 season is poised to have a big year for the Wildcats after sitting out the 2017-18 season. She has started to get it going as of late, averaging 8.7 points and 5.3 rebounds per game on 58% shooting over her last six contests after averaging 4.3 points and 4.5 rebounds per game on 41% shooting in her first four. McBryde has scored in double-figures in two of her last three games while scoring in double-figures just once in her first seven. While at Purdue, McBryde was named honorable mention All-Big-Ten in 2017, averaging 6.7 points and 6.3 rebounds while making 25 starts. She had her first double-figure scoring game of the season against South Carolina State with 10 points to go with six rebounds.
 
Buenos Dias, Lucia
Junior guard Lucia Alonso returns to the court for year three with a ton of experience, playing 1,088 minutes last season to go along with 887 minutes the year before. The only player in Arizona history that played more minutes in their first two years was Arizona Ring of Honor inductee Davellyn Whyte, who played 2,095 in her first two seasons. Over her last eight games, she has an assist/turnover ratio of 31/8. Known as a knockdown three-point shooter, Alonso has the highest career three-point percentage in school history (40.7%) after knocking down three of her four attempts on Monday against UTEP. She has made at least three three-pointers in four games this season.
 
It's Her Destiny
Destiny Graham is the lone four-year senior on the team who started her career at Arizona. Not only that, she is the only player on the roster who played for former head coach Niya Butts. Graham is poised for a big senior year after having a career year in 2017-18, averaging career highs in both points (8.1 ppg) and rebounds (6.4 rpg). She returned to the rotation against Long Beach State after missing four games and was effective in her 20 minutes off the bench, scoring eight points and bringing down four rebounds.
 
Lock it Up
The Arizona defense has been swarming so far through the first 10 games. The Cats are allowing just 50.4 points per game, which is first in the Pac-12 and fourth in the country and are allowing opponents to just 33.7% shooting, the second-best mark in the conference. Against South Carolina State, the Bulldogs shot just 19.6% from the field, which is 0.2% higher than the school record for lowest field goal percentage allowed in one game. So far, Arizona has forced the opponent to shoot below 35% five times this year as opposed to last year when opponents shot under 35% four times all season. Over the last five games, Arizona is averaging 12.8 steals per game and is second in the Pac-12 at 10.3 per game. Arizona is the only team in the Pac-12 to be ranked in the top three in scoring defense, field goal pct. defense and three-point pct. defense.
 
Winning Big
The Wildcats have won all but one of their games by at least 20 points and have four wins of 30 or more. On average, Arizona outscores their opponent by 26.5 points per game, which is third in the Pac-12 and eighth in the nation.
 
It's Been a While
Arizona has won eight-straight games for the first time since the 2003-04 season and are 9-1 for the first time since the 2011-12 season. Additionally, the Wildcats won their games against South Carolina State, Incarnate Word and Montana by 40+ points, which is a feat that has never happened as the Wildcats have never won three games in one season by at least 40 points.
 
Crashing the Boards
The Wildcats hit the offensive glass hard against Montana, securing 23 offensive rebounds, which became 27 second-chance points. Twenty-three offensive rebounds is the most Arizona finished a game with since Jan. 27, 2013 when the Wildcats had 24 at USC. The last time Arizona had at least 20 offensive rebounds was on Jan. 25, 2015 when they had 21 against Oregon. The Wildcats dominated the boards again against Long Beach State, outrebounding them 52-29, which included 19 more offensive rebounds. As a team, Arizona is third in the Pac-12 with 14.5 offensive rebounds per game.
 
Heating Up
After struggling from the field in the first two games of the season, Arizona has seemed to find its shooting groove in the last seven games. In the first two games of the season, the Wildcats shot a combined 35.3% from the field and have shot a combined 46.7% from the field over their last seven.
 
The Clutch Gene
In the last 30 seconds of the quarter, Arizona is shooting 18-36 (50%) from the field. There has only been one game in which Arizona did not make at least one shot in the last 30 seconds of a quarter (vs. Portland).
 
Knocking Down the Trey
The Wildcats have struggled from deep in past years, but the three-point shot has become a weapon for Arizona this season. Through 10 games, Arizona has had three games where they have made at least 10 three-pointers. Last year, Arizona made 10 or more three-pointers in two of their 30 games. Aari McDonald (22), Lucia Alonso (19) and Sam Thomas (16) lead the way for Arizona.
 
Let It Fly
Arizona was getting their threes in during the San Diego State game, especially in the first half when they took 20 three-pointers. At the end of it all, Arizona finished with 32 three-point attempts, which is tied for the second-most in school history. Aari McDonald and Lucia Alonso combined to make 10 as they each made five triples, while McDonald tied the school record with 14 attempts.
 
Taking Care of the Ball
Turnovers were an issue in the first two games of the season as the Wildcats averaged 20.5 turnovers. Coach Adia Barnes made a point to her team to take care of the ball and since then, the Wildcats average just 11.4 turnovers per game in the last eight games.
 
Barnes' Numbers vs. NAU as a Player
Against NAU, Adia Barnes averaged 19.5 points and 8.5 rebounds over two games in 1996 & 1997. On Dec. 13, 1996, she scored 25 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and dished out four assists in an 86-54 victory.
 
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