TUCSON, Ariz. – Coming off a 49-point victory where Arizona scored 100 points, the Wildcats (7-1) are back on the road for the last non-conference road game of the season to face Long Beach State (1-8) on Sunday, Dec. 9 at 2 p.m. MST.
 
Sunday, Dec. 9 at Long Beach State
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#MadeForIt
 
FROM THE TIP

• Arizona has won six-straight for the first time since 2011 after hanging 100 points on Montana in a 49-point victory on Wednesday. The last time Arizona scored 100 points in a game was during the 2012-13 season.
   
• Aari McDonald was named Pac-12 Player of the Week for the second time in three weeks on Monday and is currently the nation's leading scorer at 26.8 points per game.
   
• Cate Reese scored 20 points and grabbed a career-high 18 rebounds, which is the most by a freshman since Shawntinice Polk (2002).
   
• With a win on Sunday, Arizona is looking to start the season 8-1 for the first time since 2011.
   
• Arizona won their third game by at least 40 points against Montana on Wednesday, 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. Long Beach State
11/28/17: LBSU 80, at UA 72
12/2/12: at LBSU 71, UA 61
12/11/11: at UA 66, LBSU 42
12/14/08: at UA 56, LBSU 47
12/9/2007: UA 66, at LBSU 53
 
Scouting the 49ers
Long Beach State is coming off a 60-56 loss at the hands of San Diego on Thursday. The 49ers have lost three-straight and are 1-8 on the season. Shanaijah Davison leads the way for Long Beach State at 15.3 points per game while Justing King scores 11.1 points and Naomi Hunt averages 10.6 points 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 leading scorer in the nation at 26.8 points per game. The Fresno native is the only player in the country to average at least 20 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals per game. In her last three games, McDonald is averaging 3.7 steals per game and is fourth in the Pac-12 at 2.5 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.
 
Leading the Nation
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 440 more points. She has scored 214 through eight games and the Wildcats have 21 more regular season games.
 
NCAA's Leading Scorers
1. Aari McDonald (Arizona): 26.8 ppg
2. Cierra Dillard (Buffalo): 26.4 ppg
3. Kristine Anigwe (Cal): 24.3 ppg
4. Arike Ogunbowale (Notre Dame): 24.3 ppg
5. Najai Pollard (Delaware State): 23.8 ppg
 
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 in the first few games. 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 eight games, Reese averages 16 points and 10.6 rebounds per game, which is the most of any freshman in the Pac-12. She is also the only non-senior in the Pac-12 to be in the top five in rebounds per game.
 
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
Cate Reese is one of four freshmen in the country averaging a double-double and is the only freshman in the Pac-12 to do so. She also has the fourth-most double-doubles among all freshmen in the country with four through eight games. The last freshman to have at least four in their first eight games was Shawntinice Polk, who had a double-double in each of her first eight career games. After scoring 20 points and grabbing 18 rebounds, 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. Over the last five games, Reese is averaging 15.6 points and 12.4 rebounds per game.
 
Reese Cashes in From the Charity Stripe
Reese leads Arizona in free throw percentage as she is shooting 90.3% (28-31) from the line. She ranks third in the Pac-12 and has the fifth-best percentage among all freshmen in the nation. 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. Against South Carolina State, Thomas was a menace on the defensive end, blocking a career-high five shots and tied her career-high with four steals and followed that up with four more steals against Incarnate Word. She filled up the stat sheet against Montana, scoring 12 points, grabbing eight rebounds, dished out a season-high six assists and had three steals. On the year, she has four games with at least three steals and is ninth in the Pac-12 at 2.3 steals per game.
 
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 9.0 points per game on 59% shooting over her last four contests after averaging 4.3 points per game on 41% shooting in her first four. 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. The junior Spaniard has been red hot over the last five games, shooting 14-27 (52%) from three including a career-high five trey balls at San Diego State. Over her last six games, she has an assist/turnover ratio of 27/8. Known as a knockdown three-point shooter, Alonso has the highest career three-point percentage in school history (40.6%).
 
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. She didn't miss a shot from the field against Seattle, shooting 4-4 for 10 points off the bench. 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). Graham was the first off the bench in the opener and played 24 minutes while grabbing six boards.
 
It's Been a While
Arizona 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 las time Arizona had at least 20 offensive rebounds was on Jan. 25, 2015 when they had 21 against Oregon.
 
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 six games. In the first two games of the season, the Wildcats shot a combined 35.3% from the field and have shot a combined 48% from the field in their last six.
 
The Clutch Gene
In the last 30 seconds of the quarter, Arizona is shooting 15-30 (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 eight games, Arizona has already 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 (19) and Lucia Alonso (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.
 
Lock it Up
The Arizona defense has been swarming so far through the first eight games. The Cats are allowing just 52.6 points per game, which is second in the Pac-12 and are allowing opponents to just 33.6% 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% four times this year as opposed to last year when opponents shot under 35% four times all season. Over the last three games, Arizona is averaging 13.7 steals per game and is second in the Pac-12 at 10 per game. Arizona is the only team in the Pac-12 to be ranked in the top four in scoring defense, field goal pct. defense and three-point pct. defense.
 
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 11.5 turnovers per game in the last six games.
 
Barnes' Numbers vs. Long Beach as a Player
Head coach Adia Barnes faced Long Beach State one time as a player on Dec. 1, 1996. In a 97-57 victory, Barnes scored 26 points on 9-14 shooting and brought down 13 rebounds in just 24 minutes.
 
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