TUCSON, Ariz. – No. 24/22 Arizona won their seventh game to begin the season with an emphatic 70-27 win over UC Riverside on Friday afternoon in McKale Center.
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The Wildcats, who set a new record for points allowed in a game since joining the Pac-10, played suffocating defense all day. UC Riverside shot 21% from the field and turned the ball over 29 times, the most Arizona has forced all season.
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Offensively, the Wildcats made double-digit threes for the second time in three games, making 10.
Mara Mote led the way knocking down four of her five attempts from long range for a career-high 12 points in her young career.
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Sam Thomas (5),
Aari McDonald (4) and
Helena Pueyo (3) were the catalysts defensively, combining for 12 of Arizona's 15 steals on the day.
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Player of the Game
Mara Mote – The freshman came off the bench and was instant offense, scoring a career-high 12 points on 4-5 from three to go along with a pair of steals.
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By the Numbers
27 – Arizona broke a school record for points allowed in a game since joining the Pac-10 in 1978.
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29 – The Wildcats forced 29 UC Riverside turnovers, the most they have forced this season.
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50 – No team has scored 50 points on Arizona in their last three games.
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60 – Arizona has held their opponent to under 60 points in every game this season.
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Play of the Game
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Frameworthy
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Quotable
"I knew I was on fire after the second shot. I saw my teammates were trying to find me and I said to myself, 'I have to hit those shots.' After the second one I knew that I was going to make every shot." –
Mara Mote
It'll be a quick turnaround for the Cats as they take on Monmouth on Monday, Dec. 2 at 6:30 p.m. MST in McKale Center.
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