TUCSON, Ariz. – The Arizona Wildcats (15-8, 5-7 Pac-12) will be looking for some revenge on Friday night as they are set to face the Utah Utes (18-5, 7-5 Pac-12) at 6 p.m. MST in McKale Center. Friday's game will be live streamed on ArizonaWildcats.com.
 
Friday, Feb. 15 at 6 p.m. MST vs. Utah
Live Stream: ArizonaWildcats.com
Radio: 1400 AM (Derrick Palmer)
Twitter: @ArizonaWBB
#MadeForIt                       
 
FROM THE TIP

• Arizona is back in McKale for the first time since Jan. 27 as they are looking to avenge their road loss to Utah back in early January.
   
• Aari McDonald was named to the Dawn Staley and Ann Meyers Drysdale Award Watch Lists this week.
   
• McDonald became the fastest player in school history to reach 500 points in one season and is averaging 29 points per game over her last three. She needs 18 more points to become the second player in school history to score 600 points in one season.
   
• Arizona has secured a regular season winning percentage above .500 for the first time since the 2010-11 season.
   
• McDonald, the nation's second-leading scorer, has scored at least 15 points in all 23 games this season, making her the first Wildcat to do so.
   
• McDonald is third on the Arizona single-season scoring list. Only Adia Barnes has scored more points in a single season. She needs 17 points to pass Barnes' junior season and move into second behind Barnes' senior season.
   
• Four of Arizona's eight losses this season have come against teams currently ranked in the top 20.

Last Five vs. Utah
1/6/19: at Utah 80, Arizona 64
1/21/18: Utah 80, at Arizona 56
12/29/17: at Utah 89, Arizona 55
1/8/17: Arizona 81, at Utah 70
1/15/16: Utah 60, at Arizona 55
 
Scouting the Utes
After a tremendous 18-1 start to the season, Utah has dropped their last four games to the Oregon and L.A. schools and now find themselves in need of a after dropping out of the rankings. Megan Huff continues to be one of the best players in the conference as she is scoring 20.2 points per game and grabbing 9.9 rebounds per game. Five-time Pac-12 Freshman of the Week Dre'Una Edwards is in the middle of a battle with Cate Reese for Freshman of the Year as she averages 11.7 points and 6.9 rebounds. The Utes are still without guard Daneesha Provo as she suffered a lower body injury earlier this season.
 
Aar it Out
After all the anticipation, redshirt sophomore guard Aari McDonald is 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 nation's second-leading scorer at 25.3 points per game. Among plenty of accomplishments, McDonald became the first Pac-12 player to score 30 points in three-straight games since the NCAA's all-time leading scorer Kelsey Plum had four-straight in Jan. 2017. She has scored at least 30 points in six games this season, becoming the first Wildcat to do so and the fourth among Pac-12 players since the 1999-00 season. 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.
 
Looking for an Invite
Aari McDonald is 18 points away from becoming the 36th player in Pac-12 history to join the 600-point club as well as the 11th sophomore in Pac-12 history. Additionally, it would be the 50th time overall a player scored 600 points in one season in Pac-12 history. Adia Barnes is the only Wildcat to score 600 points in one season. Should she reach the 600-point mark on Friday, she would become the third-fastest Pac-12 player since 2000 to score 600 points. Only Kelsey Plum and Chiney Ogwumike did it faster. For reference, Plum, who is the NCAA's all-time leading scorer, scored her 600th point in the 26th game of the season.
 
McDonald Garnering National Recognition
Earlier this season McDonald was named to the Wooden Award Midseason Top 25 list on Jan. 9 and became the first Wildcat since Shawntinice Polk (2003-04) to be named to the list. This week, she was named to the Dawn Staley and Ann Meyers Drysdale Watch List.
 
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 72 more points. She has scored 582 through 23 games and the Wildcats have six more regular season games.
 
NCAA's Leading Scorers
1. Megan Gustafson (Iowa): 27.3
2. Aari McDonald (Arizona): 25.3
3. Cierra Dillard (Buffalo): 25.0
 
Arizona Single-Season Scoring List
                                                Year     GP       Points
1. Adia Barnes                           1998     30         653
2. Adia Barnes                           1997     31         598
3. Aari McDonald                     2019     23         582
4. Dee-Dee Wheeler                  2005     32         564
5. Dee-Dee Wheeler                  2004     33         558
 
Arizona Single-Season Scoring List (Sophomores)
                                                Year     GP       Points
1. Aari McDonald                     2019     23         582
2. Shawntinice Polk                   2004     33         549
3. Davellyn Whyte                     2011     33         523
4. Adia Barnes                           1996     30         522
 
Most 30-Point Games this Season (Pac-12)
Aari McDonald (Arizona)                      6
Kristine Anigwe (Cal)                              4
Borislava Hristova (WSU)                       4
Alanna Smith (Stanford)                         3
 
Fewest Games to 500 Points Since 1999-00 (Pac-12 Players)
Kelsey Plum, Wash. ('16-'17) – 17
Chiney Ogwumike, Stan. ('13-'14) – 19
Kelsey Plum, Wash. ('16-'17) – 19
Aari McDonald, Ariz. ('18-'19) – 20
 
Fewest Games to 600 Points Since 1999-00 (Pac-12 Players)
Kelsey Plum, Wash. ('16-'17) – 20
Chiney Ogwumike, Stan. ('13-'14) – 23
Kelsey Plum, Wash. ('15-'16) – 23
Kelsey Plum, Wash. ('14-'15) – 26
Chiney Ogwumike, Stan. ('12-'13) – 27 
   
Pac-12, Most Games in a Single Season with 30+ Points - Since 1999-00
2016-17    Kelsey Plum, Wash                17
2013-14    Chiney Ogwumike, Stan         14
2015-16    Kelsey Plum, Wash                10
2014-15    Kelsey Plum, Wash                7
2018-19    Aari McDonald, Ariz             6
2011-12    Nneka Ogwumike, Stan         6
 
Three-Time Pac-12 Player of the Week
Aari McDonald was named Pac-12 Player of the Week for the third time this season on Jan. 7 after averaging 33 points, eight rebounds and five steals per game against Colorado and Utah on the road. She won her second 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 and 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 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 in the opener against Idaho State. Reese averages 12 points and 7.2 rebounds per game, making her the leading scorer and rebounder among freshmen in the Pac-12. Reese had her best scoring game in the Pac-12 season on Saturday against Washington State as she poured in 19.
 
Reese's Boards
Against Montana, Cate Reese became the 10th Wildcat to grab at least 18 rebounds in a game, was the first since Ify Ibekwe (Feb. 13, 2011) and is the first freshman to do so since Polk (Dec. 22, 2002). Reese, who had her first double-figure rebounding effort against a Pac-12 opponent against UCLA, averages 7.2 rebounds per game, the most among all freshmen in the Pac-12. Head coach Adia Barnes' career-high in rebounds was 18 back on Jan. 7, 1995.
 
Reese Arizona's First Pac-12 Freshman of the Week
Cate Reese was named Pac-12 Freshman of the week for the third time this season on Jan. 28 after averaging 15.5 points and 8.0 rebounds per game on 54% shooting against the L.A. schools while recording her first-career Pac-12 double-double. Reese won her second just last week, averaging 17 points, five rebounds and two steals on 58% shooting against the Oregon schools, who were both ranked in the top 10 at the time. Reese became Arizona's first Pac-12 Freshman of the Week on Nov. 26 after her 19-point and 16-rebound performance against South Carolina State.
 
I'll Have a Double-Double
Reese has the second-most double-doubles among all freshmen in the Pac-12 with five. After scoring 14 points and grabbing 10 rebounds against UCLA in her first double-double against a Pac-12 opponent, Reese became the first freshman since Ify Ibekwe to have five 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, is first among freshmen and seventh overall in the Pac-12 in free throw percentage as she is shooting 80% (48-60) 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
Defensive versatility is the story of Sam Thomas, who is the only player in the Pac-12 to average at least 1.9 steals and 1.1 blocks per game. Throughout a game, you can find the sophomore guarding the opposing team's point guard or center. There have been eight games this season in which she has recorded at least three steals, including the game against South Carolina State in which she had five blocks and four steals. Of Arizona's 23 games, there have only been five in which she has not recorded at least one steal. Not only is she an incredible defender, she is also Arizona's third-leading scorer at 9.4 points per game and makes over one three-pointer per game. Over her last four games, she is averaging 13.3 points per game and is shooting 47% from three.
 
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 has been one of Arizona's most crucial players, especially on the defensive end, after sitting out the 2017-18 season. She was crucial in Arizona's win over USC as she posted her first double-double as an Arizona Wildcat with season-highs in both points (12) and rebounds (10). 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.
 
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. Known as a knockdown three-point shooter, Alonso has the highest career three-point percentage in school history at 41.3%. She has made at least three three-pointers in six games this season and became the 10th player in school history to make 100 three-pointers after knocking down four alone in the fourth quarter against Washington State on Feb. 9.
 
Most Made Three-Pointers in Arizona History
6. Julie Brase – 125 (118 games)
7. Natalie Jones – 117 (126 games)
8. Kama Griffits – 110 (56 games)
9. Monika Crank – 106 (118 games)
10. Lucia Alonso – 102 (83 games)
 
The Importance of Tee Tee
It's no secret that Tee Tee Starks causes absolute havoc on the defensive end, and the numbers show it. In the nine Pac-12 games she has played in, opponents average just under 69 points per game and shoot 40% from the field. In the three Pac-12 games she has missed, teams are averaging just under 85 points per game and shoot 52% from the field.
 
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. Last season, Graham had a career year in averaging career highs in both points (8.1 ppg) and rebounds (6.4 rpg). On Jan. 23, it was announced that Graham would be attending the So You Want to be a Coach program in Tampa Bay in April.
 
A Turnaround for the Ages
After winning just six games last season, the Wildcats are already at 15 wins through 23 games. Here is a look at the largest turnarounds from season to season in school history.
 
12 wins
'84-'85 (7-21)
'85-'86 (19-9)
 
11 wins
'94-'95 (11-19)
'95-'96 (22-8)
 
9 wins
'17-'18 (6-24)
'18-'19 (15-8)
 
Lock it Up
The Arizona defense has been swarming so far this season allowing just 61.9 points per game, which is fourth in the Pac-12 and are allowing opponents to just 38.6% shooting, which is also the fourth-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% seven times this year as opposed to last year when opponents shot under 35% four times all season. Arizona is averaging 9.0 steals per game on the season which leads the Pac-12 and have two of the top four players in steals per game (McDonald, 2nd and Thomas, 4th). Arizona is the only team in the Pac-12 to have two players in the top five in steals.
 
Keeping them at Bay
Of Arizona's 23 games this season, the Wildcats have held their opponents under their scoring average 17 times. Only Utah, Oregon State, Oregon, USC, UCLA and Washington State went over their scoring average. UCLA was held under their regular scoring average through four quarters, but the game went to triple overtime, allowing the Bruins to score 98.
 
Winning Big
All but six of Arizona's victories has come by at least 20 points this year and they also have four wins of 30 or more. In every single one of Arizona's wins, they led by at least 10 points at one point in the game.
 
It's Been a While

• Aari McDonald is the first player in the last 14 seasons to make it into the top 10 in Arizona's single-season scoring list.
   
• Arizona has won 15 games for the first time since the 2011-12 season and have guaranteed an above .500 regular season record for the first time since the 2010-11 season.
   
• McDonald became the first player since Shawntinice Polk ('03-'04) to be named to the Wooden Award Midseason Top 25 Watch List and became the first to be named to the Dawn Staley and Ann Meyers Drysdale Award Watch List.
   
• McDonald is the first in school history to score 30 points six times in one season and was the first in school history to have three-straight 30-point games.
   
• McDonald is the first player in school history to score 500 points in the first 20 games of the season and is the first sophomore in the Pac-12 since the 1999-00 season to do so.
   
• The last time Arizona played in a triple overtime game was during the 2008-09 season and the last time there was a triple overtime game between two Pac-12 teams was back in the 2000-01 season.
   
• The 2010-11 season was the last time Arizona won five of their first 12 conference games.
   
• The Wildcats have beaten two ranked opponents (No. 17 ASU & No. 24 Cal) this season. The last time Arizona won two conference games, as well as back-to-back wins over ranked opponents, was during the 2002-03 season.
   
• Arizona won 11-straight games for the first time in school history from mid-November to early-January.
   
• The last time Arizona won at least 15 of their first 23 games was back during the 2000-01 season.
   
• The Wildcats beat Colorado at the CU Events Center for the first time in school history.
   
• Aari McDonald is the first player since Davellyn Whyte to record at least eight steals in one game (Dec. 12, 2012). She finished one off the school record.
   
• The Wildcats won their games against South Carolina State, Incarnate Word and Montana by 40+ points, which is the first time Arizona has won three games in one season by at least 40 points.

High-Level Losses
Five of Arizona's eight losses have come against teams in the top 50 in the RPI.
 
4. Oregon
5. Stanford
18. Arizona State
30. Oregon State
38. UCLA
 
Of Arizona's eight losses, four have come against teams currently ranked in the top 20 in the AP Poll.
 
3. Oregon
9. Oregon State
10. Stanford
19. Arizona State
 
The Key to Victory
Arizona has won the rebounding battle 10 times this season, and in each of those games, the Wildcats have come out victorious. In the 13 games that Arizona's opponent won the rebounding battle, the Wildcats are just 5-8.
 
The Clutch Gene
In the last 30 seconds of the quarter (including overtime periods), Arizona is shooting 34-80 (43%) from the field. There have only been four games in which Arizona did not make at least one shot in the last 30 seconds of a quarter (Portland, Colorado, California and Oregon).
 
Knocking Down the Trey
Arizona has had four games this season where they have made at least 10 three-pointers. Last year, Arizona made 10 or more three-pointers in just two of their 30 games. Aari McDonald (43), Lucia Alonso (34) and Sam Thomas (28) lead the way for Arizona. The Wildcats are one of five teams in the Pac-12 to have three players with at least 26 made three-pointers. Against Washington State on Feb. 9, Arizona shot 60% (9-15) from three, which is the best three-point percentage the Wildcats have shot in a game since Nov. 18, 2015.
 
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 12.9 turnovers per game in the last 21 games, including just four against Oregon State, which tied the record set last year at Oregon State and six against California which is tied for the second-fewest in school history. The Wildcats have the third-best turnover margin in the Pac-12 with a margin of +3.2 as they force the second-most turnovers per game in the Pac-12 (16.7).
 
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