TUCSON - Kailyn Gilbert scored 21 points to propel Arizona (4-0) to a 79-66 victory over San Diego (2-1) on Tuesday. The win marks the fifth-straight season in which Arizona has opened the year with at least four consecutive wins.

Gilbert finished the night a perfect 8-of-8 from the free throw line and added four rebounds, three assists and two steals to her stat line.

Esmery Martinez (12 points), Maya Nnajii (12 points) and Salimatou Kourouma (14 points) were the Wildcats' additional double-digit scorers, and that group along with Gilbert was also responsible for 17 rebounds. Helena Pueyo collected nine rebounds, tying her career high, to lead the Cats. Pueyo additionally had six steals and six assists.

Arizona went on an 13-0 run in the third quarter fueled by turning San Diego over on back-to-back possessions and then again moments later. Gilbert dropped in a layup before Nnaji drew contact and got the and-one. The Toreros fouled Jada Williams, who hit a pair of free throws, before Kourouma made the steal and the layup.

The Cats held a seven-point lead going into the fourth quarter, and the Toreros cut into that lead with a jumper at the start of the period. Arizona closed out the quarter with 23 points to seal the 13-point victory. 

Gilbert became the first Wildcat to score 20-plus points in a game this season when she drilled a three-pointer in the start of the fourth quarter. The sophomore has led the Wildcats in scoring in three of their four games.

The Toreros entered the contest averaging 18.5 turnovers per game, and the Wildcats had forced 17 San Diego turnovers by halftime. San Diego closed out the night with 29 turnovers, their most in a game this season. Arizona totaled 19 steals on the night, its most in a single game since tallying 19 against Texas Southern last season.

The Wildcats will travel to Nassau, Bahamas for the 2023 Battle4Atlantis. Arizona is set to face Memphis Saturday, Nov. 18 at 12:30 p.m. MST.