Arizona (2-3) vs. Grambling State (2-4)
Tucson, Ariz. | McKale Center
Wednesday, December 3, 2014 | 7:00 p.m. MST
Game Coverage: Live Stats | Radio: KTUC AM 1400/ TuneIn Radio | Live Stream: Pac-12.com
TUCSON, Ariz.--- The Wildcats aim to claim their third win in four games, as they return home to take on Grambling State, Wednesday at 7 p.m. MST inside McKale Center.
INSIDE THE SERIES...
Arizona vs. Grambling State
Overall Record 0-0
Home Record 0-0
Away Record 0-0
Neutral Site Record 0-0
Longest Win Streak N/A
Longest Losing Streak N/A
Current Streak N/A
Record in Last 10 Meetings N/A
First Meeting N/A
Last Meeting N/A
Series Notes: This will be the first meeting between the two programs
Gauging Grambling
Grambling State enters the contest at 2-4 overall and losers of two straight...junior guard Yosha Watson leads the team in scoring, averaging 17.7 points per game, while she’s tied for the team lead in rebounding, pulling down four boards per game.
Last Time Out For Arizona
Three Wildcats scored in double figures, but it wasn’t quite enough, as Arizona fell to Toledo 69-54 in the FIU Thanksgiving Classic championship game on Sunday, inside FIU Arena.
Sophomore guard Malena Washington led the way for Arizona (2-3), scoring a team and career-high 12 points and dished out four assists, while sophomore LaBrittney Jones nearly notched her second double-double of the year, as she poured in 10 points, grabbed a game-high nine rebounds and recorded a season-best two blocked shots.
Junior guard Keyahndra Cannon recorded her first double-figure scoring game of the season, as she went four a season-high 11 points, while connecting on three treys on the day.
The Wildcats controlled the paint for the third straight contest, outscoring Toledo (3-2) 32-26 down low, while Arizona also won the second-chance point category, 12-8 and won the battle of the benches, 21-24. The Cats’ reserves have outscored the opposition’s bench in three consecutive games.
UA got things going early, as it converted on its first two possessions of the game to take an early 4-0 advantage less than two minutes into the contest. The Wildcats kept the pressure coming, eventually claiming an 11-4 advantage with 12:15 remaining in the first half.
In fact, Arizona never trailed until the 3:21 mark of the first half, but Toledo closed the period on a mini 13-2 run to take a 28-22 advantage into the locker room at halftime.
Unfortunately for the Cats, the Rockets’ hot shooting continued in the second half, at one point building their lead as high as 22 points.
However Arizona showed some fight, launching a 10-2 run of its own to close within 57-43 with just under two minutes to play. Moments later, Cannon connected on a three ball to bring Arizona within 61-48 with just under a minute to play, but that’s as close as the Cats would come.
Arizona took second place in the 2014 FIU Thanksgiving Classic, finishing the weekend with a 1-1 record, while Washington and Cannon were both named to the All-Tournament Team.
What’s Trending
Arizona has won the second-chance point battle in four of five games to start the year...Cats have recorded more offensive rebounds than the opponent in four of five contests...Candice Warthen has been the team’s leading scorer in three of five games this year...Arizona has won the battle of the benches in three straight games.
Cannon and Washington Honored
Keyahndra Cannon and Malena Washington were both named to the All-FIU Thanksgiving Tournament team over the weekend thanks to their performances in Arizona’s two games vs. FIU and Toledo.
Keeping it Clean and Turning it Up
Arizona shot a season-high 47.6 percent and committed a season-low seven turnovers, last Friday vs. FIU.
Historic Day at McKale Center
Arizona held UC Santa Barbara to just 11 field goals made on Nov. 25, equaling the school record for the least amount of field goals any Arizona opponent has ever converted on...Arizona’s 61-34 victory over UC Santa Barbara marked Arizona’s first win on the season...the Cats opened 0-2 last season and also earned their first win over the Gauchos...the 34 points allowed marked the least amount of points Arizona had surrendered since giving up just 32 points to Iona on Dec. 28, 2010...UA held UCSB to just 22.9 percent shooting from the field, marking the lowest opponent field goal percentage since Arizona held Arkansas-Pine Bluff to 21.2 percent on Dec. 18, 2011....it was also the lowest field goal percentage Arizona had held an opponent to at home since holding Iona to just 20 percent shooting on Dec. 28, 2010. ...the 27-point victory marked Arizona’s largest margin of victory over any opponent since defeating Oregon 100-68 on Jan. 13, 2013.
Thank You Fans!
Arizona set a new single-game attendance record last time the Cats played at McKale Center. UA entertained a crowd of 6,268 on Nov. 25 vs. UC Santa Barbara. The mark broke the school’s previous single-game attendance record of 5,272 on March 4, 2000 vs. Oregon.
Washington Emerging
Sophomore guard Malena Washington is starting to find her groove, as she scored a career-high and team-leading 12 points last time out against Toledo. She’s also set career-highs in assists dished out in back-to-back games, recording three vs. FIU (Nov. 28) and four vs. Toledo (Nov. 30). She also was named to the FIU Thanksgiving Classic All-Tournament team.
Flying Under the Radar
Arizona may be 2-3, but it could easily be at least 4-1 on the season, as the Cats have a +2.4 scoring margin overall while dropping two games this season by a combined seven points.
Will Grind For Wins
It may not always be pretty, but it doesn’t have to be. The Cats have shown their willing to outwork their opponents in order to get wins this season, as they rank second in the Pac-12 in scoring defense (56.2 ppg), defense rebounding (29 rpg) and defensive rebounding percentage (.730).
Living Pretty in the 60s
Arizona has won two of its last three games overall, while the Cats are 2-0 when scoring in the 60s this season.
A First Time For Everything
Arizona will play four opponents for the first time in school history this season in FIU, Grambling State, Southern and Tennessee Martin. The Cats are 1-0 so far against first-time opponents so far this year (W, 65-58 over FIU).
Do as She Does
Candice Warthen has done it all for Arizona in the early going, as she leads the team in scoring (12.6 ppg), field goals made (4.8 fpg), assists (3.4 apg) and minutes played (34.0 mpg). The senior has led the Cats in scoring in three of five games this season, scoring a team and season-high 18 on two separate occasions.
Dominance Down Low
Alli Gloyd has been a force down low thus far for Arizona, as she leads the squad in overall rebounding (7.4 rpg) and defensive rebounding (4.8 rpg). She also leads the team in free throws attempted per contest (2.6).
Free Points? Yes Please!
Arizona’s 75.4 free throw percentage ranks second in the Pac-12....LaBrittney Jones, Candice Warthen and Charice Harris are combined 19-of-19 from the charity stripe this season.
Arizona’s Dynamic Duo
Candice Warthen and Keyahndra Cannon have combined to score 35 percent of UA’s total points this season (106/306).
RECYCLED NOTES
Breaking Down the 2014-15 Cats
Seventh-year head coach Niya Butts and the Wildcats return three starters and seven letterwinners overall from last year’s squad, including leading scorer Candice Warthen (11.1 ppg). Senior Alli Gloyd (9.4 pts, 6 rebs in 2012-13) and redshirt freshman Dejza James also return after tearing ACLs last year. Arizona also boasts the highest ranked recruiting class in program history coming into the new season.
More the Merrier
Nine players saw game action in Arizona’s season opener vs. Bakersfield, which was the most in 20 straight contests going back to last season’s Dec. 21 contest vs. UC Riverside.
Cats Tabbed 12th in Pac-12 Preseason Polls
Arizona was picked to finish 12th in the conference in both the preseason media and coaches’ polls. The Cats received 12 overall points in the media poll to finish just behind Colorado, who received 42 points. UA tallied 12 points in the coaches’ poll, while Utah claimed 28 votes, as it was placed 11th.
Stanford (116, 7 first place), California (111, 3 first place), and Oregon State (105, 2 first place) rounded out the coaches’ picks for the conference’s top three finishers, while the media picked California (194, 9 first place) to take home the league crown, followed by Stanford (190, 7 first place) and Oregon State (162, 1 first place).
Hit Me With Your Best Shot
The 2014-15 slate is once again littered with top-notch competition, as Arizona will play 17 contests against teams who qualified for postseason play a year ago, including seven matches with teams ranked in both the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches’ preseason polls in No. 6/6 Stanford, No. 15/14 California, No. 20/21 Oregon State, and No. 23/23 UCLA. Conference foes Oregon, USC, and Arizona State are also receiving votes in either one or both preseason polls. The Cats will clash with those schools a combined five times.
Lights, Camera, Action
Arizona games will be shown on a television a school-record 14 times this season, all on the Pac-12 Networks.
By The Numbers
Arizona returns 53 percent of its total points scored (913/1,736), 48 percent of its rebounds (494/1,020), 54 percent of its field goals made (357/661), 25 percent of its three-pointers made (27/109), 56 percent of its free throws converted (172/305), 41 percent of its assists (140/344), and 53 percent of its steals from a season ago (103/193).
“Gloyd” to Have You Back
Senior forward Alli Gloyd returns to action after missing all of last season with a torn ACL. Gloyd averaged 9.4 points and six rebounds per game during the 2012-13 campaign. If one were to plug in her 2012-13 numbers into last year’s overall statistics, she would have led the team in free throw percentage (.739) and overall rebounding (6.0), while her total steals (37) and points per game (9.4) would rank second among all returners. Gloyd scored in double figures 14 separate times during 2012-13.
Follow the Leader
Candice Warthen returns as the team’s leading scorer from a year ago (11.1 ppg). She also led the team in total points (334), field goals made (134), assists per game (3.1), and steals per contest (1.3). Warthen had a solid unofficial 2014-15 debut, going for 12 points on 8-of-10 shooting from the free throw line in Arizona’s exhibition contest against Concordia.
Sophomore Sensation?
LaBrittney Jones’ growth as a freshman last season may be one of the most exciting pieces of optimism Arizona takes into the new year, as she led the team in overall rebounding (5.8 rpg), offensive rebounding (1.6 rpg), defensive rebounding (4.2 rpg), blocked shots (1.1 bpg), field goal percentage (.462) and free throws made per contest (1.8), while her 7.4 points per game average is second best among all returners. Her blocked shots per game last year ranked seventh in the Pac-12 and she is one of just two returners to start in all 30 contests last season (Warthen being the other).
Healthy Cats
Arizona played the final 13 games of last season with seven healthy players or less. The Cats enter 2014-15 with practically double that amount with 13 healthy players.
New Kids on the Block
Arizona welcomes seven new faces to the program in freshmen guards JaLea Bennett, Cherice Harris, Charise Holloway, and Taryn Griffey, who was ranked as the 21st best guard and the 86th overall prospect in the nation according to ESPNW’s 2014 HoopGurlz Recruiting rankings. The class is considered one of the best in program history. Transfer guards Malena Washington (Tyler JC), Chy Cunningham (Paris JC) and Lauren Evans (Virginia Tech) also enter their first seasons with the program.
All Over the Map
Arizona boasts players from seven different states, as four players are from California, four are from Texas, two are from Arizona, while Georgia, Mississippi, Nevada, and Washington are each represented once on the roster.
Arizona Inks Three in Early 2015-16 Signing Period
The Wildcats signed forward A’Shanti Coleman, guard Michal Miller and forward Destiny Graham during the early signing period.
A’Shanti Coleman | Forward | 6-2 | Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep
Coleman comes to Arizona regarded as one of the top bigs in the nation as she’s been placed as the 108th ranked forward in the country according to “The Jump Off Plus”. She was named to the All-State First Team last year after nearly averaging a double-double, scoring 12 points, pulling down seven rebounds, and blocking four shots per game her junior season. She also helped guide Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep to back-to-back league titles, while leading the Irish to the state title game her sophomore year. Sacred Heart recorded an overall mark of 25-7 and a league mark of 11-1 that season. Coleman also was awarded team MVP honors after her sophomore campaign, where she averaged eight points, seven rebounds, and three blocked shots per contest. Coleman plans to major in psychology.
From Coach Butts…
“A’Shanti Coleman is an exceptional athlete and fits well in our system and the way we like to play. She’s a transition post player who gets up and down the floor, can finish around the rim and make the 16 to 18 foot jumper. She also has a tremendous presence inside in terms of blocking shots.”
Michal Miller | Guard | 5-7 | Michigan City High School (Michigan City, Ind.)
Miller comes to Arizona ranked as 35th best guard in the country according to Collegiate Girls Basketball Report. She also brings loads of basketball experience, as she will have started all four seasons for Michigan City High School by the time her senior year concludes. Miller enters her final season at Michigan City as one of the most dangerous all-around players in the state, as she averaged career highs in points (20.4 ppg), rebounds (6.5 rpg), and steals (4.8 spg) last year, while earning All-America, First-Team Underclass All-State and All-League honors. She was also named the team’s most valuable player. During her sophomore campaign, Miller averaged 11.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 3.7 steals per contest on her way to claiming First Team Underclass All-State and Second Team All-League honors, after guiding the Wolves to a 19-4 overall record.
Miller made an impact on the Michigan City program right away, as she started all 25 contests her freshman year, averaging 12.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 3.5 steals, and a block per game, helping the Wolves obtain an 18-7 overall record. Miller wants to study music or communications when she gets to Arizona.
From coach Butts…
“I feel like we were able to get one of the best perimeter players in this class in Michal Miller. She is an extremely versatile guard who can play all three spots on the perimeter. She can slash and get to the basket, has a solid mid-range jump shot and her game beyond the arc is also efficient. She has all the tools to be one of the great players in our league, so we’re really excited about that.”
Destiny Graham | Forward | 6-2 | Eastside College Prep (East Palo Alto, Calif.)
Graham comes to Arizona ranked as the No. 28 forward in the country according to Collegiate Girls Basketball Report. She enters her senior season at Eastside College Prep poised for a breakout year, as she set career bests in points scored (14.6 ppg), rebounds (8.6 rpg), and blocks (3.4 bpg), on her way to claiming league MVP honors and a spot on the All-League First Team. Graham averaged a career-best 5.1 steals per contest her sophomore year, while leading the Panthers to the league title and a berth in the state championship game, after going 22-9 overall. She was named the West Bay Foothill League’s most improved player and earned Second Team All-League honors.
Graham made an impact right away as a freshman, pulling down 8.3 boards per contest and nearly averaging two blocks a game on the way to being named an All-League Honorable Mention. She’s started all three seasons thus far at Eastside. Graham played under head coach Donovan Blythe both at Eastside College Prep and on Blythe’s Basketball AAU squad. She plans to major in criminology.
From Coach Butts…
“Destiny Graham is extremely athletic and agile. She brings a bit more size than we have now and her presence is certainly going to be needed. Destiny fits our style of play and has a huge upside. We are looking forward to her joining our family.”
Follow the Cats!
Fans can keep up with the latest in Arizona athletics by following us on Facebook (Facebook.com/ArizonaAthletics), Twitter (@AZATHLETICS), Instagram (azathletics) and YouTube.com (Youtube.com/ArizonaAthletics). In addition, the women’s basketball team has established its own official Facebook (Facebook.com/ArizonaWomensBasketball), Twitter (@ArizonaWBBall), and Instagram (ArizonaWBBall) accounts.
