MIAMI -- Three Wildcats scored in double figures, but it wasn't enough as the Arizona women's basketball team fell to Toledo 69-54 in the FIU Thanksgiving Classic Championship game on Sunday.
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 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.
