With 53.1 percent shooting from the field and four players in double figures, the Arizona Wildcat women’s basketball broke an eight-game losing streak Thursday night with a 90-51 victory over Washington State.
UA improved to 14-12 overall and 3-11 in Pac-12 play, while Washington State fell to 10-16 overall and 4-10 in league action.
"Obviously it was a good win, a good feeling," Arizona coach Niya Butts said. "I think this was the most complete game we’ve played all season. We had 40 minutes of solid defense and good offense, scoring 90 points for the first time since last season. Everyone did a great job, and we needed it. The kids needed it, we as coaches needed it and the fans needed it
"It was fight to win or fold and die, and we came out to win it, so I didn’t mind some of the more physical calls in the paint. I hope we can carry this feeling into Sunday."
Arizona scored 90 points for the first time since March 17, 2011, in an opening-round WNIT game at Utah State. The previous season high was 88
points at Georgia Southern on Nov. 11. The Wildcats were paced by
freshman guard Erin Butler’s 21 points (8 for 11 from the field,
5 for 8 from behind the arc). She also had four rebounds in her 24 minutes
of play.
Butler was one of four Wildcats to score in double figures, as the team got 19
points from junior guard Davellyn Whyte, 13 points from freshman center
Aley Rohde and 10 points from freshman Layana White. Whyte also had 11
rebounds -- for her fifth double-double of the season -- to go along with six
assists and two steals. Senior guard Shanita Arnold had six points,
three rebounds, nine assists, one block and one steal.
UA shot 53.1 percent from the field (34 for 64), 52.4 percent from 3-point range (11 for 21) and 91.7 percent from the free-throw line (11 for 12). The Cats had 29 assists on 34 baskets, with seven of the 10 players who got on the court recording at least one assist. Arizona also won the rebounding battle 51-33 while scoring 20 second-chance points.
For Arizona, the starting five included Arnold, Butler, Rohde, White and Whyte. Sophomore forward Erica Barnes had the most minutes off the bench with 23; she finished with six points, three rebounds, two blocks and one assist. Also off the bench, senior Reiko Thomas had five points, nine rebounds, four assists and one steal.
For Washington State, Brandi Thomas had 14 points and three rebounds. The Cougars shot 26.6 percent from the field (17 for 64), 15.4 percent from 3-point range (4 for 26) and 56.5 percent from the charity stripe (13 for 23).
“Having the extra day is probably good for us because the way we ran
tonight is the way we want to run against Washington on Sunday,” Butts
said. “We’re going to rest our legs, take this win, and get ready for
the next game.”
