TUCSON, Ariz. -- Senior guard Davellyn Whyte scored 27 points as the Arizona women’s basketball team defeated Grand Canyon 81-55 in its exhibition opener Monday night.
In addition to her 27 points, Whyte recorded eight steals, five rebounds and four assists.
Arizona’s newcomers played a big part in the win, as junior Alli Gloyd posted 14 points and four rebounds, junior Kama Griffitts added seven points and three rebounds and junior Carissa Crutchfield dished out four assists.
As a team, the Wildcats scored 31 points off of 33 Antelope turnovers and shot 50 percent from behind the arc.
“It’s always good to get a win and play somebody different,” Arizona head coach Niya Butts said. “I thought we played hard for the most part as a team. I thought we got out really aggressive. We were solid in the half court defensively, and I think our press forced a lot of turnovers. Any time you get 33 turnovers a game, you have to feel pretty good about that effort.”
Grand Canyon opened the game's scoring, but Arizona responded with a White layup and Whyte steal and layup to go up 4-3.
The Antelopes scored on the ensuing possession to take a 5-4 lead, but the Wildcats went on a 10-0 run sparked by a Griffitts 3-pointer to give Arizona a 14-5 edge.
The half continued with short runs until Whyte hit another 3-pointer to start an 8-0 run to extend UA’s lead to 29-12.
In the second half, the Antelopes came out strong, scoring the first two field goals, but Whyte responded with a jumper to reignite the Wildcats’ offense.
GCU then went on a scoring surge, but Arizona’s consistent attack helped maintain the lead and finished the game, 81-55.
Chigozie Ekweozor and Deanna Daniels led the Antelopes with eight points each.
The Wildcats will travel to Bakersfield to take on CSUB for their first regular-season game on Friday, Nov. 5.
