It was a good Monday for the Arizona women's basketball team as fifth-year senior Esmery Martinez was named to the Pac-12's preseason all-conference team, as selected by the media.
UA's Helena Pueyo was added to the honorable mention list.
The announcement comes ahead of Tuesday's women's basketball Pac-12 media day in Las Vegas, where both Wildcats will join coach Adia Barnes in representing the program.
Last season, Martinez joined the 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds career lists as she averaged 10.5 points and 8.6 rebounds per game. Martinez grabbed 274 rebounds — ninth-best in a single season in UA history. She finished second in the league with 97 offensive rebounds, seventh in rebounds per game and 10th in steals per game (1.6).
Martinez was on the top-10 list for the Katrina McClain award for best power forward. She also made all-conference honorable mention at the end of the season.
Pueyo made the Pac-12 All-defensive team and was on the midseason Naismith Defensive Player of the Year watchlist last year. She led the Wildcats in blocks (21) and steals with 2.3 per game -- second in the Pac-12. Pueyo also led the league in assist-to-turnover ratio at 2.6.
The entire 15-person All-Pac-12 team includes: Raegan Beers, Oregon State; Cameron Brink, Stanford; Hannah Jump, Stanford; Gianna Kneepkens, Utah; Charlisse Leger-Walker, Washington State; Rayah Marshall, USC ; Esmery Martinez, Arizona; Quay Miller, Colorado; Bella Murekatete, Washington State; Charisma Osborne, UCLA; Alissa Pili, Utah; Kiki Rice, UCLA; Jaylyn Sherrod, Colorado; Grace VanSlooten, Oregon; Talia von Oelhoffen, Oregon State
Honorable Mention: Helena Pueyo, Arizona; Kemery Martín, Cal; Leilani McIntosh, Cal; Frida Formann, Colorado; Aaronette Vonleh, Colorado; Talana Lepolo, Stanford; Emily Bessoir, UCLA; Lauren Betts, UCLA; JuJu Watkins, USC: Jenna Johnson, Utah; Dalayah Daniels (Washington).
Following Arizona's 43-41 nail-biting loss to No. 9 USC in triple-overtime, the Star's Justin Spears and Michael Lev break down and analyze a wild night at the L.A. Coliseum.
