TEMPE — Arizona completed a sweep of rival Arizona State on Saturday and locked up the No. 8 seed in the upcoming Big 12 Tournament.
The Wildcats hit a season-high 15 3-pointers — including six by freshman Lauryn Swann — in outlasting the banged-up Sun Devils 71-59 at Desert Financial Arena.
The UA (19-12, 10-8 Big 12) will get a first-round bye in the conference tournament by virtue of Colorado losing to Texas Tech earlier Saturday. That knocked the Buffaloes to 9-9 in league play and into a matchup with No. 16 seed Houston on Wednesday in Kansas City. Arizona will face the winner of that game at 12:30 p.m. Thursday.
The Wildcats would have faced the last-place Cougars had the Buffs won Saturday — a very winnable matchup on paper in Arizona’s quest for 20 victories. But UA coach Adia Barnes is glad to have an extra day off instead.
“That’s huge for us,” Barnes said. “It’s funny, because I didn’t want to talk about the game before our game, but they were all whispering about it; I heard them.
Wildcats guard Paulina Paris (23) charges to the net against Sun Devils guard Jyah LoVett (4) during the game at Desert Financial Arena, March 1, 2025.
“Staying in the moment and worrying about yourself is the most important thing. We wanted to win those (last) four games.
“I told them, ‘New season.’ We were 4-0 in that season. Now it’s one game at a time; anybody can win. Us resting one (more) day is huge for our personnel.”
Arizona was missing forward Montaya Dew on Saturday. Barnes said Dew will miss the rest of the season after injuring her surgically repaired knee Tuesday vs. Texas Tech.
With Skylar Jones’ shot not falling and multiple players facing foul trouble, several role players stepped up. Swann scored a team-high 18 points to lead three Cats in double figures. Isis Beh added 15 points, and Jada Williams had 13.
Guard Paulina Paris had nine points, five assists, three steals and zero turnovers. Freshman Katarina Kneževic had eight points — one shy of her career high — and five rebounds.
“Our players have grown so much over the year,” Barnes said. “Think about tonight: Sky did not play well. Breya (Cunningham) didn’t play her best game. And we still found ways to win.”
Wildcats guard Lauryn Swann dribbles to the net against ASU at Desert Financial Arena on March 1, 2025.
ASU finished the regular season 9-21, 3-15. The Sun Devils will be the No. 15 seed in the Big 12 Tournament and will face 10th-seeded Cincinnati at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday. All seeds except the top two had been determined when the Star went to press Sunday.
The Wildcats won their fourth game in a row to end the regular season and their seventh straight in the Territorial Cup series in front of a bipartisan crowd that serenaded them with “U of A!” chants as the clock wound down. The players responded with waves and “Forks Down” hand signs.
“Our crowd was great,” Barnes said. “We brought three buses up here. And then we had a sendoff. They all came to the hotel and rallied us. I thought that was really cool.
“That’s meaningful for us. That helps. They were very, very loud. That gives us momentum, and it ignites us when we’re not playing well. I want to thank all the fans. Thank you so much for bringing three buses down to Tempe. We wouldn’t have won without you.”
Arizona might not have won had it not knocked down 15 of 28 3-point shots. The Wildcats’ previous season high was 12 vs. TCU on Feb. 16. Arizona entered Saturday averaging 5.8 3-pointers per game, third fewest in the Big 12.
Arizona head coach Adia Barnes and assistant coach Salvo Coppa wave to the sea of Wildcat fans after the 71-59 point win against ASU at Desert Financial Arena in Tempe, March 1, 2025.
“You can’t give them 15 3’s,” ASU coach Natasha Adair said. “Some were in transition, some were off hustle plays, 50/50 balls, kickout 3’s.
“Some of the rotations were a little late. We know who the shooters are, and some of them made some tough shots. The banked 3 (by Paris in the second quarter), we were there.
“But the 50/50 balls where we were just a little short or just a little delayed, we didn’t switch up. They made some tough 3’s with a hand in their face, but there were some I just think our rotations were a little late and we didn’t get over the ball screen.”
The barrage began in the second quarter, when Arizona made 6 of 7 3-pointers and built a 37-29 halftime lead. The Wildcats were 13 of 20 from beyond the arc after the first quarter.
Rim shots
– Cunningham finished with eight points, four rebounds, three assists and two blocks in 19 minutes. Beh and Williams tied for team-high honors with eight rebounds apiece. Beh added a team-high three blocks.
– ASU used a seven-player rotation with several rotation regulars out because of injuries. Tyi Skinner had a team-high 20 points. Nevaeh Parkinson had 17 points and 19 rebounds — the most by a Sun Devil since at least 2000. “Parkinson was a beast tonight,” Barnes said. “I’m really happy she’s graduating.”
– Baylor and TCU were set to square off late Sunday afternoon to determine the top seed in the Big 12 Tournament. The winner of that game will face the winner of Arizona vs. Colorado/Houston.
Photos: Arizona wins 71-59 against ASU to finish out regular season play, Big 12 women's basketball
Arizona forward Katarina Knezevic (34) shares a moment with a fan after the Wildcats 71-59 point win at Desert Financial Arena, March 1, 2025.
Wildcats guard Paulina Paris (23) charges to the net against Sun Devils guard Jyah LoVett (4) during the game at Desert Financial Arena, March 1, 2025.
Sun Devils forward Heavenly Greer (15) gets her hand on the ball against Wildcats forward Katarina Knezevic (34), at Desert Financial Arena, March 1, 2025.
Wildcats head coach Adia Barnes pulls guard Lauryn Swann for a quick chat during the game against Arizona State at Desert Financial Arena, March 1, 2025.
Arizona forward Breya Cunningham (25) earns two-points for the Wildcats during the game against ASU at Desert Financial Arena, March 1, 2025.
Wildcats guard Lauryn Swann dribbles to the net against ASU at Desert Financial Arena on March 1, 2025.
Wildcats guard Jada Williams (2) smiles big while the crowd chants “U of A” before tip-off against Arizona State at Desert Financial Arena, March 1, 2025.
Sun Devils center Nevaeh Parkinson (32) puts pressure on Arizona forward Isis Beh (33) during her drive to the net, Desert Financial Arena, March 1, 2025.
Sun Devils head coach Natasha Adair talks to center Nevaeh Parkinson (32) during the first half of the game against the Wildcats at Desert Financial Arena, March 1, 2025.
Wildcats guard Jada Williams (2) attempts to keep possession of the ball against Sun Devils guard Jyah LoVett (4) during the game at Desert Financial Arena, March 1, 2025.
Sparky the Sun Devils greets the ASU starting line up before the game against the Arizona Wildcats at Desert Financial Arena, March 1, 2025.
Wildcats guard Skylar Jones (4) fouls ASU forward Kennedy Basham (0) in attempt to win a rebound during the first half of the game at Desert Financial Arena, March 1, 2025.
Wildcats guard Paulina Paris (23) looks to pass the ball during the game against the Sun Devils at Desert Financial Arena, March 1, 2025.
Wildcats guard Skylar Jones (4) passes the ball during the first half of the game against ASU at Desert Financial Arena, March 1, 2025.
Wildcats guard Jada Williams (2) and forward Isis Beh (33) celebrate after Williams sinks a three-point shot in the second half against ASU in Tempe on March 1, 2025.
Arizona Wildcat fans pack Desert Financial Arena for the final regular season women’s basketball game of the year, March 1, 2025.
Wildcats forward Breya Cunningham (25) attempts to earn two-points for Arizona during the first half of the game against ASU at Desert Financial Arena, March 1, 2025.
Wildcats guard Paulina Paris (23) dribbles by Sun Devils guard Tyi Skinner (3) during the second half of the game at Desert Financial Arena, March 1, 2025.
Wildcats guard Lauryn Swann (1) looks for the pass during the first half of the game against ASU at Desert Financial Arena, March 1, 2025.
Wildcats guard Jada Williams (2) gets fouled while driving the ball to the net against ASU, Desert Financial Arena, March 1, 2025.
Wildcats forward Breya Cunningham (25) attempts to get the shot off over ASU forward Kennedy Basham (0) during the game at Desert Financial Arena, March 1, 2025.
Wildcats forward Isis Beh (33) charges through the Sun Devils defensive line on her way to the net, Desert Financial Arena, March 1, 2025.
Wildcats guard Jada Williams dribbles against Sun Devils guard Tyi Skinner (3) during the second half of a game at Desert Financial Arena on March 1.
Arizona forward Katarina Knezevic (34) loses the rebound to ASU forward Kennedy Basham (0) during the first half of the game at Desert Financial Arena, March 1, 2025.
Arizona head coach Adia Barnes and assistant coach Salvo Coppa wave to the sea of Wildcat fans after the 71-59 point win against ASU at Desert Financial Arena in Tempe, March 1, 2025.
Wildcats guard Lauryn Swann (1) yells out in pain while holding her right ankle during the second half of the game against Arizona State at Desert Financial Arena, March 1, 2025.
Wildcats forward Katarina Knezevic (34) and guard Jada Williams (2) battle for a jump ball against two ASU defenders, Desert Financial Arena, March 1, 2025.
Wildcats guard Jada Williams (2) signals to her teammates during the game against ASU at Desert Financial Arena, March 1, 2025.
Sun Devils center Nevaeh Parkinson (32) talks to a teammate during the second half of the game against the Wildcats at Desert Financial Arena, March 1, 2025.
Arizona guard Jada Williams (2) leads her team chant after the Wildcats 71-59 win against ASU at Desert Financial Arena, March 1, 2025.
Arizona forward Katarina Knezevic (34) practices her 3-point shot before the Wildcats face the Sun Devils at Desert Financial Arena, March 1, 2025.
Arizona graduate assistant Jordyn O’Reilly helps guard Paulina Paris (23) with her practice shirt before the game against Arizona State at Desert Financial Arena, March 1, 2025.
