The 12th-ranked Arizona Wildcats snapped their two-game losing skid and ended the regular season on a high note, beating USC 68-59 on Saturday afternoon in McKale Center.
Arizona heads to the postseason as one of two Pac-12 schools with at least 20 overall wins and 10 conference wins.
These numbers explain how the Wildcats earned a victory over the Trojans on Senior Day:
18: Coming into the game with just 14 points in her last 14 appearances, Taylor Chavez had a game to remember. The Oregon transfer put up a season-high 18 points, 15 of them coming on 3-pointers.
Chavez’ two 3-pointers in the second quarter sparked an Arizona run.
5: Senior Sam Thomas scored five of her 10 points in the fourth quarter to help UA hold off USC. Thomas, playing in the final regular-season game of her college career, delivered a 3-point dagger with 2:05 left to put Arizona up 65-54.
8:19: Arizona fell behind 16-4 early on, and went the final 8:19 of the first quarter without scoring a basket. The Wildcats shot 2 for 15 (13%) during the first 10 minutes.
10-0: UA finally broke out of its offensive funk late in the second quarter, putting up a 10-0 run to take a 34-33 lead into halftime. Shaina Pellington’s three-point play at the buzzer gave the Cats their first lead since 4-2 in the first quarter.
13-2: Arizona went on a 13-2 run starting late in the third quarter to build a double-digit lead.
12: UA center Lauren Ware had 12 points and 11 rebounds for her first double-double of the season. Ware played a season-high 34 minutes.
6: Arizona’s six turnovers were the second-fewest it’s had in a game this season. It had averaged 13 turnovers per game over the last five matchups.
20: The Wildcats have won 20 games or more games in four consecutive seasons for the first time in program history. Adia Barnes is the first coach in Wildcats history to record four straight 20-win seasons.
4: Arizona’s victory earned the Wildcats the No. 4 seed and a bye in next week’s Pac-12 Tournament.
Photos: After slow start, Wildcats rally to beat USC on Senior Day
USC at Arizona Women's Basketball
Arizona Wildcats forward Lauren Ware (32) and Arizona Wildcats forward Sam Thomas (14) let out screams as Arizona catches up to USC in the first half during a game at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on February 26, 2022.
Mamta Popat, Arizona Daily Star
USC at Arizona Women's Basketball
Arizona Wildcats guard Bendu Yeaney (23) eyes the basket over USC Trojans center Clarice Akunwafo (34) and USC Trojans guard Desiree Caldwell (24) in the first half during a game at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on February 26, 2022.
Mamta Popat, Arizona Daily Star
USC at Arizona Women's Basketball
Arizona Wildcats forward Sam Thomas (14) makes a drive towards the basket as USC Trojans guard Rayah Marshall (13) and USC Trojans guard Desiree Caldwell (24) defend in the first half during a game at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on February 26, 2022.
Mamta Popat, Arizona Daily Star
USC at Arizona Women's Basketball
USC Trojans forward Jordan Sanders (5) is defended by Arizona Wildcats forward Sam Thomas (14) and Arizona Wildcats forward Lauren Ware (32) in the first half during a game at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on February 26, 2022.
Mamta Popat, Arizona Daily Star
USC at Arizona Women's Basketball
Arizona Wildcats forward Sam Thomas (14) follows USC Trojans forward Jordan Sanders (5) in the first half during a game at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on February 26, 2022.
Mamta Popat, Arizona Daily Star
USC at Arizona Women's Basketball
Arizona Wildcats guard Shaina Pellington (1) eyes the basket as USC Trojans guard Rayah Marshall (13) and USC Trojans forward Jordan Sanders (5) defend in the first half during a game at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on February 26, 2022.
Mamta Popat, Arizona Daily Star
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Arizona forward Sam Thomas blocks the shot of USC forward Jordan Sanders during Saturday's first half. The UA senior is Pac-12 Hotline analyst Jeff Metcalfe's choice for Pac-12 defensive player of the year.
Mamta Popat, Arizona Daily Star
USC at Arizona Women's Basketball
Arizona Wildcats forward Lauren Ware (32) releases the ball as USC Trojans guard Rayah Marshall (13) defends in the first half during a game at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on February 26, 2022.
Mamta Popat, Arizona Daily Star
USC at Arizona Women's Basketball
Arizona Wildcats forward Sam Thomas (14) eyes the basket as USC Trojans guard Kyra White (22) defends in the first half during a game at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on February 26, 2022.
Mamta Popat, Arizona Daily Star
USC at Arizona Women's Basketball
Arizona Wildcats forward Sam Thomas (14) gets pumped after hitting a three-pointer in the first half during a game at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on February 26, 2022.
Mamta Popat, Arizona Daily Star
USC at Arizona Women's Basketball
Arizona Wildcats forward Lauren Ware (32) eyes the basket as she's surrounded by USC defenders in the first half during a game at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on February 26, 2022.
Mamta Popat, Arizona Daily Star
USC at Arizona Women's Basketball
Arizona Wildcats forward Lauren Ware (32) is defended by USC Trojans center Clarice Akunwafo (34) in the first half during a game at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on February 26, 2022.
Mamta Popat, Arizona Daily Star
USC at Arizona Women's Basketball
Arizona Wildcats guard Taylor Chavez (3) eyes the basket for her first three-pointer of the game in the first half during a game at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on February 26, 2022.
Mamta Popat, Arizona Daily Star
USC at Arizona Women's Basketball
Arizona Wildcats head coach Adia Barnes talks to her team in a huddle in the first half during a game against USC at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on February 26, 2022.
Mamta Popat, Arizona Daily Star
USC at Arizona Women's Basketball
Arizona Wildcats forward Koi Love (5) gets a handful from USC Trojans forward Jordan Sanders (5) in the second half during a game at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on February 26, 2022. Arizona won 68-59.
Mamta Popat, Arizona Daily Star
USC at Arizona Women's Basketball
Salvo Coppa, assistant coach, talks to Arizona Wildcats forward Lauren Ware (32) in the second half during a game at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on February 26, 2022. Arizona won 68-59.
Mamta Popat, Arizona Daily Star
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Arizona fell to No. 20 nationally in the latest AP poll, but is still projected by ESPN to host the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament next week.
Mamta Popat, Arizona Daily Star
USC at Arizona Women's Basketball
USC Trojans guard Desiree Caldwell (24) defends Arizona Wildcats guard Taylor Chavez (3) in the second half during a game at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on February 26, 2022. Arizona won 68-59.
Mamta Popat, Arizona Daily Star
USC at Arizona Women's Basketball
Arizona Wildcats guard Madison Conner (4) and Arizona Wildcats forward Sam Thomas (14) embrace as Thomas leaves the court for the last time in the second half during a game at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on February 26, 2022. Arizona won 68-59.
Mamta Popat, Arizona Daily Star
USC at Arizona Women's Basketball
Arizona Wildcats guard Taylor Chavez (3) hits the drum after the team's win against USC at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on February 26, 2022. Arizona won 68-59.
Mamta Popat, Arizona Daily Star
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Sharpshooter Madison Conner (4) returns as part of a revamped Wildcats roster.
Mamta Popat, Arizona Daily Star
USC at Arizona Women's Basketball
Arizona Wildcats forward Cate Reese (25) becomes emotional as the Senior Day festivities begin at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on February 26, 2022. Arizona won beat USC 68-59.
Mamta Popat, Arizona Daily Star
USC at Arizona Women's Basketball
Arizona Wildcats guard Bendu Yeaney (23) annouces to the crowd that she will return next season to play basketball at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on February 26, 2022. Arizona won 68-59.
Mamta Popat, Arizona Daily Star
USC at Arizona Women's Basketball
Arizona Wildcats head coach Adia Barnes escorts Arizona Wildcats forward Ariyah Copeland (22) and her dog, Drew, onto center court as part of Senior Day at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on February 26, 2022. Arizona won 68-59.
Mamta Popat, Arizona Daily Star
USC at Arizona Women's Basketball
Arizona Wildcats head coach Adia Barnes poses for a photo with Arizona Wildcats center Semaj Smith (34) and her neice as part of Senior Day festivities at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on February 26, 2022. Arizona won 68-59.
Mamta Popat, Arizona Daily Star
USC at Arizona Women's Basketball
Arizona Wildcats forward Sam Thomas (14) is escorted by her parents, Derek and Julie, onto center court as part of the Senior Day festivities at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on February 26, 2022. Arizona won 68-59.
Mamta Popat, Arizona Daily Star
USC at Arizona Women's Basketball
Arizona Wildcats forward Sam Thomas (14) waves to the crowd after receiving her jersey in a frame as part of the Senior Day festivities at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on February 26, 2022. Arizona won 68-59.
Mamta Popat, Arizona Daily Star
USC at Arizona Women's Basketball
Arizona Wildcats forward Sam Thomas thanks the crowd during her speech on Senior Day.
Mamta Popat, Arizona Daily Star
USC at Arizona Women's Basketball
A fan holds up a sign to thank the women's team on their last home game at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on February 26, 2022. Arizona beat USC 68-59.
Mamta Popat, Arizona Daily Star
Contact sports producer Alec White at 573-4161 or awhite1@tucson.com .
On Twitter: @alecwhite_UA
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