The Wildcats fell behind big early and never quite climbed back to finish their final season of Pac 12 women's basketball with a 61-41 loss to the Bruins at McKale Center, March 2, 2024.
University of Arizona vs UCLA, Pac 12 basketball
Arizona guard Jada Williams (2) heaves a desperation pass forward after winning a race to the ball near mid-court against UCLA at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 2, 2024.
University of Arizona vs UCLA, Pac 12 basketball
Arizona forward Esmery Martinez, center, talks to her teammates as they huddle up to take the court at the start of the third quarter against UCLA on Saturday night. The Wildcats need a win or two at this week's Pac-12 Tournament to keep their NCAA Tournament hopes alive.
University of Arizona vs UCLA, Pac 12 basketball
Arizona guard Skylar Jones (4) looks for room to shoot against UCLA in their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 2, 2024.
University of Arizona vs UCLA, Pac 12 basketball
Arizona head coach Adia Barnes talks to the Wildcats during a time out in the third quarter against UCLA in their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 2, 2024.
University of Arizona vs UCLA, Pac 12 basketball
Arizona forward Isis Beh (33) wrenches the ball out of the arms of UCLA forward Christeen Iwuala (22) trying to get past her to the basket during their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 2, 2024.
University of Arizona vs UCLA, Pac 12 basketball
Arizona guard Courtney Blakely (1) skips along the baseline past UCLA guard Camryn Brown (35) during their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 2, 2024.
University of Arizona vs UCLA, Pac 12 basketball
Arizona forward Isis Beh (33) and UCLA guard Camryn Brown (35) get tied up in pursuit of a rebound at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 2, 2024.
University of Arizona vs UCLA, Pac 12 basketball
Arizona traps UCLA guard Kiki Rice (1) on the baseline as the Wildcats trap late in the fourth quarter of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 2, 2024.
University of Arizona vs UCLA, Pac 12 basketball
Arizona guard Jada Williams (2) slices through a busy lane looking for a lay-in against UCLA in the fourth quarter of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 2, 2024.
University of Arizona vs UCLA, Pac 12 basketball
Arizona forward Breya Cunningham (25) gets the ball between UCLA center Lauren Betts (51), left, and guard Kiki Rice (1) on a Wildcat offensive possession at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 2, 2024.
University of Arizona vs UCLA, Pac 12 basketball
Arizona guard Courtney Blakely (1) just beats UCLA forward Gabriela Jaquez (23) in the race to a loose ball along the sideline in the third quarter of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 2, 2024.
University of Arizona vs UCLA, Pac 12 basketball
Arizona forward Esmery Martinez (12) manages to knock away a pass intended for UCLA forward Lina Sontag (21) and force a Bruin turnover in the third quarter of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 2, 2024.
University of Arizona vs UCLA, Pac 12 basketball
Arizona guard Jada Williams (2) takes a stab at a steal on UCLA guard Kiki Rice (1) in the fourth quarter of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 2, 2024.
University of Arizona vs UCLA, Pac 12 basketball
UCLA center Lauren Betts (51) comes over the top to stuff a shot from Arizona forward Esmery Martinez (12) at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 2, 2024.
University of Arizona vs UCLA, Pac 12 basketball
UCLA guard Kiki Rice (1) has just enough arm to pull down rebound in front of Arizona forward Breya Cunningham (25) in the first quarter of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 2, 2024.
University of Arizona vs UCLA, Pac 12 basketball
UCLA guard Kiki Rice (1) carries the ball past Arizona forward Breya Cunningham (25) in their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 2, 2024.
University of Arizona vs UCLA, Pac 12 basketball
Arizona forward Breya Cunningham (25) gets a few fingers to the pass enough to keep UCLA center Lauren Betts (51) from the ball at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 2, 2024.
University of Arizona vs UCLA, Pac 12 basketball
Arizona guard Jada Williams (2) reaches in to disrupt the hand off to UCLA guard Londynn Jones (3) from forward Christeen Iwuala (22) in the first quarter of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 2, 2024.
University of Arizona vs UCLA, Pac 12 basketball
Arizona guard Skylar Jones (4) gets a half step on UCLA guard Kiki Rice (1) in the early going of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 2, 2024.
University of Arizona vs UCLA, Pac 12 basketball
Arizona guard Helena Pueyo (13), left, consoles forward Isis Beh (33) after the two seniors came off the floor in the final minutes of the Wildcats’ 61-41 loss in their season finale against UCLA at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 2, 2024.
University of Arizona vs UCLA, Pac 12 basketball
Senior Esmery Martinez (12), left, leans on fellow senior Helena Pueyo (13) as head coach Adia Barnes talks about the tea, in the moments following the Wildcats’ 61-41 season ending loss to UCLA at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 2, 2024.
University of Arizona vs UCLA, Pac 12 basketball
Arizona guard Helena Pueyo (13) hugs coach Adia Barnes during a pre-game ceremony honoring the team’s seniors before tip against UCLA at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 2, 2024.
University of Arizona vs UCLA, Pac 12 basketball
Arizona forward Isis Beh (33) waves to the crowd during her recognition on the team’s senior night ceremony before the game with UCLA at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 2, 2024.
University of Arizona vs UCLA, Pac 12 basketball
Arizona forward Esmery Martinez (12) waves to the crowd as the senior is recognized in a ceremony before the Wildcats’ season finale against UCLA at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 2, 2024.
University of Arizona vs UCLA, Pac 12 basketball
New Arizona athletic director Desire Reed-Francois talks with school president Robbie Robbins just before the Wildcats tip-off against UCLA at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 2, 2024.
University of Arizona vs UCLA, Pac 12 basketball
Arizona forward Esmery Martinez (12) sweeps to the bucket past UCLA forward Angela Dugalic (32) in their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 2, 2024.
University of Arizona vs UCLA, Pac 12 basketball
Arizona guard Skylar Jones (4) dribbles into the lane a half-step ahead of UCLA forward Gabriela Jaquez (23) druing their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 2, 2024.
University of Arizona vs UCLA, Pac 12 basketball
Arizona guard Helena Pueyo (13) gets hit trying for a three from the top of the key against UCLA at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 2, 2024.
University of Arizona vs UCLA, Pac 12 basketball
UCLA center Lauren Betts (51) smothers a shot by Arizona forward Esmery Martinez (12) in the first quarter of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 2, 2024.
University of Arizona vs UCLA, Pac 12 basketball
Arizona forward Breya Cunningham (25), left, and forward Esmery Martinez (12) put the clamps on UCLA forward Angela Dugalic (32) in their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 2, 2024.
Pac-12 Networks | March 2, 2024
Working for Pac-12 Networks, former UA women's basketball coach Joan Bonvicini, left, and play-by-play voice Cindy Brunson get ready to call the final regular-season women's basketball game of the conference's current 12-school iteration, when Arizona hosted UCLA at McKale Center on Saturday night.
University of Arizona vs UCLA, Pac 12 basketball
Arizona senior guard Helena Pueyo (13) signs a few autographs on memorabilia, including a stuffed Cookie Monster, along the sidelines before the Wildcats take on UCLA a Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 2, 2024.
Kelly Presnell
Photojournalist
Arizona wraps up its final Pac-12 regular season with an uninspired 61-41 loss at McKale Center to No. 8 UCLA. On Senior Day, Helena Pueyo sparks a run in the fourth quarter and knocks down a 3-pointer in, what most likely, is her final home game of her career.
With the Pac-12 Women's Basketball Tournament kicking off Wednesday, five of the conference's teams (Stanford, USC, UCLA, Oregon State, Colorado) are still in position to host early-round NCAA Tournament games.
Newest Wildcat Brooklyn Rhodes, who officially joined coach Adia Barnes' Arizona basketball program a week ago, is taking her dream role in stride.
Pac-12 Tournament Notes: Arizona women's basketball team partners with MADD; More all-league accolades; Montaya Dew close, but won't suit up for Cats this season.