Watch: 8 best things Arizona Wildcats said after winning WNIT opener

Justin Spears
Mar 21, 2019
Mar 21, 2019 Updated Mar 23, 2019

Best clips from Arizona's postgame press conference after winning the WNIT opener at McKale Center.

UA wins program's first postseason game since 2005

Destiny Graham, Cate Reese (Idaho State) — Justin Spears / Arizona Daily Star

Arizona's women's basketball hadn't won a postseason game since 2005 until Thursday night's WNIT opener, when the Wildcats beat Idaho State 66-56 in front of 3,265 fans at McKale Center.

The Wildcats were led by freshman forward Cate Reese who finished the night with her seventh double-double of the season: 20 points and 10 rebounds. Sophomore guard Aari McDonald recorded 15 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals.

After Arizona jumped out to a 38-20 lead at halftime, Idaho State went on a 13-0 run to start the second half while trimming Arizona's lead to seven. But the Wildcats were able to pull away in the fourth quarter.

Arizona advanced to the second round of the WNIT and will now host Pacific at McKale Center at 3 p.m. Sunday.

Historic moment for Adia Barnes

Arizona head coach Adia Barnes after the program’s first postseason win in 14 years: pic.twitter.com/f36L1rzfSW
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) March 22, 2019

Big win for the Cats

Cate Reese and Destiny Graham after Arizona’s first postseason win since 2005: pic.twitter.com/ERnNFuRKfI
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) March 22, 2019

Freshmen stepping up

Adia Barnes on freshmen Cate Reese, Semaj Smith and Bryce Nixon stepping up for Arizona: pic.twitter.com/AqDlz5YK71
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) March 22, 2019

ISU made it a game

Adia Barnes on Arizona’s defense holding off Idaho State despite the Bengals cutting the UA lead to 7 in the second half: pic.twitter.com/osKPkiEo35
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) March 22, 2019

'Passionate' McKale Center crowd

Adia Barnes called Arizona’s crowd at McKale Center tonight “passionate.” “I’m excited to see that because I don’t think people have been excited about Arizona women’s basketball for a long time.” pic.twitter.com/b3ZVxlkdYd
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) March 22, 2019

Reese's performance

Destiny Graham on Cate Reese’s double-double: “She’s so aggressive and never gives up.” pic.twitter.com/CtmRqFIfhR
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) March 22, 2019

Reese stepped up with Domonique McBryde out with illness

With Dominique McBryde out (illness), freshman Cate Reese stepped up for Arizona. “As a whole, we all had to step up on defense.” pic.twitter.com/hYgx7bLnw5
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) March 22, 2019

Day in the life of a student-athlete

Destiny Graham and Cate Reese on the @NCAA’s “Student and athlete — a day in the life” video: Graham: “If my day was like that, I’d love it. But it’s not.” Reese: “You don’t really know what an athlete goes through unless you’re an athlete.” pic.twitter.com/MS3kOD4gDF
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) March 22, 2019