Looking back at all seven of Arizona's previous trips to the NCAA Tournament

It’s been 16 years since the Arizona women’s basketball team last made a trip to the NCAA Tournament.

The Wildcats were on track for hosting the first two rounds last year, but then the world shut down because of the pandemic. Arizona used that as motivation all season, and now will finally get the chance to play in the Big Dance.

The Wildcats (16-5) are a No. 3 seed and square off against No. 14-seeded Stony Brook in the first round Monday.

Before they take the floor, let’s look back at Arizona’s seven previous appearances in the NCAA Tournament, which all came with former UA coach Joan Bonvicini at the helm.

1996-97

Final Record: 23-8

Roster: Adia Barnes, Lisa Griffith, Marte Alexander, Felecity Willis, DeAngela Minter, Mikko Giordano, Monika Crank, Cha-Ron Walker, Amber Phoenix, Fatima Imara, Shontey Hambrick

What went down: For Arizona’s first-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament, the Wildcats came in with the attitude of “We can beat anyone.” In the first round, No. 7-seeded Arizona won handily over Western Kentucky, 76-54, with 21 points (8 of 9 from the field) from Alexander – her highest point total of the season. When the Lady Toppers double-teamed Barnes – who had 15 points – Alexander was left open and took advantage of it. The Wildcats led the entire game, and in the first half they held Western Kentucky to just one assist. Griffith had 18 points on 5 of 6 from the 3-point line.

Then, Arizona ran into No. 2 Georgia. In the first half Barnes did everything, including scoring 16 points. At one point in the first half, it was Georgia 13, Barnes 12. Then, she picked up a third foul and Bonvicini held her out at the beginning of the second half. Georgia’s lead ballooned in the second half up to 18 points. Yet, the Wildcats made a final comeback in the last 5:32 with some steals and three-pointer from Griffith and Barnes to pull within three. It wasn’t enough, as the Bulldogs beat the Wildcats 80-74.

He said it: “Barnes killed us. This was a person we were geared up for. I mean, we were doing things at every position, we thought, to affect Barnes. But we leave her open once, she shoots in the corner once, she rebounds over our back once and we don’t box her out. I mean, it’s ridiculous.” — Georgia coach Andy Landers.

The big number: 21. Alexander was the X-factor against Western Kentucky, scoring 21 points. She only had 11 points in the second game after jamming her right thumb in practice between the two games.

1997-98

Record: 23-7

Roster: Barnes, Alexander, Griffith, Crank, Willis, Reshea Bristol, Minter, Giordano, Hambrick, Phoenix, Walker, Imara, Monique Paige, Lakeisha Taylor

What went down: There was more history to be made this year as the Wildcats went to the Sweet 16 — which is still the furthest they’ve gone in the NCAA Tournament. It took a while for the Wildcats to get going in the first round against Santa Clara. UA found its groove at the beginning of the second half with a 15-4 run that solidified the 75-63 win behind a 23-point performance from Alexander.

Barnes led the No. 3-seeded Wildcats in the second game against Virginia with this stat line in the first half: 21 points, eight rebounds, two assists and two steals. Barnes finished with 30 points and 10 rebounds. UA led 51-30 at the half and won 94-77.

The Wildcats couldn’t get much traction against No. 2 UConn, losing 74-57. The Huskies out rebounded the Wildcats 51-33. UA drew within two with 11 minutes to go, but could get no closer. Much of it was due to Alexander leaving the game with a knee injury in the second half. Arizona didn’t give up, coming within four points with 4:46 left, but lost by 17.

She said it: “These seniors (Alexander, Barnes, Minter, Giordano) leave a legacy. They set the benchmark for coming Arizona teams.” — Bonvicini

The big number: 7. Griffith hit 7 of 10 3-pointers against UConn. She led all Wildcats with 21 points. Over the three games, she was 15 of 25.

1998-99

Record: 18-11

Roster: Griffith, Bristol, Willis, Crank, Julie Brase, Hambrick, Jen Callahan, Angela Lackey, Elizabeth Pickney, Tysell Bozeman, Taylor, Tatum Brown, Michelle Mitchell

What went down: It was supposed to be a rebuilding year as Arizona had lost four key players from its Sweet 16 run to graduation. However, the No. 6-seeded Wildcats would make it to the second round before losing to Rutgers and its stifling defense, 90-47.

In the first game against Florida, a big-time layup from Bristol sent the game into overtime after UA rallied from a 17-point deficit. Arizona ended up winning in 87-84 in overtime. Bristol finished with 20 points and Lackey led all Wildcats with 29 points.

She said it: “No one expected us to do so well, or to make it this far. This year was a steppingstone. We definitely learned a lot. The expectation (for next year) is that we’ll only get stronger and better.” – Griffith

The big number: 6. Arizona had only six free-throw attempts against Rutgers, while the Scarlet Knights hit 21 of 22.

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1999-2000

Record: 25-7

Roster: Bristol, Willis, Griffith, Lackey, Brase, Mitchell, Bozeman, Jaime Sturdivant, Krista Warren, Pickney, Taylor, Mitchell, Brown

What went down: Arizona lost again in the second round — this time to No. 1-seeded and eventual national runner-up Tennessee 75-60.

The visiting Arizona didn’t give up with runs of 12-3 and 8-0 in the second half to keep it close. Griffith scored the first eight points of the game for UA and finished with 11 points. Tamika Catchings, the Naismith Player of the Year winner, was un-guardable, finishing with 21 points for the Lady Vols. The teams went to the free throw line for a combined 49 attempts and two Wildcats – Willis and Taylor – fouled out.

In the first game, the Wildcats shut down Kent State’s Dawn Zerman, the Mid-American Conference Player of the Year – who took only eight shots and made three of them – en route to a 73-61 victory. It wasn’t an easy win, as the Wildcats opened up to a 23-point lead, but Kent State rallied back until Willis (13 points) hit a 16-footer to stop the run. Griffith led UA with 19 points.

She said it: “I knew this would be a physical game. It was so physical, I had a cup of water that I poured into my lap. When two teams are as aggressive and as intense as these two teams are, it’s bound to be physical.” — Tennessee coach Pat Summitt

The big number: 14. Bonvicini won her first 14 NCAA Tournament openers, including her time at Long Beach State.

2002-03

Record: 22-9

Roster: Shawntinice Polk, Dee-Dee Wheeler, Danielle Adefeso, Amiee Grzyb, Brase, Warren, Candice Allen, Cocoa Sanford, Anna Chappell, Katrina Linder, Natalie Jones, Jessica Duger, Svjetlana Papcevic, Phakisha Peterson

What went down: The Wildcats’ return to the NCAA Tournament after a three-year absence didn’t last long, as the Wildcats lost to No. 11-seeded Notre Dame in the first round, 59-47. Both teams shot below 30% — UA shot 23.3 %, or 17 for 73 from the field. It was their worst offensive performance of the season. The difference in the game was a 15-0 run from the Irish. Warren led the Wildcats with 17 points, Polk had 14 points.

She said it: “It seems like today from the perimeter we couldn’t throw a pea in the ocean.” – Bonvicini

The big number: 1. The defeat marked the first time a Bonvicini-coached team lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in 15 tries.

2003-04

Record: 24-9, tied for first place in Pac-10 with Stanford

Roster: Polk, Wheeler, Adefeso, Grzyb, Sanford, Linda Pace, Chappell, Linder, Jones, Dugar, Peterson, Shannon Hobson, Rachael Schein

What went down: Another one-and-done in the tourney. This time the No. 9-seeded Wildcats lost to Michigan State 72-60. Polk led all scorers with 23 points, yet her early foul trouble and time on the bench, put the Wildcats a bit out of sync. Wheeler scored 11 points – the only other Wildcat in double figures. All five MSU starters scored in double figures. The Wildcats came within three points, three times down the stretch, but couldn’t close it out.

She said it: “I do think it’s toughness. I think it’s a mental stand. You’ve got to just say we’re going to win this game. … You need a little more mental toughness to get you through stuff like this.” – Bonvicini

The big number: 19. MSU had 19 second-chance points.

2004-05

Record: 20-12

Roster: Polk, Wheeler, Adefeso, Pace, Chappell, Linder, Jones, Schein, Hobson, Joy Hollingsworth, Chari Smith, Che Oh, Jessica Arnold, Ashley Whisonant

What went down: The Wildcats broke through their first-round exit syndrome. The last time they played in Tennessee was in 2000, when they made it to the second round before losing to the Lady Vols. This time, Arizona couldn’t get past top-ranked LSU, losing 76-43. The Tigers dominated from the jump with trapping defense on Polk and the dynamic duo on offense of Seimone Augustus and Temeka Johnson, who combined for 32 points. Polk, who was playing with a left knee injury, played only 25 minutes and finished with 10 points. Wheeler scored 13 points.

Wheeler led the pack with 16 points, eight rebounds and nine assists in the first game as UA took a close one over Oklahoma 72-69. Arnold chipped in with 15, yet it was Polk’s layup in the closing minutes, gave UA a 69-67 lead that it didn’t relinquish. Polk finished with nine points — six in the second half — after some prompting from Bonvicini at halftime.

She said it: “Our team was overdue to win in this tournament. It came down to guts. It came down to heart.” – Bonvicini

The big number: 4. Wheeler finished her career as the leader in four Arizona categories: steals (306), games played (124), games started (118) and minutes played (4,031). She was second to Barnes in points with 1,968 and would eventually be passed by Davellyn Whyte with 2,059 points. Wheeler is still the steals leader and is now second to White in games started (126) and minutes played (4,244). Wheeler is in the UA’s Ring of Honor along with Barnes, Polk, Whyte and Ify Ibekwe.