LAS VEGAS — Aari McDonald had a Saturday to remember.
In the morning, she was named to the official ballot for the Wooden Award, given annually to the most outstanding player in the nation.
In the evening, she put up 34 points on top-seeded Oregon in the Pac-12 Tournament semifinals, extending her consecutive scoring in double-figures streak to 66 games and moving into fifth place in career scoring at Arizona.
And as she walked off the court following Arizona's 88-70 loss to top-seeded Oregon, she got engaged.
McDonald's brother called her over, and then she saw her family held up placards spelling out “Will You Marry Me.” Her boyfriend, former UA football player Devon Brewer, got down on one knee in a moment captured by Pac-12 Networks cameras.
“I was so shocked,” McDonald said. “I was looking and was like ‘What does that say?’ And I saw him get on his knee and I was like ‘Oh my god.’ It’s crazy. I should have put everything together because the last couple of months he’s really been talking about it. I am just shocked because my parents, my siblings and him – even my teammates plotted against me. I’m just happy.”
McDonald said yes, then showed off her ring on a TV interview and in the press conference.
“It's pretty a pretty special moment for her,” said Kelsey Plum, McDonald's former teammate and now a WNBA star and analyst on the Pac-12 Networks. “Like they said, ‘she's the real MVP tonight.’ You know, it puts everything else in perspective. So that's cool.”
Arizona star Aari McDonald just got engaged! 💍 pic.twitter.com/SO6VUiIPV1
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) March 8, 2020
The only thing that would have made it an even greater day would have been upsetting Oregon.
The Wildcats stepped up, but it wasn’t enough as Oregon pulled ahead early held on to beat Arizona. Arizona drops to 24-7, and must now wait until the March 16 NCAA Tournament selection show to learn whether it will host the first and second rounds. Oregon (30-2) will play at 5 p.m. Sunday against the winner of Saturday’s late game between second-seeded UCLA and third-seeded Stanford.
Arizona and Oregon showed off their offensive skills right from the tip.
Both teams shot more than 40% from the field – UA 45.9 % and OU 53.2%. The teams combined for 25 3-pointers; UA had 10, while Oregon had 15.
Oregon's Erin Boley (21) steals the ball from Arizona's Aarion McDonald (2) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinal round of the Pac-12 women's tournament Saturday, March 7, 2020, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
“I wasn’t really thinking about 3s, but it was kind of like 'The Match Game' — when they get a 3, you feel like ‘OK, got to get a 3 back,’ ” Sam Thomas said. “Then you are looking more – you’re more aggressive on the three-point line or trying to get on runs.”
Thomas finished with eight points – 2 of 4 from beyond the arc.
McDonald hit four of the Wildcats’ 10 3-pointers en route to her 34 points.
Saturday marked the second time in as many days that a Wildcat has scored 30 in a tournament game. Cate Reese put up 30 in Friday’s quarterfinal win over Cal.
It took McDonald less than a half to move into fifth place on Arizona’s all-time scoring list in the first half -- surpassing Shawntinice Polk. McDonald now has 1,486 points.
Oregon took a 43-33 lead into the half. Arizona came out on fire in the third — Sam Thomas scored eight, McDonald had seven and Cate Reese added four in a span of five minutes.
Oregon's Sabrina Ionescu (20) knocks the ball away from Arizona's Helena Pueyo (13) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinal round of the Pac-12 women's tournament Saturday, March 7, 2020, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
The Wildcats clawed back to within six points, but could get no closer. Oregon led by as many as 19 points in the fourth quarter.
At times, it seemed like they were trading baskets.
“Take it point by point, we were down 10 at half and that's right where we wanted to be — unless we were winning, but I mean, down 10 against Oregon. That's not bad,” Thomas said. “We're just trying to take it chip by chip and slowly go and chip at the lead. But then they started to match us back after we started messing them.”
Reese chipped in with 13 points, Dominique McBryde had nine, and Helena Pueyo had six.
Arizona attempted just eight free throws — and hit just four of them.
Oregon took a 43-33 lead into the half. Arizona came out on fire in the third — Sam Thomas scored eight, McDonald had seven and Cate Reese added four in a span of five minutes.
Arizona's Sam Thomas (14) drives into Oregon's Satou Sabally (0) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinal round of the Pac-12 women's tournament Saturday, March 7, 2020, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Oregon was led by Sabrina Ionescu, who scored 31 points on 11-of-16 shooting. Erin Boley added 18 points and five rebounds, and Ruthy Hebard chipped in 14 points and 11 boards.
A few of McDonald’s teammates were in on the secret – Amari Carter, Semaj Smith and Tee Tee Starks --but not UA coach Adia Barnes, who said that “Head coaches are always left out of the loop.”
“I think it was really cool with all her family here,” Barnes said. “I think she is happy and this will be one of the most special moments of her life. I’m so proud I was able to be here for that.”
