Playing in their first game without injured star Cate Reese (dislocated shoulder), the 12th-ranked Arizona Wildcats fell at home to UCLA 64-46 on Thursday night.
Arizona (19-6, 9-6), which has now lost two games in a row, will close out the regular season Saturday with a matchup against USC.
These stats explain Arizonaโs rare home loss:
17: The defeat to the Bruins snaps Arizonaโs 17-game home winning streak, including the first 11 games this season. UA hadnโt been beaten at home since Jan. 1, 2021, when top-ranked Stanford beat the Wildcats. Itโs the programโs first home loss to an unranked opponent since March 1, 2020, when the Wildcats fell to Cal.
46: Arizonaโs 46 points are its fewest in a home game since Feb. 23, 2018, when the Wildcats lost 65-40 to Oregon State.
48-26: The Wildcats were without Reese, and it showed. The UA was outrebounded by UCLA 48-26.
29-8: The Wildcats were outrebounded 29-8 in the second half.
36-20: The absence of Reese was also felt on points in the paint. Arizona was outscored 36-20 in that department.
4: Outside of 14 points from Shaina Pellington and 10 from Bendu Yeaney, Arizonaโs other three starters struggled against the Bruins. They combined to score just four points. Koi Love โ who started in place of Reese โ went scoreless on 0-of-4 shooting. Sam Thomas and Lauren Ware each had two points on a combined 2-of-8 shooting.
12: One bright spot for the Wildcats was the return of Ariyah Copeland, who had missed the last five games with migraine issues. She had six points and a team-high six rebounds in her return.
14: Arizona only led for 14 seconds โ all coming in the opening quarter, when the Wildcats took a 4-2 advantage. UCLA went ahead at 6:04 in the first quarter and didnโt trail again.
Photos: 12th-ranked Wildcats fall at home to UCLA
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Arizona Wildcats forward Sam Thomas (14) and UCLA Bruins guard Jaelynn Penn (31) land on the floor while scrambling for a loose ball in the second half during a game at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on February 24, 2022. UCLA won 64-46.
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UCLA Bruins guard Camryn Brown (35) gets a hand on Arizona Wildcats forward Koi Love's (5) shot in the first half during a game at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on February 24, 2022.
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Arizona Wildcats forward Cate Reese (25) watches as her team warms up before a game against UCLA at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on February 24, 2022. Reese dislocated her shoulder during a game against Washington State University.
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Arizona Wildcats forward Ariyah Copeland (22) looks to make a pass as she's defended by UCLA Bruins forward IImar'I Thomas (24) in the first half during a game at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on February 24, 2022.
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Arizona Wildcats forward Lauren Ware (32) eyes the basket over UCLA Bruins forward IImar'I Thomas (24) in the first half during a game at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on February 24, 2022.
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Arizona Wildcats guard Shaina Pellington (1) disagrees with a call made by the referee in the first half during a game at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on February 24, 2022.
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Arizona Wildcats forward Sam Thomas (14) defends UCLA Bruins guard Charisma Osborne (20) in the first half during a game at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on February 24, 2022.
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Arizona Wildcats forward Ariyah Copeland (22) eyes the basket as she's defended by UCLA Bruins guard Jaelynn Penn (31) and UCLA Bruins forward IImar'I Thomas (24) in the first half during a game at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on February 24, 2022.
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Arizona Wildcats guard Madison Conner (4) makes a drive past UCLA Bruins guard Natalie Chou (23) in the first half during a game at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on February 24, 2022.
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UCLA Bruins guard Charisma Osborne (20) grabs the ball as Arizona Wildcats guard Derin Erdogan (11) is on the floor in the first half during a game at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on February 24, 2022.
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Arizona Wildcats forward Ariyah Copeland (22) gets an eye full from UCLA Bruins forward IImar'I Thomas (24) in the first half during a game at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on February 24, 2022.
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Arizona Wildcats forward Koi Love (5) tries to defend UCLA Bruins forward IImar'I Thomas (24) as Arizona Wildcats forward Ariyah Copeland (22) and UCLA Bruins guard Camryn Brown (35) look on in the first half during a game at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on February 24, 2022.
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Arizona Wildcats guard Helena Pueyo (13) and Arizona Wildcats forward Lauren Ware (32) defend UCLA Bruins guard Charisma Osborne (20) in the first half during a game at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on February 24, 2022.
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Arizona Wildcats forward Ariyah Copeland (22) defends UCLA Bruins guard Chantel Horvat (0) in the second half during a game at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on February 24, 2022. UCLA won 64-46.
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Arizona Wildcats head coach Adia Barnes looks at her team on the court in the second half during a game at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on February 24, 2022. UCLA won 64-46.
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Arizona Wildcats forward Lauren Ware (32) tries to get around the defense of UCLA Bruins forward IImar'I Thomas (24) in the second half during a game at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on February 24, 2022. UCLA won 64-46.
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Arizona Wildcats guard Bendu Yeaney (23) jumps over UCLA Bruins guard Natalie Chou (23) to grab the ball in the second half during a game at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on February 24, 2022. UCLA won 64-46.
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UCLA Bruins head coach Cori Close wants clarification on a call in the second half during a game at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on February 24, 2022. UCLA won 64-46.
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Arizona Wildcats guard Madison Conner (4) is fouled by UCLA Bruins guard Chantel Horvat (0) after hitting a three-pointer and Arizona Wildcats guard Bendu Yeaney (23) celebrates the call in the second half during a game at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on February 24, 2022. UCLA won 64-46.
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Arizona Wildcats forward Gisela Sanchez (30) tries to save the ball but throws it out of bounds in the second half during a game at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on February 24, 2022. UCLA won 64-46.
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Arizona Wildcats guard Bendu Yeaney (23) talks with Arizona Wildcats guard Madison Conner (4) late in the second half during a game at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on February 24, 2022. UCLA won 64-46.
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Arizona Wildcats forward Gisela Sanchez (30), far right, watches from the bench with her teammates as the clocks ticks down on their loss to UCLA in the second half during a game at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on February 24, 2022. UCLA won 64-46.
