LAS VEGAS — Coach Adia Barnes says the postseason is the time for stars to shine.
This was certainly true for Arizona on Friday.
In a rematch of Sunday’s regular-season finale, Cate Reese scored a career-high 30 points to propel the No. 4-seeded Wildcats to a 86-73 domination of No. 12-seeded Cal in the Pac-12 Tournament quarterfinals, held at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.
Arizona will face top-seeded Oregon (29-2) in the semifinals Saturday at 7 p.m.
In a season full of firsts, the Wildcats (24-6) are playing in the Pac-12 semis for the first time since 2011. They have won 24 games for the first time in 16 years and have won their first league tournament game two consecutive years, which they haven’t done in eight years.
And, March is their time of year — they are 8-1 over the last two postseasons.
Arizona’s Cate Reese (25) plays against California during a NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinal round of the Pac-12 women’s tournament Friday, March 6, 2020, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Reese is the second UA player to score 30 points in a Pac-12 Tournament game. Aari McDonald did it last year against Oregon.
Reese scored eight points in the first quarter and added 18 in the second half. She was scoring from everywhere, from inside — driving to the hoop, turnaround jumpers, midrange jumpers — and out — one from the corner late in the game. And she was efficient, taking only 15 shots and making 13 of them.
Reese’s touch was back at the right time after she had a few rough games at the end of the season. Reese, who is diabetic, battled medical issues on Arizona’s final road trip of the regular season.
“Just getting my head right, getting back to how I normally play,” Reese said. “I felt really confident in the beginning of this game and throughout the game. My teammates found me, and it just felt right. In the past couple of games something has felt off with me and today I just felt like myself.”
Reese came out of the gate aggressive — taking the tip away from Cal’s CJ West.
“Yeah, I didn’t know if I was allowed to do that,” Reese said.
Arizona’s Cate Reese, left, defends California’s Evelien Lutje Schipholt during the first half of their Pac-12 Tournament quarterfinal at Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.
It worked. She would lead the Wildcats to a 7-0 run in the first 1:20, forcing Cal to call a timeout.
She also grabbed six rebounds.
However, this was a true team win as four players finished in double figures – McDonald (13), Dominique McBryde (11) and Amari Carter (10). And did so much more.
“We have a good team,” Barnes said. “Without Cate doing what she does — setting screens, rebounding, work(ing) inside — we’re not successful. Without Sam (Thomas) playing her defense, without her hitting threes, being in the right place on offense, having our team run — having our sets run through her — we’re not successful. Without Dominique passing the ball right — she’s like the point guard from the post position — we’re not successful. Without Semaj (Smith) coming in as a true five, altering shots, giving us size, we’re not successful.”
Arizona’s Aari McDonald had 13 points against Cal on Friday afternoon. She has scored in double figures in 65 consecutive games — the longest active streak in the nation.
McDonald has now scored in double figures in 65 consecutive games — the longest active streak in the nation. It took a while for her to get there as she didn’t hit 10 points until she scored on a layup with 4:39 left in the game. Earlier in the game, McDonald was behind the bench with the trainer stretching her lower leg. She added five assists and four rebounds.
Thomas scored eight points, had four assists, one steal and one block. McBryde added seven rebounds, one steal, one block and four assists. Carter picked up three steals in the first half. Helena Pueyo finished with seven points, eight assists, one steal and two blocks.
In the second frame Pueyo knocked down a 3, grabbed the rebound on the other end, passed the ball the length of the court to Reese who was waiting for it and scored — giving Arizona a 34-22 lead with 5:05 left in the half.
Arizona took a 41-27 lead into halftime and slowly pulled away in the second half.
Their signature stout defense was on point, forcing a shot clock violation early on, tipping and stealing passes, altering shots and just living in the passing lanes.
Arizona’s Helena Pueyo battles Cal’s Cailyn Crocker for the ball during the second half of their quarterfinal game in Las Vegas.
UA scored 44 points in the paint and outrebounded Cal 38-30.
The Wildcats shot 54.7% and held Cal to 37.7%.
Arizona wanted revenge from the one-point loss Sunday — and something more. Friday’s win likely assures Arizona of hosting the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament. Arizona is ranked 13th nationally, and the nation’s top 16 teams get the first opportunity to host. The NCAA Tournament bracket will be unveiled March 16; the UA long ago submitted its bid to play games in McKale Center.
“I’m proud of our fight,” Barnes said. “We just played Cal last Sunday at home. I think it showed a lot of character of our team. Cal is a very good team that doesn’t die. …
“I’m proud of these young women and how we fought and kept our composure throughout the game.”
