Adia Barnes can check off another task on her to-do list as Arizona's coach after the third-seeded Wildcats routed No. 14-seed Stony Brook 79-42 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament's Mercado Region in San Antonio on Monday.Β 

Arizona's win came in thei first NCAA Tournament appearance in 16 years. The 35-point margin of victory is the largest for the Wildcats in the NCAA Tournament, surpassing a 22-point win over Western Kentucky in 1997.

Arizona advances to play 11th-seeded BYU in Wednesday's second round. The Cougars pulled off the first upset of the tournament on Monday, beating Rutgers 69-66.

The Wildcats' smothering full-court defense forced 25 turnovers β€” 13 in the first half, including nine steals β€” and converted it into 25 points.Β All-Pac-12 forward Sam Thomas, an all-conferenceΒ defensive selection, tied her career-high with six steals. The Wildcats finished with 17 steals.

Arizona guard Aari McDonald celebrates after making a basket during the first half of a college basketball game against Stony Brook in the first round of the women's NCAA tournament at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Monday, March 22, 2021. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Star guard Aari McDonald, who was named a Naismith Defensive Player of the Year finalist hours before the game, led the way with 20 points on 8 for 14 shooting from the field, four assists, three steals and four turnovers.Β 

In the opening minutes, Stony Brook led 4-2, but that quickly dissipated in the final 18:51 of the first half. The Wildcats received fruits from their suffocating defensive labor and opened up a 15-2 run in the first quarter, and capped the first period with an Helena Pueyo buzzer-beating 3-pointer.Β 

Arizona forward Cate Reese, front, is pressured by Stony Brook guard Hailey Zeise celebrates after making a shot during the first half of a college basketball game in the first round of the women's NCAA tournament at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Monday, March 22, 2021. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Despite Stony Brook out-rebounding Arizona 17-15 in the first half, Arizona out-scored the Sea Wolves 30-6 in the paint and had 14 points off the bench to take a 47-20 lead.Β 

Arizona's first-half cushion was beneficial for Arizona considering the Wildcats only out-scored Stony Brook 13-12 in the third quarter β€” 19-12 in the fourth period. Arizona stayed out of reach and cruised to a 79-44 win.Β Β 

Making her NCAA Tournament debut, Cate Reese recorded 16 points and six rebounds in 29 minutes. Senior forward Trinity Baptiste finished with 18 points on 8 for 10 shooting and five rebounds.

Follow The Wildcaster on Twitter for live updates of Arizona at the NCAA Tournament in San Antonio.Β 

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Contact sports content producer Justin Spears at 573-4312 or jspears@tucson.com. On Twitter @justinesports