Arizona Wildcats star Aari McDonald received two honors from the Pac-12 on Tuesday.
The UA’s sophomore guard was named to the Pac-12’s 15-player all-conference team, and was one of five players named to the conference’s all-defensive team. Additionally, Arizona forward Cate Reese was named to the all-freshman team.
Oregon’s Sabrina Ionescu was named the Pac-12 Player of the Year during Tuesday’s night’s award show, which aired on the Pac-12 Networks. Cal’s Kristine Anigwe was named defensive player of the year, and Utah’s Dre’Una Edwards was named the top freshman. Oregon’s Kelly Graves was named coach of the year.
McDonald is averaging 24.9 points, 6.5 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 2.7 steals per game. She’s one of just four players in league history to score 700 points and dish 120 assists in the same season. The other three — former Washington star Kelsey Plum, former Stanford star Candice Wiggins and Ionescu — all won player of the year awards. McDonald needs just 28 more points to become the league’s all-time sophomore scoring leader.
Reese averaged 11.1 points and 6.8 rebounds per game as true freshman, earning Pac-12 Freshman of the Week honors three times.
McDonald, Reese and the Wildcats will open Pac-12 Tournament play on Thursday against USC. The game starts at 3 p.m. in the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
