Back down to seven players, Helena Pueyo leads Wildcats in 19-point win over Washington State

Come on and throw another obstacle at the Arizona Wildcats. They double dog dare you.

By this point in the season, they’re just going to roll with it.

With no Esmery Martinez and the UA women's basketball roster of available players once again down to seven, it was the other fifth-year Helena Pueyo who was aggressive and led the Wildcats to a dominant win over Washington State, 64-45, Friday night in front of 7,383 fans at McKale Center.

Arizona improves to 13-12, 5-8 Pac-12. WSU drops its’ fifth straight game and is now 15-11, 4-9 in the league.

The Wildcats have shown this season that some of their best games come when there are only two bench players in addition to their starters. Friday was no different.

Martinez was a game time decision. Arizona coach Adia Barnes said Martinez had a back spasm after being fine in practice on Thursday. Of course, Martinez, who is one of the toughest Wildcats “wanted to play,” Barnes said.

“But she's tight (and) having a tough time moving,” Barnes said, “I saw her running. It's like, 'I can't play her like that.' It's not worth it because then she can get hurt and we still have another home game and then we go on the road next week. I felt like if the time is right to try to conserve her it's now. We're very optimistic that Sunday she can play.

"Just give it a couple of days.”

Arizona was clearly playing as a team, passing on offense to find the great shot — not just a good one. On defense, the rotations were strong and on time; the Wildcats were trapping, narrowing the passing lanes and getting steals. They were just plain disrupting the Cougars, who never seemed to find a rhythm.

Pueyo’s first basket came with 90 seconds off the clock in the first quarter and she just kept going to finish with an efficient 18 points on 8 of 10 from the field.

While it took her a while to reel off two from long distance later in the game, her mid-range and drives were on point. Pueyo even made a step-back 3, something that is not usual for her.

She also collected five steals.

“We worked a lot this week on the rotation because they are a really good offensive team just passing the ball to the right spot all the time. I think for me, I was just seeing it,” Pueyo said of her steals.

Freshman Skylar Jones finished with 12 points and was two rebounds shy of a double-double with eight.

Isis Beh was the third Wildcat in double figures, scoring a season-high 11 points.

Arizona held the lead for 38 minutes and 47 seconds; the Wildcats were behind for 36 seconds and tied for 37 seconds.

She said it

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Barnes on starting out hot and having a good third quarter: “I thought we came out with the intention of playing good team basketball. We came out on a mission and it clicked. I think that we also made them look the way they look. They didn't shoot the ball great, but I think we stayed on assignment. I think we just moved the ball. We played really good offense; especially, I'd say, the first seven minutes (were) really good.

"I was like ‘We're playing some good team basketball.’ I'd say probably one of the best first quarters.

"Now, the concern was having a cushion at halftime and how we are in the third quarter with fouls like that, but we had a really good third quarter — one of our best. We were 9 for 15, (shooting) 60%, 3 for 6 from the 3. I mean, that was a really good third quarter and we talked about that at halftime — how important that was because this is a team that can shoot three and 20 points is nothing.”

Key Moment

Arizona jumped out to a 21-11 lead in the first quarter and never looked back. After spotting two points to WSU’s Bella Murekatete, UA went on a 12-0 run. Jones drove to the basket and was fouled and made both free throws and scored on a layup. Breya Cunningham added four points in the paint. Jada Williams picked a steal passed to Pueyo who scored. And Williams scored on a layup. Pueyo and Jones each had six points while Cunningham and Williams each had four after the first frame. Jones also had five of her eight rebounds.

Stuffing the stat sheet

Williams: 9 points, 3 assists, 2 steals.

Cunningham: 8 points, 2 blocks.

Courtney Blakely: 4 assists, 1 steal.

By the numbers

13: The number of times Pueyo banged the drum for Wildcats’ wins after the game is also her jersey number.

14: WSU attempted 14 three-pointers, many of them wide open, and only made five of them.

40: Arizona scored 40 points in the paint.

Photos: Arizona gets ahead early and drops Washington State 64-45, Pac 12 basketball