Wildcats finally enjoy turnover turnaround in blowout win over CSU Bakersfield

On Arizona’s first offensive possession vs. Cal State Bakersfield on Tuesday night, Skylar Jones threw an errant entry pass to Breya Cunningham.

Cutting down on turnovers had been a major point of emphasis for the Wildcats. This wasn’t the best way to start.

But it wouldn’t be another turnover-fest at McKale Center. Arizona took care of the ball, moved it with purpose and finished with a positive assist-to-turnover ratio for the first time this season in its 76-39 victory over the Roadrunners.

The Wildcats’ 18 assists were one shy of their season high. Their 10 turnovers were a season low. Arizona (8-4) entered Tuesday with the second-worst assist-to-turnover ratio — 0.65 — in the Big 12 Conference.

“You saw people doing things we need to do more,” said UA coach Adia Barnes, whose team had lost three of its previous four games. “This is what I’m used to when we had players like Helena Pueyo that really have a high, positive assist-to-turnover ratio.

“As a team, this has to improve. We are going to work on fundamentals daily. We are going to jump-stop until people, not literally throw up, but throw up in their mind because they’ve done it so much. Back in my day, we would do it till we literally threw up. ... It takes thousands of hours to break habits.”

Winless CSU Bakersfield didn’t present as much of a challenge as opponents in the Big 12 will. Conference play begins Dec. 21 at BYU, and Arizona has only one more tune-up before then, against Weber State on Monday.

But the Roadrunners did play a lot of zone defense, which has been the Wildcats’ kryptonite. They did a better job of making multiple passes and of getting the ball inside to sophomore center Cunningham, who tied for team-high honors with 13 points on 6-of-7 shooting.

“I think that’s really good for us,” said Cunningham, who has scored in double figures in every game in which she has played this season. “We’re gonna get zoned a lot this year, so just us working on getting the ball inside. But then if they double, kicking it right back out (for) open 3s.”

The Wildcats missed several open 3-pointers that were created by Cunningham’s kick-out passes or penetration from guards Jada Williams (four assists) and Jones (13 points, three assists). But Barnes was OK with that because the ball moved and the shots came in the flow of the offense.

“We’re never going to be a 50% 3-point shooting team,” Barnes said. “If we stand out there and jack up shots, we’re not going to win — and we’re going to give up transition buckets all day.

“You have (an) efficient shot if the ball touches the paint off a dribble or pass and it gets reversed. (With) reversals, you have a higher (percentage) shot than just keeping the ball on one side because the defense is (not) set. But then if you go paint-touch and reversal, you’re going to get an open, high-percentage shot. If you look at the analytics for that, it’s a huge difference.”

After that initial misplay, Arizona didn’t turn the ball over until 5:17 remained in the first half. The Wildcats led 44-25 at halftime and limited the Roadrunners to 14 points after the break.

CSU Bakersfield had 23 turnovers against a defense that often extended to 94 feet. Arizona finished with a 27-10 advantage in points off turnovers — a much-needed turnaround.

“Before, even against similar talent, we would have had 20 turnovers,” Barnes said. “It’s gonna really matter when you’re playing really good teams in the Big 12.”

‘She’s getting better’

Forward Katarina Kneževic paused when the first question was thrown her way after the game. The freshman from Serbia might have been a bit nervous. She hasn’t had many reps on the postgame podium.

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On the court, Kneževic showed no hesitation. She drilled three 3-pointers for a career-best nine points in 26 minutes (also a career high). Kneževic added six rebounds and three assists.

“She’s getting better,” Barnes said. “Her 3 is improving. Every day we work on her shooting.

“What I love about Katarina is she has the will, she has the intrinsic motivation. She wants to be good, she believes it and she works. You can live with mistakes when they’re playing with their hearts.”

Fellow freshman Mailien Rolf has a similar makeup. Barnes rewarded both rookies with extensive playing time in the fourth quarter. Rolf finished with four points, three rebounds and two steals.

Kneževic is still getting used to college basketball in the U.S. But she’s starting to feel more comfortable.

“It’s been a little bit difficult, especially when it comes to the speed of the game,” Kneževic said. “The (shot clock) is 30 seconds instead of 24. You have more time, but we are still playing faster here.

“Also the defense, fouling and all that. The game in Europe is a bit more aggressive and a lot of things (are) allowed. Here you have to play, really, from (a) distance.

“Those are some major differences and the things that I was trying to adjust to.”

Beh is back

Senior forward Isis Beh returned after missing two games while in concussion protocol. She scored eight points on 4-of-4 shooting in 11 minutes.

But her presence was felt beyond the box score.

“She didn’t look like she missed a beat,” Barnes said. “Just her energy and her experience. We are so young. If you look on the floor, we have all freshmen and sophomores (at times).

“Isis gives us awareness of certain situations. She knows where to move the ball. Isis rarely ever moves the ball back to the same side. Those are little things but they really make a difference in the spacing of your offense.

“She’s a really good passer. She’s our best post passer. She doesn’t turn the ball over a lot. Those things really matter.”

Rim shots

• CSU Bakersfield fell to 0-9. The Roadrunners entered Tuesday with a NET rating of 354 out of 362 Division I teams.
• Bakersfield’s 39 points matched a season low for UA opponents. Arizona held Tarleton State to 39 points on Nov. 7.
• The Wildcats were whistled for a season-low nine fouls. Their previous low was 12 vs. Seattle on Dec. 2. They had averaged 20.9 fouls per game entering Tuesday.

Photos: Arizona takes down Cal State Bakersfield 76-39, women's NCAA basketball