Arizona basketball notebook: Maya Nnaji addresses her departure, UA's 3rd-quarter blues, more

Arizona’s roster is back down to 10 available players, as sophomore Maya Nnaji has left the UA women’s basketball program.

Nnaji was not in the building for the Wildcats’ 88-75 loss to No. 5 Texas Wednesday night at McKale Center, with UA coach Adia Barnes saying postgame that Nnaji is “focusing on academics,” and that there was a “possibility” that she could return at a later date.

On Friday morning, Nnaji posted a statement to X (Twitter) to thank the fans.

"I would like to thank the Wildcat Nation for embracing me and my family and showing unwavering love and support. All of your uplifting encouragement has been felt and is greatly appreciated. Thank you to my coaches and teammates for everything these past 2 years. It has been an honor to rep the A."

She went on to say, "In light of recent events, it has become clear to me that I need to reprioritize my main goal and true life's purpose: becoming a physician. With the support of my family and guidance for Above, I am stepping away from basketball to start a new chapter of my life. Please respect my decision and refrain from any speculation from outside sources."

Nnaji, who is in a Accelerated Pathway to Medical Education program (APME) at Arizona and wants to become a doctor to help the children in her father’s home country of Nigeria, has been managing a heavy load of classes along with playing in a Power 5 women’s college basketball program.

“It’s really challenging,” Barnes said of the APME program after Wednesday night's game. “It’s has a lot of demands and she misses a lot because of basketball. It’s just it’s difficult. She misses her job shadowing, misses labs, internships. And, then because that also misses basketball stuff, too. So that balance is hard. Not too many people could do that.”

When the 6-4 sophomore approached Barnes and said she “needed a break, I was very supportive and all in on it because that was what what she signed up for,” the coach said.

“I knew she was going to that program when she got here. I have to support what she’s doing because her dream is and aspirations (are) to be a doctor. Its student athletes, not athletes-students. That’s a perfect example.”

Nnaji came to Tucson as the highest recruit in UA history, ranked No. 9 in the Class of 2022. Montaya Dew, a freshman this season, surpassed that at No. 8; but Dew is out for the year while recovering from a knee injury.

That coupled with Nnaji’s departure leaves the Wildcats with 10 on the roster able to play in games this season for the Wildcats (7-3). Barnes added Erin Tack, a thrower on the UA track and field team, to the UA basketball roster earlier this month.

In the nine games she played this season, Nnaji was one of three Wildcats averaging in double figures in scoring at 10.2 points per game, to go along with 3.4 rebounds per game. In her final game against UC San Diego, she left the game in the first quarter after an opponent landed on her leg and it collapsed. She returned to action in the second half wearing a leg brace and played 15 minutes, scored seven points and picking up one steal.

Nnaji was the second from her family to play basketball for the Wildcats, as her brother, Zeke, was the Pac-12 Freshman of the year in 2019-20 with the UA men’s program. He was selected 22nd overall in the NBA draft by the Denver Nuggets after his lone season in Tucson.

Third quarter blues

When looking at the box score of Arizona’s loss to Texas Wednesday, there aren’t too many stats to point to and say “this is where the Wildcats let down,” or “this is how the Longhorns ran away with the win.”

The Wildcats shot 45% from the field, while connecting on 87.5% of their three-pointers; the latter is a program and Pac-12 record. They had 17 assists on 25 made baskets. And both the Longhorns and the Wildcats had 33 rebounds apiece.

The most glaring stat is that Arizona forced 15 turnovers, but only turned those into 11 points. Meanwhile, the Longhorns turned 21 UA turnovers into 25 points.

“We’re not getting back in transition defense. That hurt us the first half, 14 points; the second half, eight points,” Barnes said. “I thought that the mistakes we paid for; for instance, we went to the zone, they scored six points (in) the first half against zone, which is really good. But then a couple of times if two people (were) on one side — so that’s a communication thing when no one’s on the other side — it’s a layup. Things like that. You don’t beat No. 5 like that.”

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Barnes said at times it was issues related to discipline and experience. The Wildcats will watch more film and have more reps in practice in the days leading up to the first Pac-12 matchup of the season against rival, ASU on Sunday in Tempe.

Getting back to when the Wildcats didn’t share the ball on offense, Barnes said those turned into “forced shots and it led to transition buckets. Bad shots (are) like a turnover.”

That happened over the span of the end of the second quarter and through the rough third quarter, where the Wildcats were outscored 31-16.

“Historically we kind of struggle in the third quarter just that energy drop off for those 15 minutes in halftime and then coming back and then picking up that intensity,” Breya Cunningham said.

“We were in a close game and were hype. We really thought we had a chance (and) pulled away from our offense a little bit. We were more free and taking like shots without as much ball movement.”

The Wildcats pulled together and rallied in the fourth quarter, going on a 15-1 run, but there just wasn’t enough time left in the game for a full comeback.

How do they break that bad habit of coming out flat after halftime?

“Whatever energy we started the game with, that’s the energy we have to bring in third quarter,” Cunningham said. “We have to treat the third quarter like it’s the first quarter of the game. And I think we’re getting better at that. It’s just something we have to work on.”

Making the most of an opportunity

With Nnaji not with the Wildcats anymore, it means that others will have to raise their level to help fill the gap. That means not only of a strong presence down low, but also a consistent offensive player who was averaging 10.2 points per game, third best on the UA roster. Nnaji was the one who at times would keep the Wildcats going offensively with an inside shot or even a mid-range jumper and occasionally one from beyond the arc.

One Wildcat who really extended their reach is 6-3 forward Isis Beh. Beh played a season high 23 minutes against Texas, matching up well with the Longhorns. She was fighting for 50/50 balls, standing her ground on both ends of the court. Beh finished with a season-high nine points to go along with two assists, three rebounds and two steals.

“I really appreciate that she’s consistent with her attitude, her effort. She came in and she played really well,” Barnes said. “And she made plays and she fought. She went for every offensively rebound. She didn’t ever take plays off. She gave incredible minutes.”

A club of one

Last season Esmery Martinez crossed the 1,000-point (against UT Arlington) and 1,000-rebound (against Cal) barriers marks. On Wednesday night, Martinez crossed another threshold: She is the only active DI women’s basketball player with more than 1,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 200 steals in her career.

Martinez added three steals against Texas and is in fifth place in the Pac-12 averaging 2.4 steals per game. Her 24 steals this season is nearly half of the steals she had last year (50) over 32 games in 2022-23.

Photos: Arizona women's basketball ground down by No. 5 Texas, 88-75, college basketball