It didn’t take long for the Wildcats to assert themselves in every aspect of the game – including scoring, which has eluded them the last few games. It was a runaway as Arizona snapped a three-game losing streak by beating Kansas 74-59 at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kansas Sunday afternoon.
Arizona is now (12-8, 3-4 Big 12), while Kansas dropped to (12-6, 2-5 Big 12).
The Wildcats forced 10 turnovers in the first half, shot 50% from the field and 43% from long range, taking a 37-23 lead into halftime. They ended up shooting 41% from long range (9 of 22).
There was movement on the offensive end – the ball and the players – and the Wildcats were finding that great shot. The sharing turned into nine assists on 14 made field goals in the first half. UA finished with 18 assists on 27 made field goals.
Everything was clicking.
Lauryn Swann, who came off the bench, was hot, knocking down 17 points – 3 of 5 from long range – and seemingly knew exactly when to score to keep it all just out of reach for the Jayhawks.
Arizona guard Lauryn Swann finds the seam between Baylor guard Sarah Andrews (24), left, and Baylor guard Darianna Littlepage-Buggs (5) in the third quarter of their Big 12 game at McKale Center, Jan. 8, 2025.
Montaya Dew found her touch with a career-high 11 points hitting an efficient 2 of 3 from long range.
"She ate her Wheaties this morning -- she was ready to go," UA coach Adia Barnes said of Dew. "This is the type of aggressiveness we need from all three of them (Swann, Dew and Isis Beh) all the time. That has been a focal point for us. ... I always tell them to be more aggressive. I don't really have to tell (Swann), she's always aggressive. I still tell her, but that's what we need."
Every Wildcat seemed to have a hand in this one. With stifling defense forcing altered shots and not giving any space for shooters to shoot.
Jada Williams was her usual aggressive self on defense, getting her opponent’s space. In the second half, she had great effort possessions — battled for a rebound under the Wildcats basket, fell to the floor and still got after it. Then, on the other end of the court, she jumped into the air to intercept a pass and fell into the stands taking the referee with her. Both parties were fine.
Williams also scored in double figures (13) and dished five assists.
Beh pulled down eight defensive rebounds and in the third quarter she stole the ball, passed to Mailien Rolf, who passed it back for an easy basket. Beh finished with her first career double-double (10 points, 10 rebounds). She has been one of the most consistent Wildcats as of late – averaging 12 points per game over the last five outings.
Arizona forward Montaya Dew (12) stops a close range shot from UNLV guard Amarachi Kimpson on Nov. 12, 2024.
After playing back-to-back games against Iowa State and No. 11 K-State, where Arizona couldn’t buy a basket when they needed it – only scoring six points on Thursday against K-State after climbing back into the game – five Wildcats finished in double figures against Kansas (Swann, Williams, Dew, Paulina Paris and Beh). Paris finished with 11 points — seven coming in the first half.
The Wildcats shot 51% from the field and out-rebounded Kansas 25-22.
A familiar face was in the crowd Sunday – former UA standout Sam Thomas. There was also a large contingent of Wildcat fans as this was Williams’ hometown visit – with Kansas City nearly 40 minutes away from Lawrence – and her entire extended family was in the stands. Brooklyn Rhodes, who is from St. Louis, also had family at both games.
Arizona is 3-1 in Big 12 road games, losing only to K-State. Next up, this week both games are at home in McKale Center with Cincinnati on Wednesday at 6 p.m. and No. 20 West Virginia on Saturday at 6:30 p.m.
Arizona head coach Adia Barnes watches her Wildcats on an offensive possession in the team’s game against Tarleton State in Tucson on Nov. 7, 2024.
She said it
"Winning is a lot more fun. And I think that for a young team, it's teaching them (that) you're going to go through ups and downs .... You have to learn from your mistakes. Looking at the runs we made in those losses, and how do we do that, but how do we put that together? I think these are all they're all moments to teach and learn. I think that we're getting better every game, and now we get to go back home. ... We're usually on the road, struggle more and win more at home, and we're kind of opposite right now. We have an incredible environment, one of the best in the country. We want to go back home, and we feel like we can win some games at home. Hopefully, this is the thing that will spearhead the turnaround. I think the team is just playing with more confidence, and I think just just playing at a good level." - Barnes
Stuffing the stat sheet
Swann: 4 rebounds, 1 steal
Williams: 4 rebounds, 1 block
Dew: 2 blocks, 5 rebounds, 3 assists
Beh: 3 assists, 2 steals
Breya Cunningham: 8 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 1 block
Skylar Jones: 2 steals
The other side
S’Mya Nichols scored 21 points. Regan Williams and Laia Conesa each chipped in 11 points.
By the numbers
28: Swann and Dew accounted for 28 of the 32 points the Wildcats had off the bench.
2: The Wildcats held Kansas to two made 3s. The Jayhawks average seven per game.
73%: Both the Jayhawks and the Wildcats went 73% from the free throw line. Kansas made 19 of 26 attempts, while Arizona made 11 of 15.
