Talk about a bounce back game for the Wildcats.
A tip here, a steal there β and the Wildcats finishing on the other end as Arizona women's basketball cruised to an 81-38 win over UC San Diego Thursday night at McKale Center.
The Wildcats tripled up on the Tritons in the second quarter β outscoring UCSD 30-10 β to improve to 7-2 on the season. The Tritons drop to 3-6.
UA freshman Jada Williams led the way on both ends of the court. She collected four steals to go along with 12 points (4 of 7 from the field) in the first half alone. She was the spark the Wildcats needed and finished with 15 points and five steals.
All three freshmen showed out as Breya Cunningham had 12 points and 10 rebounds (her second career double-double) and Skylar Jones was perfect from beyond the arc, hitting all three of her attempts to finish with nine points.
UA came out with the intensity that it was missing in Saturdayβs loss to UNLV. Swarming defense and trapping were in full force. At times the Wildcats picked it up with a full court press, turning over the Tritons a total of 28 times β 17 in the first half.
Arizonaβs Maya Nnaji (23) breaks through San Diegoβs defensive line as she makes her way to the net during the game at the McKale Center, December 7, 2023.
On offense the Wildcats scored inside and outside, shooting 52.4% from the field and 50% from the 3-point line β the latter coming while they connected on a season-high 10 of 20 attempts.
Maya Nnaji, Arizona's leading scorer in the first quarter with four points in six minutes, went down with what appeared to be a lower leg injury. She hopped up the ramp to the treatment room with no assistance. She returned to the court at the 5:33 mark in the third quarter to a loud roar. When she scored and was fouled minutes later, Nnaji was the one roaring.
After the game, Arizona coach Adia Barnes said that someone landed on Nnajiβs leg and it βkind of folded.β
βShe put the brace for precaution, but it was just like a little too sore and she was able to go back,β Barnes said. βI asked her if she can go back and she said βyeah.β I think she did a good job going back in and fighting and that's toughness. As a freshman she wouldn't be able to do that. Now she's working through things and really trying for her team.β
Esmery MartinezΒ played less than seven minutes β all in the first half. Barnes said she was a little sore and as Martinez will be logging a lot of minutes over the season, it was a good time to rest.
Arizona's Jada Williams (2) goes for the lay up after she blocks a San Diego pass during the game at the McKale Center, December 7, 2023.
She said it
Jada Williams: βI would say in practice weβve just been playing really together. We huddle a lot more. We were more there for each other (and) talked about a lot about love. And I think that really carried over.
"You could tell that we're loving each other more. And when somebody's not shooting well, other teammates picking them up. I think that's really important. And then when you're there for each other (it) becomes more fun because you have that bond and you have the little inside jokes and stuff that you can talk about on the court. You can see it; we're all smiling. We're all laughing, cheering each other on.
"That's going to carry over when we hit adversity, as well. I think it's super important to start that now."
Key moment
Williams found her shot, and right when her teammates needed it. In a 26-7 run in second quarter, she highlighted it by scoring 12 points β eight coming on three consecutive possessions β with two 3-pointers with a jumper from the top of the key mixed in. Sali Kourouma hit the next 3-pointer and Courtney Blakely followed suit. In the blink of an eye, the Wildcats finished the half up 42-17.
Arizona's Salimatou Kourouma (24) gets the shot off on San Diegoβs Erin Condron (11) during the game at the McKale Center, December 7, 2023.
Stuffing the stat sheet
Cunningham: 6 of 7 from the field; 4 assists, 3 blocks, 2 steals, 6 offensive rebounds
Kailyn Gilbert: 11 points, 3 steals.
Kourouma: 13 points, 3 assists.
Jones: 4 rebounds.
By the numbers
5Β β The Wildcats had five players score in double figures (Williams, 15; Kourouma, 13; Cunningham, 12; Gilbert, 11; Blakely, 10).Β
38 β Arizona scored 38 points off 28 UC San Diego turnovers; the Wildcats also held the Tritons to 38 points β well below UCSD's season average of 70 per outing.
36:55 β The lead changed two times in the first quarter until UA took the lead for good and held in for 36:55.
26 β The Wildcats had 26 second chance points.
Arizona Women's Basketball Press Conference | Adia Barnes | Dec. 7, 2023 | Postgame after win over UC San Diego (Arizona Wildcats YouTube)
Arizona Women's Basketball Press Conference | Jada Williams, Breya Cunningham | Dec. 7, 2023 | Postgame after win over UC San Diego (Arizona Wildcats YouTube)
Photos: Arizona defeats UC San Diego 81-38, women's college basketball
Arizona's Jada Williams (2) celebrates after she makes a shot during the game against the Tritonβs at the McKale Center, December 7, 2023.
Arizona's Salimatou Kourouma (24) gets the shot off on San Diegoβs Erin Condron (11) during the game at the McKale Center, December 7, 2023.
Arizonaβs Jada Williams (2) covers San Diego's Eri Blithikioti (23) during the game at the McKale Center, December 7, 2023.
Arizona's Jada Williams (2) slams the βMade for Itβ drum 7 times to signify the Wildcats 7 wins after the 81-38 win over UC San Diego at the McKale Center, December 7, 2023.
Arizonaβs Kailyn Gilbert (15) and Helena Pueyo (13) put high pressure on San Diegoβs Eri Blithikioti (23) during the game at the McKale Center, December 7, 2023.
Arizona's Salimatou Kourouma (24) jumps to get a shot off seconds before the shot clock runs out during the game against UC San Diego at the McKale Center, December 7, 2023.
Arizonaβs Courtney Blakely (1) jumps for a lay up after a break away against the Tritonβs at the McKale Center, December 7, 2023.
Arizona's Salimatou Kourouma (24) gets the lay up off on San Diego's Denali Pinto (24) during the game at the McKale Center, December 7, 2023.
Arizonaβs Isis Beh (33) celebrates Maya Nnaji (23) after she successfully makes a shot during the game at the McKale Center, December 7, 2023.
San Diego's Parker Montgomery (32) attempts to get byΒ Arizona's Salimatou Kourouma (24) as she puts her hands up during the game at the McKale Center, December 7, 2023.
Arizona's Jada Williams (2) attempts to stop San Diegoβs Eri Blithikioti (23)Β pass to Katie Springs (35) during the game at the McKale Center, December 7, 2023.
Arizonaβs Helena Pueyo (13) makes an easy lay up after she blocks a UC San Diego pass during the game at the McKale Center, December 7, 2023.
Arizona's Jada Williams (2) celebrates after she makes a shot during the game against the Tritonβs at the McKale Center, December 7, 2023.
Arizonaβs Maya Nnaji (23) jumps for the rebound against San Diegoβs Parker Montgomery (32) during the game at the McKale Center, December 7, 2023.
Arizonaβs Isis Beh (33) and Jada Williams (2) put high pressure on San Diegoβs Eri Blithikioti (23)Β during the game at the McKale Center, December 7, 2023.
Arizonaβs Maya Nnaji (23) breaks through San Diegoβs defensive line as she makes her way to the net during the game at the McKale Center, December 7, 2023.
Arizonaβs Kailyn Gilbert (15) gets the shot off on San Diegoβs Denali Pinto (24) during the game at the McKale Center, December 7, 2023.
Arizonaβs Courtney Blakely (1) glides past San Diegoβs Gabby Louther (5) during the game at the McKale Center, December 7, 2023.
Arizonaβs Maya Nnaji (23) gets the shot off despite high pressure from the UC San Diego defense during the game at the McKale Center, December 7, 2023.
San Diegoβs Eri Blithikioti (23) runs into Arizona's Jada Williams (2) on her way to the net during her offensive run in the game at the McKale Center, December 7, 2023.
Arizona's Jada Williams (2) goes for the lay up after she blocks a San Diego pass during the game at the McKale Center, December 7, 2023.
Arizonaβs Esmery Martinez (12) struggles to get the shot off on San Diegoβs Izzy Forsyth (20) during the game at the McKale Center, December 7, 2023.
Arizonaβs head coach Adia Barnes smiles big while she talks to players on the sidelines in the game against the Tritonβs at the McKale Center, December 7, 2023.
Arizonaβs Breya Cunningham (25) makes her way to the net through UC San Diego's high defense during the game at the McKale Center, December 7, 2023.
Arizonaβs Maya Nnaji (23) takes a hard fall during the game against the San Diego Tritonβs at the McKale Center, December 7, 2023. Nnaji was escorted off by physical trainers and made her return to the court in the second half.
Arizona's Jada Williams (2) practices her shooting as the Wildcats get ready to host UC San Diego at the McKale Center, December 7, 2023.
Guests rise to their feet as the Arizona womenβs basketball team runs out to the court before the start of the game against UC San Diego at the McKale Center, December 7, 2023.
