Arizona knew with No. 5 Texas coming to Tucson it would be the biggest test of the season for a young team.
And while the Wildcats fought to keep the game close in the first half, it was only a matter of time before the experienced Longhorns took over and showed why they are one of the best teams in the nation, running to an 88-75 victory Wednesday night in McKale Center.
Arizona (7-3) was playing without sophomore forward Maya Nnaji, who has left the team to focus on her academics, coach Adia Barnes confirmed postgame. Nnaji is in a pre-med program, which is known to have a heavy class load.
With the win Texas remains undefeated at 11-0.
Texas' Rori Harmon showed why she is the AP and USBWA reigning player of the week finishing one rebound shy of a triple double with 19 points, 11 assists and nine boards.
In the first quarter, UA spotted Texas a 15-7 lead before the threes starting raining in from Kailyn Gilbert, Helena Pueyo and Sali Kourouma. The Wildcats took at quick 22-21 lead on a mid-range jumper from Gilbert and finished the quarter down by three, 25-22.
Arizona guard Kailyn Gilbert (15) goes straight at Texas forward Khadija Faye (20) to score in the fourth quarter of their game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., December 13, 2023.
Gilbert scored 12 points in that first frame and finished with 26.
The Wildcats would cut the score to as close to one in the second quarter, but the Longhorns went on an 8-0 run to extend the lead to 45-36 and never looked back as the UA offense stagnated early after halftime. The Longhorns outscored the Wildcats 31-16 in the third quarter.
The Wildcat defense found its rhythm again in the fourth, using a press and by getting in the passing lanes and forcing bad shots. Arizona went on a 15-1 run in nearly six minutes to close the gap, but it was too late.
She said it
“Texas has a really good team they have their complete team with a lot of weapons solid with some really tough matchups,” Arizona coach Adia Barnes said.
“I think that they're going to go really far this year and win a lot of games. We had some great opportunities. I think we battled we didn't hang our heads or give up in the game but just made some mistakes that don't allow you to beat number five. But some of the things we did but I thought there was some really good takeaways from this game and good film," Barnes said. "I thought that at times, our press in the fourth quarter was really good. I thought the third quarter we struggled a little bit. I think just the mistakes -- we're not getting back in transition defense that hurt us.”
Texas forward Madison Booker (35) wins the rebound in crowded lane over teammate guard Shay Holle (10) and Arizona guard Salimatou Kourouma (24), left, forward Isis Beh (33) and guard Helena Pueyo (13) in their game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., December 13, 2023.
Key moment
Texas was up 45-36 and went on a big run at the start of the third quarter, outscoring UA 11-3. The Wildcats lone three-pointer was knocked down by Pueyo. Texas freshman Madison Booker scored on a jumper and a layup. Harmon added two points on another jumper. Taylor Jones hit two free throws and Shaylee Gonzalez capped it off with one from beyond the arc. Arizona freshman Breya Cunningham’s layup ended the scoring drought as Arizona was down 56-41. The Longhorns’ lead would grow from there.
Stuffing the stat sheet
Gilbert: 26 points, 5 rebounds, 3 of 3 from 3-point range.
Cunningham: 12 points, 5 rebounds, 3 steals.
Esmery Martinez: 8 points, 3 rebounds, 3 steals.
Pueyo: 8 points, 4 assists.
The other side
Gonzales hit 4 of 6 from beyond in the arc and finished with 12 points. Jones had 16 points and four steals. Booker and Shay Holle each had 12 points.
Arizona guard Kailyn Gilbert (15) gestures after hitting a long rang jumper against Texas in the first quarter of the Wildcats' matchup with No. 5 Texas Wednesday night at McKale Center.
By the numbers
26: The Wildcats were down by as many as 26 points in the beginning of the fourth quarter before they climbed back into the game. UA outscored Texas 23-12 in the fourth quarter.
87.5%: UA made 7 of 8 attempts from beyond the arc, shooting 87.5%. Coming in, the Wildcats were shooting 25% from 3 point range on the season. Wednesday's showing brought that mark up to 28 percent.
25: Arizona only scored 11 points off 15 Texas turnovers. The Longhorns, meanwhile, converted 21 turnovers into 25 points.
22: Arizona only held the lead for 22 seconds in the first quarter.
Up next
Arizona (7-3) takes on ASU (7-3) at Desert Financial Arena in Tempe on Sunday at 5 p.m. to open Pac-12 play. The game will be televised by Pac-12 Networks, with the radio call available on 1290-AM.
Photos: Arizona women's basketball ground down by No. 5 Texas, 88-75, college basketball
Arizona guard Courtney Blakely (1) comes up short diving for a loose ball against Texas forward Madison Booker (35) late in the fourth quarter of their game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., December 13, 2023.
Texas forward Madison Booker (35) wins the rebound in crowded lane over teammate guard Shay Holle (10) and Arizona guard Salimatou Kourouma (24), left, forward Isis Beh (33) and guard Helena Pueyo (13) in their game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., December 13, 2023.
Arizona guard Kailyn Gilbert (15) goes straight at Texas forward Khadija Faye (20) to score in the fourth quarter of their game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., December 13, 2023.
Arizona guard Salimatou Kourouma (24) wins the leap for an inlet pass against Texas forward Taylor Jones (44) during their game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., December 13, 2023.
Texas forward Amina Muhammad (14), left, and forward Taylor Jones (44) sandwich Arizona forward Isis Beh (33) trying to drive into the lane at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., December 13, 2023.
Texas guard Shaylee Gonzales (2) strips Arizona forward Esmery Martinez (12) on her way into the lane during the game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., December 13, 2023.
Arizona forward Isis Beh (33) gets tangled up against Texas forward Amina Muhammad (14) at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., December 13, 2023.
Arizona forward Esmery Martinez (12), left, and guard Helena Pueyo (13) put the clamps on Texas guard Shaylee Gonzales (2) in their game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., December 13, 2023.
Arizona head coach Adia Barnes talks to the Wildcats during a timeout in the fourth quarter against Texas at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., December 13, 2023.
Texas forward Taylor Jones (44) comes up with the ball between Arizona forward Esmery Martinez (12), left, and Arizona guard Jada Williams (2) during a scramble in the third quarter of their game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., December 13, 2023.
Arizona guard Skylar Jones (4), left, forces Texas guard Rori Harmon (3) away from the ball in the race for a loose ball in the fourth quarter of their game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., December 13, 2023.
Arizona guard Kailyn Gilbert (15) gestures after hitting a long rang jumper against Texas in the first quarter of their game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., December 13, 2023.
Arizona guard Salimatou Kourouma (24) has questions about who the ball went off during the chase for the ball against Texas at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., December 13, 2023.
Texas head coach Vic Schaefer pleads his case during th early going against Arizona at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., December 13, 2023.
Arizona guard Jada Williams (2) fires up the crowd during intros for the Wildcats’ game against Texas at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., December 13, 2023.
Arizona forward Esmery Martinez (12) takes a hit scoring against Texas in the first quarter of their game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., December 13, 2023.
Arizona forward Isis Beh (33) strips Texas guard Shaylee Gonzales (2) of the ball, pressuring her on the sideline during their game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., December 13, 2023.
Arizona forward Esmery Martinez (12), left, and Arizona forward Isis Beh (33) put the squeeze on Texas forward Taylor Jones (44) at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., December 13, 2023.
Arizona forward Breya Cunningham (25) looks for room to get past the pressure from Texas forward Taylor Jones (44) at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., December 13, 2023.
Arizona forward Esmery Martinez (12) gets hit going to the basket against Texas forward Khadija Faye (20) in their game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., December 13, 2023.
A staffer carries several cutouts of players from the University of Arizona’s women’s basketball team through McKale Center before the Wildcats take on Texas, Tucson, Ariz., December 13, 2023.
Arizona guard Salimatou Kourouma (24) dials in her eye as the Wildcats get ready to take on No. 5 ranked Texas at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., December 13, 2023.
Arizona guard Salimatou Kourouma (24) puts the pressure on Texas guard Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda (32) on the perimeter in the second quarter of their game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., December 13, 2023.
Arizona forward Esmery Martinez (12) tries to track down a loose ball against Texas forward Amina Muhammad (14) in the first quarter of their game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., December 13, 2023.
Arizona guard Jada Williams (2) finds the room to drive into the lane against Texas in their game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., December 13, 2023.
Texas forward Amina Muhammad (14), top, and Arizona guard Kailyn Gilbert (15) scramble for a loose ball in the Wildcat half during the first quarter of their game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., December 13, 2023.
