Cats to Tussle With Texas Tech in Lubbock on Friday

Arizona (0-1, 0-0 Pac-12) vs. Texas Tech (2-0, 0-0 Big 12)
Lubbock, Texas | United Supermarkets Arena
Friday, November 21, 2014 | 6:00 p.m. MST
Game Coverage: Live Stats | Radio: KTUC AM 1400/ TuneIn Radio | Live Stream: TexasTech.com

TUCSON, Ariz.--- The Wildcats head to Lubbock, Texas for their first road contest of the season, as they take on Texas Tech, Friday at 6:00 p.m. MST inside United Supermarkets Arena. 

INSIDE THE SERIES...

Arizona vs. Texas Tech
Overall Record 1-1
Home Record 1-0
Away Record 0-1
Neutral Site Record 0-0
Longest Win Streak 1 game
Longest Losing Streak 1 game
Current Streak Won 1
Record in Last 10 Meetings 1-1
First Meeting
Dec. 22, 1979 at Texas Tech (L, 98-65)
Last Meeting
Dec. 15, 2013 at Tucson, Ariz. (W, 65-56)

Series Notes: This will be the third overall meeting between Arizona and Texas Tech, but also the second in consecutive seasons, as UA won a 65-56 contest in McKale Center last year. Candice Warthen led all scorers with 23 points, while LaBrittney Jones went for 12 points and a game-high 15 rebounds in the win. Arizona aims for its very first win in Lubbock on Friday.

Rating the Raiders
Texas Tech struggled last season, as it compiled a 6-24 overall record, while going 0-18 in Big 12 play, but it enters the year off to a 2-0 start, earning wins over Jacksonville State and Texas State to open the season. Senior forward Kelsi Baker has led the way scoring wise in the early going, averaging 17 points per game. Freshman forward Dayo Olabonde has nearly averaged a double-double for the Lady Raiders thus far, as she’s recorded an average of nine points and a team-leading 10 rebounds through the first two games. Texas Tech was picked to finish 10th in the Big 12 this season according to the conference’s preseason coaches’ poll.

Last Time Out For Arizona
After trailing by as many as 20 points in the second half, Arizona strung together a furious rally and outscored Bakersfield 32-16 over the final 18 minutes of play to eventually tie the game, but it wasn’t quite enough as the Wildcats dropped a 76-72 heartbreaker to Bakersfield to open the season, last Monday night at the newly renovated McKale Center.

Senior guard Candice Warthen paced Arizona (0-1), scoring a team-leading 18 points and dishing out a game-high equaling five assists, while sophomore forward LaBrittney Jones racked up her third career-double-double, going for 14 points and grabbing game-high 13 rebounds on the night.

Senior forward Alli Gloyd had a strong season debut, nearly notching a double-double herself, as she put in 11 points and grabbed nine rebounds in her first game back since March 7, 2013, after being forced to sit out all of last season due to an ACL injury.

Freshman guard Charise Holloway also chipped in with 12 points, five rebounds, and two steals in her Arizona debut to round out the double figure scorers for the Wildcats.

Bakersfield (2-0) received a large contribution from senior forward Tyonna Outland, as she led all scorers with 25 points on 9-of-22 shooting from the field. Senior guard Dajy Vines also chipped in with 19 points and four steals, as the only other double-digit scorer for the Roadrunners.

The Roadrunners led for most of the first half, eventually going up by as many as 17 points with 3:27 remaining in the half. Bakersfield took a 52-37 advantage into the intermission, as it shot 52.6 percent (20-of-38) from the field and 58.3 percent (7-of-12) from three-point range.

But the game was far from over, as Arizona launched a 16-2 run of its own over a seven-plus minute span to get within 60-54 with 10:31 remaining. The Cats then made it a one possession game as Holloway knocked down the second of her two treys on the night from the left corner to bring Arizona within 64-61 with 5:30 remaining.

Gloyd finished off the comeback, as she took it to the basket and converted on an and-one opportunity to tie the game up at 66-66 with just 3:20 remaining, capping off what was a 28-8 scoring run since the 17:59 mark of the first half.

Trailing 72-70 with 12.8 seconds remaining, the Cats held the ball with a chance to tie or take the lead, but couldn’t manage to score.

Arizona ended up outscoring Bakersfield 35-24 in the second half and out rebounding the Roadrunners 49-37 for the contest. The Wildcats also shot a superb 19-of-22 from the free throw line for 86.4 percent.

Breaking Down the 2014-15 Cats
Seventh-year head coach Niya Butts and the Wildcats return three starters and seven letterwinners overall from last year’s squad, including leading scorer Candice Warthen (11.1 ppg). Senior Alli Gloyd (9.4 pts, 6 rebs in 2012-13) and redshirt freshman Dejza James also return after tearing ACLs last year. Arizona also boasts the highest ranked recruiting class in program history coming into the new season.

Success in Road Openers
Arizona has won its first road game to start a year in each of the last five seasons going back to 2008-09.

A Streak Meant For Snapping
Arizona has dropped 12 straight road games going back to last season.

Welcome to the Show
Charise Holloway, Chy Cunningham, Malena Washington, and JaLea Bennet all made their Arizona debuts on Monday. Holloway and Washington also scored their first collegiate points.

More the Merrier
Nine players saw game action last Monday, which was the most in 20 straight contests going back to last season’s Dec. 21 contest vs. UC Riverside.

Second Half, Times Two
The Wildcats outscored Bakersfield 35-24 in the second half, while outscoring them 18-8 in the paint and holding them to just 7-of-28 from the field for 25 percent. Arizona was outscored 52-37 overall and 22-10 in the paint in the first half, while Bakersfield shot 20-of-38 from the field for 52.6 percent.

On the Offensive
Sophomore forward LaBrittney Jones currently leads the league in offensive rebounds per game with 7.0.

Double it Up
LaBrittney Jones recorded her third career double-double last Monday, going 14 points and and 13 rebounds against Bakersfield. She’ll look to record consecutive double-doubles for the first time in her career on Friday.

Where We Rank
Arizona currently leads the conference in offensive rebounding (21.0 rpg) and free throw percentage (86.4%).

Cats Tabbed 12th in Pac-12 Preseason Polls
Arizona was picked to finish 12th in the conference in both the preseason media and coaches’ polls. The Cats received 12 overall points in the media poll to finish just behind Colorado, who received 42 points. UA tallied 12 points in the coaches’ poll, while Utah claimed 28 votes, as it was placed 11th.

Stanford (116, 7 first place), California (111, 3 first place), and Oregon State (105, 2 first place) rounded out the coaches’ picks for the conference’s top three finishers, while the media picked California (194, 9 first place) to take home the league crown, followed by Stanford (190, 7 first place) and Oregon State (162, 1 first place).

Hit Me With Your Best Shot
The 2014-15 slate is once again littered with top-notch competition, as Arizona will play 17 contests against teams who qualified for postseason play a year ago, including seven matches with teams ranked in both the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches’ preseason polls in No. 6/6 Stanford, No. 15/14 California, No. 20/21 Oregon State, and No. 23/23 UCLA. Conference foes Oregon, USC, and Arizona State are also receiving votes in either one or both preseason polls. The Cats will clash with those schools a combined five times.

Lights, Camera, Action
Arizona games will be shown on a television a school-record 14 times this season, all on the Pac-12 Networks.

By The Numbers
Arizona returns 53 percent of its total points scored (913/1,736), 48 percent of its rebounds (494/1,020), 54 percent of its field goals made (357/661), 25 percent of its three-pointers made (27/109), 56 percent of its free throws converted (172/305), 41 percent of its assists (140/344), and 53 percent of its steals from a season ago (103/193).

“Gloyd” to Have You Back
Senior forward Alli Gloyd returns to action after missing all of last season with a torn ACL. Gloyd averaged 9.4 points and six rebounds per game during the 2012-13 campaign. If one were to plug in her 2012-13 numbers into last year’s overall statistics, she would have led the team in free throw percentage (.739) and overall rebounding (6.0), while her total steals (37) and points per game (9.4) would rank second among all returners. Gloyd scored in double figures 14 separate times during 2012-13.

Follow the Leader
Candice Warthen returns as the team’s leading scorer from a year ago (11.1 ppg). She also led the team in total points (334), field goals made (134), assists per game (3.1), and steals per contest (1.3). Warthen had a solid unofficial 2014-15 debut, going for 12 points on 8-of-10 shooting from the free throw line in Arizona’s exhibition contest against Concordia.

Sophomore Sensation?
LaBrittney Jones’ growth as a freshman last season may be one of the most exciting pieces of optimism Arizona takes into the new year, as she led the team in overall rebounding (5.8 rpg), offensive rebounding (1.6 rpg), defensive rebounding (4.2 rpg), blocked shots (1.1 bpg), field goal percentage (.462) and free throws made per contest (1.8), while her 7.4 points per game average is second best among all returners. Her blocked shots per game last year ranked seventh in the Pac-12 and she is one of just two returners to start in all 30 contests last season (Warthen being the other).

Healthy Cats
Arizona played the final 13 games of last season with seven healthy players or less. The Cats enter 2014-15 with practically double that amount with 13 healthy players.

New Kids on the Block
Arizona welcomes seven new faces to the program in freshmen guards JaLea Bennett, Cherice Harris, Charise Holloway, and Taryn Griffey, who was ranked as the 21st best guard and the 86th overall prospect in the nation according to ESPNW’s 2014 HoopGurlz Recruiting rankings. The class is considered one of the best in program history. Transfer guards Malena Washington (Tyler JC), Chy Cunningham (Paris JC) and Lauren Evans (Virginia Tech) also enter their first seasons with the program.

All Over the Map
Arizona boasts players from seven different states, as four players are from California, four are from Texas, two are from Arizona, while Georgia, Mississippi, Nevada, and Washington are each represented once on the roster.

Arizona Inks Three in Early 2015-16 Signing Period
The Wildcats signed forward A’Shanti Coleman, guard Michal Miller and forward Destiny Graham during the early signing period.

A’Shanti Coleman | Forward | 6-2 | Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep
Coleman comes to Arizona regarded as one of the top bigs in the nation as she’s been placed as the 108th ranked forward in the country according to “The Jump Off Plus”. She was named to the All-State First Team last year after nearly averaging a double-double, scoring 12 points, pulling down seven rebounds, and blocking four shots per game her junior season. She also helped guide Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep to back-to-back league titles, while leading the Irish to the state title game her sophomore year. Sacred Heart recorded an overall mark of 25-7 and a league mark of 11-1 that season. Coleman also was awarded team MVP honors after her sophomore campaign, where she averaged eight points, seven rebounds, and three blocked shots per contest. Coleman plans to major in psychology.

From Coach Butts…
“A’Shanti Coleman is an exceptional athlete and fits well in our system and the way we like to play. She’s a transition post player who gets up and down the floor, can finish around the rim and make the 16 to 18 foot jumper. She also has a tremendous presence inside in terms of blocking shots.”

Michal Miller | Guard | 5-7 | Michigan City High School (Michigan City, Ind.)
Miller comes to Arizona ranked as 35th best guard in the country according to Collegiate Girls Basketball Report. She also brings loads of basketball experience, as she will have started all four seasons for Michigan City High School by the time her senior year concludes. Miller enters her final season at Michigan City as one of the most dangerous all-around players in the state, as she averaged career highs in points (20.4 ppg), rebounds (6.5 rpg), and steals (4.8 spg) last year, while earning All-America, First-Team Underclass All-State and All-League honors. She was also named the team’s most valuable player. During her sophomore campaign, Miller averaged 11.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 3.7 steals per contest on her way to claiming First Team Underclass All-State and Second Team All-League honors, after guiding the Wolves to a 19-4 overall record.
Miller made an impact on the Michigan City program right away, as she started all 25 contests her freshman year, averaging 12.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 3.5 steals, and a block per game, helping the Wolves obtain an 18-7 overall record. Miller wants to study music or communications when she gets to Arizona.

From coach Butts…
“I feel like we were able to get one of the best perimeter players in this class in Michal Miller. She is an extremely versatile guard who can play all three spots on the perimeter. She can slash and get to the basket, has a solid mid-range jump shot and her game beyond the arc is also efficient. She has all the tools to be one of the great players in our league, so we’re really excited about that.”

Destiny Graham | Forward | 6-2 | Eastside College Prep (East Palo Alto, Calif.)
Graham comes to Arizona ranked as the No. 28 forward in the country according to Collegiate Girls Basketball Report. She enters her senior season at Eastside College Prep poised for a breakout year, as she set career bests in points scored (14.6 ppg), rebounds (8.6 rpg), and blocks (3.4 bpg), on her way to claiming league MVP honors and a spot on the All-League First Team. Graham averaged a career-best 5.1 steals per contest her sophomore year, while leading the Panthers to the league title and a berth in the state championship game, after going 22-9 overall. She was named the West Bay Foothill League’s most improved player and earned Second Team All-League honors.

Graham made an impact right away as a freshman, pulling down 8.3 boards per contest and nearly averaging two blocks a game on the way to being named an All-League Honorable Mention. She’s started all three seasons thus far at Eastside. Graham played under head coach Donovan Blythe both at Eastside College Prep and on Blythe’s Basketball AAU squad. She plans to major in criminology.

From Coach Butts…
“Destiny Graham is extremely athletic and agile. She brings a bit more size than we have now and her presence is certainly going to be needed. Destiny fits our style of play and has a huge upside. We are looking forward to her joining our family.”

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