TUCSON, Ariz. – The Arizona Wildcats (18-13) will host their first postseason game since 2001 as they face Idaho State (20-10) for the second time this season in the First Round of the WNIT on Thursday night at 6:30 p.m. MST. Thursday's game will be live streamed on ArizonaWildcats.com.
 
Thursday, March 21 at 6:30 p.m. MST
Live Stream: ArizonaWildcats.com
Radio: 1400 AM (Derrick Palmer)
Twitter: @ArizonaWBB
#MadeForIt
 
FROM THE TIP

• Arizona is playing in their first postseason game since the 2011 WNIT and are hosting their first postseason game since the 2001 WNIT.
• The Wildcats are facing Idaho State for the second time this season. Arizona beat the Bengals in the season opener on Nov. 9 by a score of 71-46.
• Arizona is the only team representing the Pac-12 in the WNIT.
• The Wildcats, led by sophomore Adia Barnes, won the 1996 WNIT.
• Aari McDonald owns the Arizona single-season scoring record and is currently seventh on the Pac-12 single-season scoring list. She joins Kelsey Plum as the only two players in conference history to have 750 points and 130 assists in one season.
• Arizona has won 18 games for the first time since the 2010-11 season when the Cats won 21 games.
• Arizona had their highest margin of victory in a Pac-12 Tournament game over USC after winning 76-48.

Last Five at the WNIT
3/17/11: at Utah State 103, Arizona 95
3/17/01: at New Mexico 75, Arizona 62
3/15/01: at Arizona 73, Kent State 61
3/23/96: Arizona 79, Northwestern 63
3/22/96: Arizona 80, Arkansas 77
 
A Win for Arizona Would Mean...

• Would be the first postseason win since Mar. 20, 2005 at the NCAA Tournament.
• Would be the first time Arizona has won a game in the WNIT since 2001.
• Would be the first time Arizona has won 19 games since 2011.
• Would be the second time Arizona has beaten Idaho State this season.

 
Aar it Out
Aari McDonald has been the catalyst for Arizona all season. Below is a list of accomplishments she has achieved this season.

• Owns the Arizona single-season scoring record (774).
• Tied the Arizona single-game scoring record (39).
• Fastest player in school history to 500 and 600 points and is the only with 700 points in a season.
• Has scored over 1,000 career points.
• Became the first Pac-12 player to score 30 points in three-straight games since the NCAA's all-time leading scorer Kelsey Plum had four-straight in Jan. 2017.
• Only player in school history to have eight 30-points game.
• Joins Kelsey Plum, as the only players in conference history to have 750 points and 130 assists in one season.
• Has scored in double figures in every game this season.
• Became the 12th player in Pac-12 history to score 700 points in a season.
• Set the Arizona conference tournament record with 34 points against Oregon on Mar. 8.

 
The 600 Club
Aari McDonald became the 36th player in Pac-12 history to join the 600-point club as well as the 11th sophomore in Pac-12 history. The only other player in school history to score 600 points in one season was Adia Barnes. After scoring 26 points against Utah (2/15), she became the third-fastest Pac-12 player since 2000 to score 600 points. Only Kelsey Plum and Chiney Ogwumike did it faster. For reference, Plum, who is the NCAA's all-time leading scorer, scored her 600th point in the 26th game of the season while it took McDonald 24 games.
 
The 700 Club
McDonald became the 12th player in Pac-12 history to score 700 points in one season. She is also the sixth sophomore in Pac-12 history to score 700. McDonald joins Kelsey Plum, Candice Wiggins and Sabrina Ionescu as the only players in Pac-12 history to score 700 points and have 120 assists in one season.
 
Another Invite?
McDonald is 26 points away from becoming the fourth player in conference history to score 800 points in one season. It has been done five times by Kelsey Plum, Chiney Ogwumike and Nnemkadi Ogwumike.
 
McDonald Garnering National Recognition
Earlier this season McDonald was named to the Wooden Award Midseason Top 25 list on Jan. 9 and became the first Wildcat since Shawntinice Polk (2003-04) to be named to the list. In mid-February, she was named to the Dawn Staley and Ann Meyers Drysdale Watch List.
 
A Premier Bucket Getter
No player in Arizona history has led the nation in scoring and only two Wildcats (Adia Barnes and Dee Dee Wheeler) have led the conference in scoring. In fact, only Barnes averaged at least 20 points per game in one season when she scored 21.8 per game during her senior season (1997-98). She has scored in double-figures in every game this season and is trying to become the first player since Dee-Dee Wheeler to hit double-figures in every game in one season.
 
NCAA's Leading Scorers
1. Megan Gustafson (Iowa): 28.0
2. Cierra Dillard (Buffalo): 25.3
3. Aari McDonald (Arizona): 25.0
 
Arizona Single-Season Scoring List
                                    Year     GP       Points
1. Aari McDonald         2019     31         774
2. Adia Barnes               1998     30         653
3. Adia Barnes               1997     31         598
4. Dee-Dee Wheeler      2005     32         564
5. Dee-Dee Wheeler      2004     33         558
 
Arizona Single-Season Scoring List (Sophomores)
                                    Year     GP       Points
1. Aari McDonald         2019     31         774
2. Shawntinice Polk       2004     33         549
3. Davellyn Whyte         2011     33         523
4. Adia Barnes               1996     30         522
 
Most 30-Point Games this Season (Pac-12)
Aari McDonald (Arizona)                      8
Kristine Anigwe (Cal)                              6
Borislava Hristova (WSU)                       4
Alanna Smith (Stanford)                        3
 
Fewest Games to 500 Points Since 1999-00 (Pac-12 Players)
Kelsey Plum, Wash. ('16-'17) – 17
Chiney Ogwumike, Stan. ('13-'14) – 19
Kelsey Plum, Wash. ('16-'17) – 19
Aari McDonald, Ariz. ('18-'19) – 20
 
Fewest Games to 600 Points Since 1999-00 (Pac-12 Players)
Kelsey Plum, Wash. ('16-'17) – 20
Chiney Ogwumike, Stan. ('13-'14) – 23
Kelsey Plum, Wash. ('15-'16) – 23
Aari McDonald, Ariz. ('18-'19) – 24
Kelsey Plum, Wash. ('14-'15) – 26
Chiney Ogwumike, Stan. ('12-'13) – 27 
 
Fewest Games to 700 Points All-Time (Pac-12 Players)
Kelsey Plum, Wash. ('16-'17) – 23
Chiney Ogwumike, Stan. ('13-'14) – 27
Kelsey Plum, Wash. ('15-'16) – 27
Rehema Stephens, UCLA ('90-'91) – 28
Aari McDonald, Ariz ('18-'19) – 29
Jennifer Bennett, Cal ('86-'87) – 30
Cherie Nelson, USC ('87-'88) – 30
 
Fewest Games to 800 Points All-Time (Pac-12 Players)
Kelsey Plum, Wash. ('16-'17) – 27
Chiney Ogwumike, Stan. ('13-'14) – 30
Kelsey Plum, Wash. ('15-'16) – 31
Chiney Ogwumike, Stan. ('12-'13) – 36
Nneka Ogwumike, Stan. ('11-'12) – 36
   
Pac-12, Most Games in a Single Season with 30+ Points - Since 1999-00
2016-17    Kelsey Plum, Wash                17
2013-14    Chiney Ogwumike, Stan         14
2015-16    Kelsey Plum, Wash                10
2018-19    Aari McDonald, Ariz             8
2014-15    Kelsey Plum, Wash                7
 
Three-Time Pac-12 Player of the Week
Aari McDonald was named Pac-12 Player of the Week for the third time this season on Jan. 7 after averaging 33 points, eight rebounds and five steals per game against Colorado and Utah on the road. She won her second on Dec. 3 after averaging 26.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 3.5 steals in Arizona's two wins against Incarnate Word and San Diego State and won her first on Nov. 19 after averaging 32 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 2.3 assists and 2.7 three-pointers per game on 56% shooting from the field over the three games.
 
Reese's Buckets
Cate Reese, who was named to the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team, became the first Wildcat since Shawntinice Polk in 2002 to record a double-double in her collegiate debut and became the first freshman to score at least 20 in her first career game since Davellyn Whyte in 2008 after scoring 21 points in the opener against Idaho State. Reese averages 11.4 points and 6.9 rebounds per game, making her the leading rebounder and second-leading scorer among freshmen in the Pac-12. Reese made her presence felt in her first career Pac-12 Tournament game as she recorded her sixth double-double of the season with 19 points and 11 rebounds and followed that up with 12 points against Oregon.
 
Reese's Boards
Against Montana, Cate Reese became the 10th Wildcat to grab at least 18 rebounds in a game, was the first since Ify Ibekwe (Feb. 13, 2011) and is the first freshman to do so since Polk (Dec. 22, 2002). Reese, who had her first double-figure rebounding effort against a Pac-12 opponent against UCLA, averages 6.9 rebounds per game, the most among all freshmen in the Pac-12. Head coach Adia Barnes' career-high in rebounds was 18 back on Jan. 7, 1995. Reese's 213 total rebounds are the fourth-most for a freshman in Arizona history.
 
Reese Arizona's First Pac-12 Freshman of the Week
Cate Reese was named Pac-12 Freshman of the week for the third time this season on Jan. 28 after averaging 15.5 points and 8.0 rebounds per game on 54% shooting against the L.A. schools while recording her first-career Pac-12 double-double. Reese won her second on Jan. 21, averaging 17 points, five rebounds and two steals on 58% shooting against the Oregon schools, who were both ranked in the top 10 at the time. Reese became Arizona's first Pac-12 Freshman of the Week on Nov. 26 after her 19-point and 16-rebound performance against South Carolina State.
 
I'll Have a Double-Double
Reese has the second-most double-doubles among all freshmen in the Pac-12 with six. After scoring 14 points and grabbing 10 rebounds against UCLA in her first double-double against a Pac-12 opponent, Reese became the first freshman since Ify Ibekwe to have five double-doubles in one season. Additionally, the last player to have five or more double-doubles in a season was Davellyn Whyte in the 2012-13 season.  
 
Sam I Am
Defensive versatility is the story of Sam Thomas, who is the only player in the Pac-12 to average at least 1.6 steals and 1.2 blocks per game. Throughout a game, you can find the sophomore guarding the opposing team's point guard or center. There have been eight games this season in which she has recorded at least three steals, including the game against South Carolina State in which she had five blocks and four steals. Of Arizona's 31 games, there have only been nine in which she has not recorded at least one steal. Not only is she an incredible defender, she is also Arizona's third-leading scorer at 9.5 points per game and averaged 10.2 in Pac-12 play, the second-most on the team. Thomas has made at least one three in each of her last 10 games as well as 11 of her last 12.
 
Old Man Dominique
Ask anyone to characterize redshirt junior Dominique McBryde's game and they will all say "old man game." McBryde, who transferred from Purdue after the 2016-17 season has been one of Arizona's most crucial players, especially on the defensive end, after sitting out the 2017-18 season. The junior had her best game of the season as she made a career-high four three-pointers to give her a season-high 20 points in 50 minutes of action, another career-high. McBryde was pivotal against Utah as she held Megan Huff to 1-13 shooting and scored nine points in the fourth quarter to close out the win. While at Purdue, McBryde was named honorable mention All-Big-Ten in 2017, averaging 6.7 points and 6.3 rebounds while making 25 starts.
 
Buenos Dias, Lucia
Junior guard Lucia Alonso returns to the court for year three with a ton of experience, playing 1,088 minutes last season to go along with 887 minutes the year before. The only player in Arizona history that played more minutes in their first two years was Arizona Ring of Honor inductee Davellyn Whyte, who played 2,095 in her first two seasons. Known as a knockdown three-point shooter, Alonso has the highest career three-point percentage in school history at 40.8%. She has made at least three three-pointers in six games this season and became the 10th player in school history to make 100 three-pointers after knocking down four alone in the fourth quarter against Washington State on Feb. 9.
 
Most Made Three-Pointers in Arizona History
6. Julie Brase – 125 (118 games)
7. Natalie Jones – 117 (126 games)
8. Kama Griffits – 110 (56 games)
9. Monika Crank – 106 (118 games)
10. Lucia Alonso – 102 (87 games)
 
Tee Tee is Back
At the beginning of the season, Tee Tee Starks had made the decision that this would be her final year playing college basketball. On senior day, she announced that she will be returning for her final year of eligibility and will be a fifth-year senior for the 2019-20 season. It's no secret that Starks causes absolute havoc on the defensive end, and the numbers show it. In the 15 games against Pac-12 teams she played at least 10 minutes in, opponents average 64.5 points per game while shooting 40% from the field. In the five Pac-12 games she has either missed or played fewer than 10 minutes due to injury, opponents are averaging 74 points per game and shoot 47% from the field. Starks has become one of Arizona's most trusted shooters as she shoots 47% from three. She has made one in six of her last seven games and knocked down four twice against California and USC in the Pac-12 Tournament, where she scored a career-high 14 points.
 
It's Her Destiny
Destiny Graham is the lone four-year senior on the team who started her career at Arizona. Not only that, she is the only player on the roster who played for former head coach Niya Butts. She had her best game of the season against Stanford (2/22) as she scored a season-high 11 points with a career-high three three-pointers. It was the first time she made multiple three-pointers in one game. On Jan. 23, it was announced that Graham would be attending the So You Want to be a Coach program in Tampa Bay in April.
 
Still Playing
For the first time since 2011, Arizona will play in the postseason after earning an 18-13 record. The Wildcats, who are the lone Pac-12 team in the WNIT, last played in the WNIT back in 2011 when they lost to Utah State in the First Round. In 1996, Adia Barnes and the Arizona Wildcats won the WNIT over Northwestern. Arizona also played in the 2001 edition, but lost at New Mexico in the Second Round.
 
A Turnaround for the Ages
After winning just six games last season, the Wildcats have won 18 games this season, tying the record for the largest turnaround from year to year. Here is a look at the largest turnarounds from season to season in school history.
 
12 wins
'84-'85 (7-21)
'85-'86 (19-9)
and
'17-'18 (6-24)
'18-'19 (18-13)
 
Lock it Up
The Arizona defense has been swarming this season allowing just 62.6 points per game, which is fourth in the Pac-12 and are allowing opponents to just 39% shooting, which is the third-best mark in the conference. Against South Carolina State, the Bulldogs shot just 19.6% from the field, which is 0.2% higher than the school record for lowest field goal percentage allowed in one game. So far, Arizona has forced the opponent to shoot below 35% nine times this year as opposed to last year when opponents shot under 35% four times all season. Arizona is averaging 8.2 steals per game on the season which is second the Pac-12.
 
Keeping them at Bay
Of Arizona's 31 games this season, the Wildcats have held their opponents under their scoring average 23 times. UCLA was held under their regular scoring average through four quarters, but the game went to triple overtime, allowing the Bruins to score 98.
 
The Key to Victory
Arizona has won the rebounding battle 13 times this season, and in each of those games, the Wildcats have come out victorious. In the 18 games that Arizona's opponent won the rebounding battle, the Wildcats are just 5-13.
 
Winning Big
All but four of Arizona's victories has come by at least 10 points this year and also have four wins of 30 or more. In every single one of Arizona's wins, they led by at least 10 points at one point in the game.
 
It's Been a While

• Aari McDonald broke Adia Barnes' 21-year single-season scoring record against Cal on Feb. 24. McDonald also broke the school record for points in a conference tournament game (34).
• Arizona has won 17 games and seven conference games for the first time since the 2010-11 season and have guaranteed an above .500 regular season record for the first time since that season.
• McDonald became the first player since Shawntinice Polk ('03-'04) to be named to the Wooden Award Midseason Top 25 Watch List and became the first to be named to the Dawn Staley and Ann Meyers Drysdale Award Watch List.
• McDonald joins Kelsey Plum, as the only players in conference history to have 750 points and 130 assists in one season.
• McDonald is the first in school history to score 30 points eight times in one season and was the first in school history to have three-straight 30-point games. She is also the first player since Adia Barnes ('98) to score 600 points in one season.
• McDonald is the first player in school history to score 600 points in the first 24 games of the season and is the first sophomore in the Pac-12 since the 1999-00 season to do so.
• The last time Arizona played in a triple overtime game was during the 2008-09 season and the last time there was a triple overtime game between two Pac-12 teams was back in the 2000-01 season.
• Arizona started the season 12-1 for the first time since the 1999-00 season.
• The Wildcats have beaten two ranked opponents (No. 17 ASU & No. 24 Cal) this season. The last time Arizona won two conference games, as well as back-to-back wins over ranked opponents, was during the 2002-03 season.
• Arizona won 11-straight games for the first time in school history from mid-November to early-January.
• The Wildcats beat Colorado at the CU Events Center for the first time in school history.
• Aari McDonald is the first player since Davellyn Whyte to record at least eight steals in one game (Dec. 12, 2012). She finished one off the school record.
• The Wildcats won their games against South Carolina State, Incarnate Word and Montana by 40+ points, which is the first time Arizona has won three games in one season by at least 40 points.

High-Level Losses
10 of Arizona's 13 losses have come against teams in the NCAA Tournament.
 
Stanford (2)
Oregon (2)
Oregon State (2)
Arizona State
UCLA
California
 
Of Arizona's 13 losses, nine have come against teams currently ranked in the top 25 in the AP Poll.
 
6. Stanford (2)
7. Oregon (3)
11. Oregon State (2)
20. UCLA
22. Arizona State
 
Knocking Down the Trey
Arizona has had four games this season where they have made at least 10 three-pointers. Last year, Arizona made 10 or more three-pointers in just two of their 30 games. Aari McDonald (53), Sam Thomas (42), Lucia Alonso (34) and Tee Tee Starks (22) lead the way for Arizona. Against Washington State on Feb. 9, Arizona shot 60% (9-15) from three, which is the best three-point percentage the Wildcats have shot in a game since Nov. 18, 2015.
 
Taking Care of the Ball
Turnovers were an issue in the first two games of the season as the Wildcats averaged 20.5 turnovers. Coach Adia Barnes made a point to her team to take care of the ball and since then, the Wildcats average under 14 turnovers per game in the last 29 games, including just four against Oregon State both times they played them, which tied the record set last year at Oregon State and six against California which is tied for the second-fewest in school history. The Wildcats have the third-best turnover margin in the Pac-12 with a margin of +2.7 as they force the third-most turnovers per game in the Pac-12 (15.9).
 
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