TUCSON, Ariz.--- The script couldn't have been written any better for the Wildcats, as senior guard Candice Warthen poured in a season-high 23 points on 10-of-13 shooting to lift Arizona to a convincing 64-41 victory over Utah on Senior Day, Sunday afternoon inside McKale Center.

For Arizona (10-19, 3-15 Pac-12), the 23-point win marks its largest margin of victory since defeating UC Santa Barbara by 27 points back on Nov. 25 this season, while the Cats now claim the No. 11 seed in the upcoming Pac-12 Tournament and will take on sixth-seeded UCLA, Thursday at 3 pm MST in the first round up in Seattle, Wash.

Warthen put together one of her best outings in her final home game as a Wildcat, as the 23-point performance marked her third 20-plus point game of the season, while it was also her 19th double-figure scoring outing of the year. She's now led Arizona in scoring in 16 of 29 contests this season.

Freshman guard JaLea Bennett posted her best game of her young career, as she poured in a career-high equaling 14 points on a perfect 7-of-7 shooting from the floor, while grabbing a career-best equaling six rebounds and dishing out a career and game-high four assists on the day.

Sophomore forward Breanna Workman pulled down a team-high eight rebounds, while sophomore forward LaBrittney Jones chipped in with eight points and five rebounds off the bench in the win.

Senior forward Alli Gloyd provided a game and career-high three blocks in her final home game.

Arizona boasted one of the most complete performances of the season, as the Cats shot a season-high 51.9 percent from the field on 28-of-54 shooting as a team, while UA's defense clamped down as well, holding Utah (9-20, 3-15 Pac-12) to just 27.1 percent shooting from the floor, marking the second lowest shooting percentage Arizona has held an opponent to this season.

The Wildcats outrebounded the Utes 39-34 and scored 11 points off of seven forced turnovers, while owning a 10-0 advantage in fast break points. Arizona won the battle of the benches for the 17th time over the last 27 games, outscoring the Utah reserves 15-7.

There was never any doubt in this one, as the lead only changed twice the entire contest.

The Wildcats raced out to a quick 16-6 advantage with 14:22 remaining in the first half, as Warthen and Bennett combined to score 12 of UA's first 16 points on the night.

Later, the Utes went on a 13-0 surge to take a 19-16 advantage with 5:56 remaining in the half, but Wildcats snapped out of their shooting slump, outscoring the UtH 19-10 the rest of the period to take a 35-29 lead into halftime.

As good as the first half was for the Wildcats, it would only get better in the second half, as Arizona held Utah to just 4-of-30 from the floor for 13.3 percent shooting, while conversely, the UA offense caught fire, draining 12-of-23 field goals for 51.9 percent.

The Utes didn't knock down their first field goal of the second half until the 12:01 mark, as they went eight minutes and 27 seconds without converting a bucket going back to the first half.

Utah's Taryn Wicijowski recorded a layup with 7:21 remaining to trim Arizona's lead down to 53-41, but never got any closer than that, as the Cats dominated the rest of the way, ending the contest on an 11-0 run to secure the victory.

The Wildcats head into conference tournament play with some positive momentum, as they'll play a Los Angeles school in the opening round of the tournament for a second straight season.  

ARIZONA POSTGAME QUOTES

Head Coach- Niya Butts

Opening Statement
“First of all thank you guys for coming out and hanging with us. I think this was probably one of our better games all year long when you talk about offensively and defensively in terms of what we did and what we were able to do. I certainly want to make sure I give credit to Utah. They played a heck of a game on Friday against Arizona State and almost won, so obviously this is a very dangerous team.”

On Candice Warthen's final game at McKale Center
“I am so happy for that kid. To go 10-of-13 from the field today is really impressive, especially considering she's been struggling a little bit. To shoot almost 52 percent as a team today is pretty good for our group and hopefully that gave us a little bit of confidence going into the tournament.”

On the defensive intensity against Utah
“There was more energy today. We moved and we talked to each other on the floor. Our communication was a lot better and I think overall when you make shots it tends to give you a little more fire defensively. We certainly were a product of that today.”

On outrebounding Utah
“We were more aggressive on the boards. Obviously when you make more shots you have fewer rebounds to get but I think JaLea Bennett was flying in there for a couple of offensive rebounds and we certainly needed them. I think overall the team really played well together. I think our screens today were more of our assists than some passes were.”

On building confidence for the Pac-12 Tournament
“This is the last game of the regular season and when you play well defensively and well offensively we will certainly break down this film and watch what we did, how we did things, and hopefully we are able to carry that over to Seattle.

On sending seniors Candice Warthen and Alli Gloyd out with a win
“We talked about this all weekend, getting them a win, their last game in McKale, and to go out the way they did with us, as a team, actually playing one of our best and complete games of the season, I am just so proud, and proud of Candice, just the way she responded. And JaLea Bennett, the fans got an opportunity to see what she is capable of and what she can do.”

Senior Guard- Candice Warthen

On winning her final home game of her career
“It feels amazing. Not everyone can say they won on their senior night. I just want to thank the crowd for sticking with us throughout the entire season. It really just feels great to get a win.”

On what the team takes away from this game heading into the Pac-12 Tournament
“Well we defended very well in this game and on top of that we scored, so as those have been problems for us in previous games, we'll just have to carry this momentum over into the Pac-12 Tournament. If we defend and score, we're going to give ourselves a chance.”

On what the difference was today compared to games past
“I just think we really wanted this win today, not just for Alli and I, but to give the entire team momentum heading into the Pac-12 Tournament. We knew we had to get stops and we knew they were a team we couldn't defend very well so it was a conscious effort today.”

On her relationship with fellow senior Alli Gloyd
“Alli and I have been through a lot of adversity. It hasn't always been easy but it's been a learning experience and I wouldn't take back any of it because it all happens for a reason. If I had never gotten an injury I would have never been here today. So although we've been through a lot, it has only made us stronger and grow as people and as a team.”

Freshman Guard- JaLea Bennett

On her career performance on Sunday
“I just told Candice and Alli that since it was their last game I wanted to walk off the court saying that I gave them and this team everthing I had.”

On what she can learn from seniors Candice Warthen and Alli Gloyd
 “Just to work hard. Eevery time they come into the gym, all they're doing is putting in 100 percent into everything they do. They both do an excellent job of leading by example.”