TUCSON, Ariz. – After defeating New Mexico State in overtime on Sunday, the Arizona Wildcats (5-1) are back in Tucson to face the San Diego Toreros (4-2) on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. MST.
 
On San Diego
The Toreros come into the game off a loss against Washington State on Dec. 2. That doesn't take anything away from them though as they sport a record of 4-2 and average 78.5 points per game. San Diego is led by Maya Hood, who averages 21.2 points and 9.7 rebounds per game on 63.4% shooting. The Toreros only have one more double-digit scorer in Katherine Hamilton, who scores 11.7 points per game. Through six games, San Diego is outscoring their opponents by 16.8 points per game and shoot 48% from the field as a team. They don't particularly shoot the ball well from outside the arc as they are 24% from downtown, but from inside the three-point line, they shoot 53.4%.
 
Last 5 vs. San Diego
11/21/15: San Diego 59, Arizona 54
11/27/09: Arizona 65, San Diego 55
12/11/08: Arizona 66, San Diego 58
12/21/96: Arizona 87, San Diego 65
12/16/95: Arizona 87, San Diego 52
 
LB in the Arizona Record Books
Senior LaBrittney Jones is back for her senior season in Tucson. Jones will go down as one of the great Wildcats as she is sure to climb the record books should all go well. She is currently fifth all time in blocked shots with 111 and needs 11 to pass Marte Alexander for fourth. Jones is also 62 rebounds away from cracking the top 10, which shouldn't be an issue as she has averaged a little over 161 boards a year. She already has 56 this year. Her average of 6.0 rebounds per game for a career is seventh all time. Finally, Jones needs just 86 points to crack the top 20 in Arizona history.
 
Jones in the Pac-12
LaBrittney Jones had another solid game against New Mexico State as she scored nine points and grabbed nine rebounds against for the second game in a row. Through six games, Jones is tied for 10th in the Pac-12 in scoring (15.7 ppg) and is fourth in rebounds per game (9.3). She is also third with 2.0 blocked shots per game.
 
Washington's World
Malena Washington led the Wildcats in total points scored last year as she scored 346 for an average of 10.8 per game. She also led the team with 146 three-pointers made, which was the most in one season since Davellyn Whyte knocked down 218 in the 2012-13 season. Although she is a senior, Washington is entering just her third season as a Wildcat as she started her career at Tyler Junior College, where she was named a JC All-American. Washington exploded for a career-high 26 points against New Mexico State. 22 of her points came after halftime and 14 of them came in overtime. The senior also grabbed a career-high eight rebounds and made a career-high 10 free throws. She made eight alone in overtime, which would've been set a new career-high even if she hadn't made one before overtime. Washington is second on the team as she averages 14.3 points per game, which is also 13th in the Pac-12.
 
TG For Three
Redshirt Sophomore Taryn Griffey has been through her fair share of adversity as she has undergone multiple knee surgeries, but she is back this year after having a solid start to her college career in the 2015-16 season. Last year, she shot 42.4% from downtown, which was the third-highest three-point percentage for one season in school history. So far this year, Griffey is 15th in the Pac-12 in three-point shooting percentage as she has knocked down 42.3% of her threes this year (11-26). The redshirt sophomore has a career three-point field goal percentage of 42.3% (47-111). Griffey came off the bench and scored a season-high 19 points in a season-high 27 minutes against Florida Atlantica. She was 3-5 from beyond the arc and now leads the team with 11 three-pointers made this season. Griffey is also starting to see an uptick in minutes played as she has played at least 23 minutes in three of the last four games.
 
Buenos Dias, Lucia
Freshman guard Lucia Alonso has started in the first six games of her college career at the point guard position. So far, she averages 8.8 points, 2.8 assists, 2.2 rebounds, just under one steal and one made-three per game. Alonso was red hot from the field against FAU as she scored a career-high 15 points in the first half. For the game, she shot 5-6 from the field and was 3-4 from behind the arc. She followed that up with 11 points against New Mexico State, Through the first six games, Alosno is 10th in the Pac-12 in three-point shooting (46.2%) and is sixth in field goal percentage (59.4%). The freshman also leads the team in minutes played per game (34.0) and is second in the Pac-12, just behind Washington's Kelsey Plum.
 
We See Ya JaLea
Junior wing JaLea Bennett had a career night against Southern Utah on Nov. 26 as she scored 21 points off the bench for a new career high. Her previous career high was 18 points. Against Southern Utah, she shot 7-11 from the field, made one three-pointer and was 6-6 from the charity stripe. After scoring eight points, grabbing six rebounds and handing out three assits, she averages 8.8 points per game and 4.2 rebounds per game. Her 8.8 points are tied for third on the team and her 4.2 rebounds are fourth on the team. Bennett also leads the team in steals with 1.3 per game after swiping one against the Aggies. The junior is also the only player in the Pac-12 to be 100% from the free throw line as she is 14-14 from the charity stripe.
 
Donating to the Charity Stripe
Through the first six games of the season, Arizona is shooting 72.6% from the free throw line (90-124). That is the third-highest percentage in the Pac-12 behind Washington (80.6%) and UCLA (73.6%). After starting 5-15 from the free throw line against New Mexico State, Arizona would go on to make 15 of their next 17 free throws to close the game. The Wildcats have two individuals in the top-six in free throw shooting percentage in the Pac-12 and one more in the top-11. JaLea Bennett is tied for first as she is 14-14, Malena Washington is sixth with a 81.8% mark (18-22) and Breanna Workman is tied for 11th as she is 17-22 (77.3%).
 
Finishing Strong
Arizona shot 10-11 (91%) in the fourth quarter against George Mason on Nov. 18 That is the highest percentage Arizona has ever shot in a single quarter and it is tied for the second most-made shots in a quarter. Arizona made 10 against New Mexico State (12/5/15) and USC (2/28/16) last year. 28 points is also the second-most points scored in a quarter. The Wildcats scored 30 points and made 11 shots against Gardner-Webb on Dec. 21, 2015. Arizona shot 7-17 in the fourth quarter against New Mexico State, but was eventually forced to play an overtime period. There, the Wildcats dominated as they outscored the Aggies thanks to 3-4 shooting from the field and an astounding 12-12 from the line.
 
Cats Have the Clutch Gene
Through four games this season, Arizona has shot a combined 52.2% (47-90) in the fourth quarter and overtime. Additionally, Arizona is 40-51 (78.4%) from the free throw line in the fourth quarter and overtime. The Wildcats were perfect from the line in overtime against New Mexico State (12-12) to seal the deal in a 74-63 victory.
 
It's a Block Party and LB is Hosting
Senior LaBrittney Jones has 111 career blocks through 90 games, which is good for an average of 1.2 swats per game. Last year, she blocked 23 shots in 21 games. Throughout her career, she has posted 28 games where she has blocked multiple shots and as blocked 3+ shots in 16 games. Her career high was set back on Feb. 1, 2015 when she sent six shots into the seats. This year, Jones is third in the Pac-12 with 2.0 blocks per game.
 
Arizona Career Blocked Shots Leaders
1. Shawntinice Polk, 222
2. Ify Ibekwe, 166
3. Elizabeth Pickney, 147
4. Marte Alexander, 121
5. LaBrittney Jones, 111
6. Dana Patterson, 91
7. Anne McFadden, 87
 
Depth Isn't Overrated
Last season, nine Wildcats averaged at least 15 minutes on the floor per game. What is the significance of that? Eight of those players are back for the 2016-17 season, so they know what to expect when it comes to college basketball. So far this season, seven players average at least 19.8 minutes per game.
 
2016-17 Minutes (min. 19.8 mpg)
1. Lucia Alonso (34.0)
2. LaBrittney Jones (30.2)
3. Malena Washington (28.0)
4. Destiny Graham (21.0)
5. Taryn Griffey (20.5)
6. Breanna Workman (20.0)
7. JaLea Bennett (19.8)
 
One Last Go Around
Of the 13 players on the roster, six of them are seniors, which is the most in the Pac-12 as no other team has more than four seniors on their roster. Those six seniors include LaBrittney Jones, Malena Washington, Breanna Workman, Lauren Evans, Dejza James and Farrin Bell. They have combined to play in 385 games.
 
Experience Pays Off
Although there is a brand new coaching staff in place, this team is generally made up of players who were a part of the 2015-16 campaign. 11 of the 13 current players on the roster are returning this year and have played in a combined 549 games. Only one other school in the Pac-12 has more than nine returners (Colorado returns 11).
 
Pack the House
Through the first few weeks of the season, Arizona is first in the Pac-12 in average attendance (3,616). Back on Nov. 22, Arizona set a single-game attendance record of 8,442 on school day.
 
Barnes is Back
Adia Barnes is back in Wildcat Country, and this time it's as the head coach of the University of Arizona. Barnes is known as one of, if not the best women's basketball player to come through Tucson. As a player, she is the program's leading scorer as she finished with 2,237 career points (18.5 ppg). She is also second all-time in career rebounds (921). During Barnes' freshman year in the 1994-95 season, the Cats finished with a record of 11-19. The next three years were a complete turnaround as the Wildcats won at least 22 games in each season and made a three-straight postseason appearances. Over those three years, Arizona was 68-23, which is still the best three-year stretch in Arizona history.
 
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