TUCSON, Ariz. – The Arizona Wildcats (8-1) are back in McKale Center on the evening of Monday, Dec. 17 to take on UTEP (2-7) at 6:30 p.m. MST. The Cats are riding a seven-game winning streak for the first time in 15 years and are off to their best start since the 2011-12 season.
 
Monday, Dec. 17 vs. UTEP
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FROM THE TIP

• Arizona has won seven-straight for the first time since the 2003-04 season after taking down Long Beach State on the road last Sunday. The Wildcats are off to their best start (8-1) since the 2011-12 season.
   
• Aari McDonald is the nation's second-leading scorer at 25.7 points per game. She leads all Power Five Conference scorers.
   
• Cate Reese is one of five freshmen in the country to average a double-double and is the only freshman in the Pac-12 to do so. She is also just one of two players in the Pac-12 to average a double-double.
   
• Arizona is sixth in the country with an average margin of victory of 27.0, which is also third in the Pac-12.
   
• Arizona won their third game by at least 40 points against Montana on Dec. 5, making it the first time in school history the Wildcats have won three games by 40 or more points in one season.

Last Five vs. UTEP
11/23/12: UTEP 64, Arizona 53
11/26/06: Arizona 72, at UTEP 68
11/29/04: at Arizona 79, UTEP 47
12/13/87: at Arizona 65, UTEP 52
12/9/86: Arizona 71, at UTEP 61
 
Scouting the Miners
UTEP, who is coming off an 89-61 loss at the hands of Portland State has dropped their last seven games after winning their first two. The Miners are led by Zuzanna Puc, who leads the team in scoring at 13.3 points and rebounding at 6.3 rebounds per game. Ariona Gill also averages 12.4 points per game. UTEP returns four letterwinners from last season and welcomed in six newcomers to the fold. Head coach Kevin Baker is in his second season at UTEP and is looking to become the first coach in program history to post winning records in each of their opening two seasons.
 
Aar it Out
After all the anticipation, redshirt sophomore guard Aari McDonald is finally eligible to put on the block A and represent the Wildcats on the court after transferring from Washington back in 2017. She stormed onto the scene and tied the single-game record with 39 points against Loyola Marymount in just the second game of the season and is currently the second leading scorer in the nation at 25.7 points per game. The Fresno native is also the leading scorer among all Power Five Conference players. In her last four games, McDonald is averaging 3.0 steals per game and is seventh in the Pac-12 at 2.3 per game. During her freshman season in 2016-17, McDonald was named Pac-12 All-Freshman after averaging just under 10 points per game while shooting 47% from the field in 24.1 minutes per game. She started in 21 games for the Huskies, who would advance to the Sweet 16.
 
Leading the Nation
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). In order for McDonald to break the single-season scoring record, McDonald needs to score 423 more points. She has scored 231 through nine games and the Wildcats have 20 more regular season games.
 
NCAA's Leading Scorers
1. Cierra Dillard (Buffalo): 25.8 ppg
2. Aari McDonald (Arizona): 25.7 ppg
3. Morgan Berlsch (UC Davis): 24.4 ppg
4. Megan Gustafson (Iowa): 24.3 ppg
5. Kristine Anigwe (Cal): 24.3 ppg
 
McDonald Named Pac-12 Player of the Week Again
Aari McDonald was named Pac-12 Player of the Week for the second time this season 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. She 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 entered the season with lofty expectations, and she has surely lived up to those expectations in the first few games. The freshman 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 and bringing down 10 rebounds in the opener against Idaho State. Through nine games, Reese averages 14.7 points and 10.1 rebounds per game, which are both the most of any freshman in the Pac-12. She is also the only non-senior in the Pac-12 to be in the top 15 in rebounds per game as she is second in the conference.
 
Reese's Boards
Against Montana, Cate Reese became the first Wildcat to grab at least 18 rebounds in a game since Ify Ibekwe (Feb. 13, 2011) and is the first freshman to do so since Polk (Dec. 22, 2002). She is the 10th player in school history to finish a game with at least 18 rebounds. Head coach Adia Barnes' career-high in rebounds was 18 back on Jan. 7, 1995.
 
Reese Named Arizona's First Pac-12 Freshman of the Week
Cate Reese was named Arizona's Pac-12 Freshman of the Week on Nov. 26 after her 19-point and 16-rebound performance against South Carolina State. Reese became Arizona's first Pac-12 Freshman of the Week in school history.
 
I'll Have a Double-Double
Cate Reese is one of five freshmen in the country averaging a double-double and is the only freshman in the Pac-12 to do so. She also has the third-most double-doubles among all freshmen in the country with four through nine games. After scoring 20 points and grabbing 18 rebounds against Montana, Reese became the first freshman since Ify Ibekwe to have four 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.  
 
Reese Cashes in From the Charity Stripe
Reese leads both Arizona and the Pac-12 in free throw percentage as she is shooting 90.3% (28-31) from the line. She also has the fifth-best percentage among all freshmen in the nation and is one of 26 players in the country to shoot at least 90% from the line. The Cypress, Texas native has had three such games where she has been perfect from the line with at least five attempts.
 
Sam I Am
Sam Thomas had a typical Sam Thomas game in the opener, scoring 15 points, bringing down nine rebounds and swiping four steals, but then struggled on the offensive end in the next six games averaging just 5.7 points per game. The sophomore has gotten back to her old ways in the last two games, averaging 14 points, five rebounds and four assists per game in just 24 minutes per game while shooting 53% from the field and 50% from deep. Although her offensive production hasn't been there all season, she has brought it day in and day out on the defensive end, recording at least three steals in four games and blocked five shots against South Carolina State.
 
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 is poised to have a big year for the Wildcats after sitting out the 2017-18 season. She has started to get it going as of late, averaging 8.4 points and 5.8 rebounds per game on 55% shooting over her last five contests after averaging 4.3 points and 4.5 rebounds per game on 41% shooting in her first four. 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. She had her first double-figure scoring game of the season against South Carolina State with 10 points to go with six rebounds.
 
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. Over her last seven games, she has an assist/turnover ratio of 27/8. Known as a knockdown three-point shooter, Alonso has the highest career three-point percentage in school history (40%).
 
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. Graham is poised for a big senior year after having a career year in 2017-18, averaging career highs in both points (8.1 ppg) and rebounds (6.4 rpg). She returned to the rotation against Long Beach State after missing four games and was effective in her 20 minutes off the bench, scoring eight points and bringing down four rebounds.
 
Winning Big
The Wildcats have won all but one of their games by at least 20 points and have four wins of 30 or more. On average, Arizona outscores their opponent by 27 points per game, which is third in the Pac-12 and sixth in the nation.
 
It's Been a While
Arizona has won seven-straight games for the first time since the 2003-04 season and are 8-1 for the first time since the 2011-12 season. Additionally, the Wildcats won their games against South Carolina State, Incarnate Word and Montana by 40+ points, which is a feat that has never happened as the Wildcats have never won three games in one season by at least 40 points.
 
Crashing the Boards
The Wildcats hit the offensive glass hard against Montana, securing 23 offensive rebounds, which became 27 second-chance points. Twenty-three offensive rebounds is the most Arizona finished a game with since Jan. 27, 2013 when the Wildcats had 24 at USC. The last time Arizona had at least 20 offensive rebounds was on Jan. 25, 2015 when they had 21 against Oregon. The Wildcats dominated the boards again against Long Beach State, outrebounding them 52-29, which included 19 more offensive rebounds. As a team, Arizona has grabbed at least 50 rebounds in the last two games.
 
Heating Up
After struggling from the field in the first two games of the season, Arizona has seemed to find its shooting groove in the last seven games. In the first two games of the season, the Wildcats shot a combined 35.3% from the field and have shot a combined 48% from the field over their last seven.
 
The Clutch Gene
In the last 30 seconds of the quarter, Arizona is shooting 17-33 (52%) from the field. There has only been one game in which Arizona did not make at least one shot in the last 30 seconds of a quarter (vs. Portland).
 
Knocking Down the Trey
The Wildcats have struggled from deep in past years, but the three-point shot has become a weapon for Arizona this season. Through nine games, Arizona has had three games where they have made at least 10 three-pointers. Last year, Arizona made 10 or more three-pointers in two of their 30 games. Aari McDonald (21) and Lucia Alonso (16) lead the way for Arizona.
 
Let It Fly
Arizona was getting their threes in during the San Diego State game, especially in the first half when they took 20 three-pointers. At the end of it all, Arizona finished with 32 three-point attempts, which is tied for the second-most in school history. Aari McDonald and Lucia Alonso combined to make 10 as they each made five triples, while McDonald tied the school record with 14 attempts.
 
Lock it Up
The Arizona defense has been swarming so far through the first nine games. The Cats are allowing just 51.6 points per game, which is first in the Pac-12 and eighth in the country and are allowing opponents to just 33.5% shooting, the second-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% five times this year as opposed to last year when opponents shot under 35% four times all season. Over the last four games, Arizona is averaging 12.8 steals per game and is second in the Pac-12 at 10 per game. Arizona is the only team in the Pac-12 to be ranked in the top three in scoring defense, field goal pct. defense and three-point pct. defense.
 
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 just 11.7 turnovers per game in the last seven games.
 
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