BERKELEY, Calif. – The Arizona Wildcats (17-9, 7-8 Pac-12), who are coming off a two-point loss to No. 7 Stanford on the road, will play their final Pac-12 road game on Sunday afternoon against the California Golden Bears (15-11, 6-9 Pac-12) on Sunday, Feb. 24 at 3 p.m. MST. Sunday's game will be live streamed on ArizonaWildcats.com.
 
Sunday, Feb. 24 at California at 3 p.m. MST
Live Stream: ArizonaWildcats.com
Radio: 1400 AM (Derrick Palmer)
Twitter: @ArizonaWBB
#MadeForIt
 
FROM THE TIP

• Arizona is going for their first season sweep of California since the 2003-04 season on Sunday after dropping a heartbreaker against No. Stanford on Sunday.
   
• Aari McDonald is 13 points away from breaking Adia Barnes' Arizona single-season scoring record.
   
• Arizona is looking for their first win in Berkeley since 2006.
   
• Arizona has won 17 games for the first time since the 2010-11 season when the Cats won 21 games.
   
• The Wildcats have also secured a regular season winning percentage above .500 for the first time since the 2010-11 season.
   
• McDonald, the nation's third-leading scorer, was named to the Ann Meyers Drysdale and Dawn Staley Award Watch Lists earlier this month. She has scored in double-figures in every game so far. The last player to score in double-figures in every game was Dee-Dee Wheeler back in the 2003-04 season.
   
• Five of Arizona's nine losses this season have come against teams currently ranked in the top 17 in the AP Poll.

 
Last Five vs. California
1/11/19: at Arizona 60, Cal 55
1/26/18: at Cal 63, Arizona 39
1/7/18: Cal 53, at Arizona 51
1/22/17: at Cal 71, Arizona 60
12/30/16: Cal 74, at Arizona 64
 
Scouting the Golden Bears
Cal snapped their five-game losing streak on Friday after knocking off Arizona State by a score of 69-60. The Bears are led by Kristine Anigwe, who is second in scoring in the Pac-12 at 23.2 points per game and leads the nation in rebounding with 15.7 boards per game. Anigwe also leads the nation with 26 double-doubles. Guard Asha Thomas also scores in double-figures for Cal as she averages 10.9 points per game.
 
A Win for Arizona Would Mean...

• Would be the first season sweep of Cal since the 2003-04 season.
   
• Would be the first time Arizona won in Berkeley since Jan. 22, 2006.
   
• Would give Arizona eight conference wins for the first time since the 2010-11 season.

Aar it Out
After all the anticipation, redshirt sophomore guard Aari McDonald is 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 nation's third-leading scorer at 24.7 points per game. Among plenty of accomplishments, McDonald 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. She has scored at least 30 points in six games this season, becoming the first Wildcat to do so and the fourth among Pac-12 players since the 1999-00 season. McDonald, who owns the school records in single-season free throw attempts and free throws made, is in the top five in the nation in both categories this season. 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.
 
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.
 
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. Last week, 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). In order for McDonald to break the single-season scoring record, McDonald needs to score 13 more points. She has scored 641 through 26 games and the Wildcats have three more regular season games. For the first time since the non-conference slate, McDonald was not Arizona's leading scorer against Colorado.
 
NCAA's Leading Scorers
1. Megan Gustafson (Iowa): 27.4
2. Cierra Dillard (Buffalo): 25.0
3. Aari McDonald (Arizona): 24.7
 
Arizona Single-Season Scoring List
                                    Year     GP       Points
1. Adia Barnes               1998     30         653
2. Aari McDonald         2019     26         641
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     26         641
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)                6
Kristine Anigwe (Cal)                        5
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 
   
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
2014-15    Kelsey Plum, Wash                7
2018-19    Aari McDonald, Ariz             6
2011-12    Nneka Ogwumike, Stan         6
 
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 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 11.6 points and 6.9 rebounds per game, making her the leading scorer and rebounder among freshmen in the Pac-12. Reese had her best scoring game in the Pac-12 season against Washington State as she poured in 19 and led Arizona in scoring with 17 against Colorado.
 
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 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 just last week, 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 five. 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 1.7 steals (5th in the Pac-12) and 1.3 blocks per game (3rd in the Pac-12). 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 26 games, there have only been seven 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 makes over one three-pointer per game. Over her last seven games, she is averaging 11.9 points per game and is shooting 48% from three. She has made at least two threes in each of her last five games as well as six of her last seven.
 
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. She was crucial in Arizona's win over USC as she posted her first double-double as an Arizona Wildcat with season-highs in both points (12) and rebounds (10). 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 and followed that up with a season-high 13 points on a perfect 5-5 shooting against Colorado. 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 41.3%. 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 (83 games)
 
The Importance of Tee Tee
It's no secret that Tee Tee Starks causes absolute havoc on the defensive end, and the numbers show it. In the 12 Pac-12 games she has played in, Arizona is 7-5 and opponents average 65 points per game while shooting 38% from the field. In the three Pac-12 games she has missed, Arizona is 0-3 and teams are averaging just under 85 points per game and shoot 52% from the field.
 
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.
 
A Turnaround for the Ages
After winning just six games last season, the Wildcats are at 17 wins through 26 games. 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)
 
11 wins
'94-'95 (11-19)
'95-'96 (22-8)
and
'17-'18 (6-24)
'18-'19 (17-9)
 
Lock it Up
The Arizona defense has been swarming so far this season allowing just 61 points per game, which is third in the Pac-12 and are allowing opponents to just 37.8% shooting, which is also 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 8.7 steals per game on the season which is second the Pac-12 and have two of the top five players in steals per game (McDonald, 2nd and Thomas, 5th). Arizona is the only team in the Pac-12 to have two players in the top five in steals. Thomas is also third in the conference in blocks per game.
 
Keeping them at Bay
Of Arizona's 26 games this season, the Wildcats have held their opponents under their scoring average 20 times. Only Utah, Oregon State, Oregon, USC, UCLA and Washington State went over their scoring average. UCLA was held under their regular scoring average through four quarters, but the game went to triple overtime, allowing the Bruins to score 98.
 
Cats are Efficient
Arizona's top six scorers all shoot at least 42% from the field. The only other teams in the Pac-12 to have their top six scorers shoot at least 42% are Utah and Oregon.
 
The Key to Victory
Arizona has won the rebounding battle 12 times this season, and in each of those games, the Wildcats have come out victorious. In the 13 games that Arizona's opponent won the rebounding battle, the Wildcats are just 5-9.
 
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 is the first player in the last 14 seasons to make it into the top 10 in Arizona's single-season scoring list.
   
• 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 is the first in school history to score 30 points six 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
Six of Arizona's nine losses have come against teams in the top 40 in the RPI.
 
4. Stanford
6. Oregon
16. Arizona State
22. Oregon State
31. UCLA
 
Of Arizona's nine losses, five have come against teams currently ranked in the top 20 in the AP Poll.
 
2. Oregon
7. Stanford
12. Oregon State
17. Arizona State
 
The Clutch Gene
In the last 30 seconds of the quarter (including overtime periods), Arizona is shooting 37-89 (42%) from the field. There have only been four games in which Arizona did not make at least one shot in the last 30 seconds of a quarter (Portland, Colorado, California and Oregon).
 
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 (48), Lucia Alonso (34) and Sam Thomas (34) lead the way for Arizona. The Wildcats are one of four teams in the Pac-12 to have three players with at least 34 made three-pointers (Cal, Oregon and Oregon State). 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 13 turnovers per game in the last 24 games, including just four against Oregon State, 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 +3.0 as they force the second-most turnovers per game in the Pac-12 (16.5).
 
Barnes' Numbers vs. California as a Player
Adia Barnes had a great amount of success as a player against Cal as she went 7-1 during her four years as a student-athlete. In her eight career games against the Golden Bears, Barnes averaged 18.1 points and 7.1 rebounds. Her best game came on Jan. 4, 1996 when she scored 28 points and pulled down 12 rebounds in a 102-66 win at McKale Center.
 
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