TUCSON - Kailyn Gilbert recorded her first career double-double and five Wildcats scored in double figures on Friday to secure Arizona's 87-64 win over Northern Arizona in its home opener.
Gilbert finished the game with 16 points and a career-best 10 rebounds. The sophomore has scored 16 points in both of Arizona's games this season. Breya Cunningham led the team with 18 points on 9-of-10 shooting and has shot a combined 15-of-17 in her first two games.
Cunningham dropped a quick four points with a pair of buckets in the first three minutes of play before Arizona went on an 8-0 run with three minutes left in the first quarter that led off with a fastbreak layup by Salimatou Kourouma. Skylar Jones was the next to score, faking a three-pointer and dribbling in for a mid-range jumper. NAU missed a jumper on the next possession, and the rebound was tipped to Jada Williams who launched a cross-court pass to Martinez. Martinez got it to Kourouma for another layup, and Martinez closed out the run with a layup of her own.
Arizona hit three of the first four made shots of second quarter with makes by Cunningham, Gilbert and Isis Beh. Cunningham entered double digits in the period and put in a pair of layups on back-to-back possessions, one after grabbing an offensive rebound.
Half of Martinez's 16 points came in the second period when she went 3-of-3 from the field.
Gilbert and Cunningham combined for 14 of Arizona's 20 points in the third quarter with Kourouma and Beh each contributing to the score as well.
Arizona closed out the night with 19 assists and 14 steals, and four Wildcats recorded a block. All nine Wildcats who saw playing time had at least two rebounds, one assist and one steal.
The Wildcats return to action Sunday, Nov. 12 at 2:00 p.m. as they welcome LMU to McKale Center.
