The Arizona media relations department contributed to this report.
Junior guard Aari McDonald was named ESPNw and Pac-12 Player of the Week on Monday after averaging 34 points per game on 79 percent shooting in Arizona’s routs over No. 22 Texas and Chicago State.
McDonald capped off her historic weekend with a 44-point performance in a road win against Texas, which is the new school single-game scoring record and also tied the Frank Erwin Center record for most points by an opposing player.
Watch: Aari McDonald sets a program record with 44 points in @ArizonaWBB’s road victory over No. 22 Texas. https://t.co/7A5kop0jXd
— ESPN Women's Hoops (@ESPN_WomenHoop) November 18, 2019
The Longhorns had no answer for the nation’s top returning scorer as she shot 14-of-18 from the field and made all 14 of her free throw attempts. Her 44-point effort is the second-most scored by any Division I player this season and is the most by any player at a Power 5 school.
McDonald also became the first Pac-12 player to score 40 in a game since Washington’s Amber Melgoza scored 40 two seasons ago.
McDonald now has three of the top five scoring performances in school history and is 20th on the Arizona all-time scoring list. She is currently the Pac-12’s leading scorer and is the nation’s sixth-leading scorer at 25.3 points per game, which is also the most of any player in a Power 5 conference.
The Wildcats (4-0) is the second team in the “others receiving votes” category in this week’s AP Top 25 poll. They next host Prairie View A&M on Wednesday at 11 a.m. as part of Kids Day festivities.
Arizona Single-Game Scoring List
Stats compiled by Arizona media relations department
| Points | Points | Opponent | Date |
| 1. Aari McDonald | 44 | Texas | Nov. 17, 2019 |
| 2. Aari McDonald | 39 | Loyola Marymount | Nov. 13, 2018 |
| Davellyn Whyte | 39 | California | Jan. 16, 2009 |
| 4. Candice Warthen | 36 | Georgia State | Nov. 13, 2011 |
| 5. Aari McDonald | 35 | UCLA | Jan. 27, 2019 |
Arizona All-Time Scoring List
| Games | Games | Points |
| 16. Yolanda Turner | 111 | 1,144 |
| 17. Candice Warthen | 115 | 1,128 |
| 18. Kim Conway | 112 | 1,060 |
| 19. Melissa Handley | 108 | 1,000 |
| 20. Aari McDonald | 41 | 991 |
Social Media Reactions
Congrats to @ArizonaWBB's Aari McDonald and @BeaverWBB's Taylor Jones on earning #Pac12WBB Player of the Week honors!
Read here: https://t.co/SAJV8uoiK3#BackThePac pic.twitter.com/kCSu2l7Tt1
— Pac-12 Conference (@pac12) November 18, 2019
Aaron (Aari) McDonald former Brookside Christian star scored 44 points against #22 Texas in a 83-58 victory. As a senior at BC 2015-16, averaged 22.0 ppg., 8.4 rpg., 6.1 apg. & 6.0 spg. 2016 MaxPreps California Division IV Player of the Year and 2015 and 2016 all-state third team pic.twitter.com/JlJtPlE5Yy
— ASD Sports Media (@ASD_Sports) November 18, 2019
Arizona dominated a ranked team on the road and Aari McDonald broke UA’s single-game scoring record.
Quite the day for Adia Barnes and company. https://t.co/9wqSeHyIpx
— AZ Desert Swarm (@AZDesertSwarm) November 17, 2019
.@ArizonaWBB's Aari McDonald had one of the top-10 scoring performances in #Pac12WBB history in a big win for the program!#BackThePac https://t.co/kzb53prs53
— Pac-12 Conference (@pac12) November 18, 2019
So, if the 22nd ranked team in the country only beat Aari McDonald by 14 points then what should McDonald be ranked come Monday? https://t.co/HKtI3smdId
— Andy Morales (@AndyMorales8) November 17, 2019
“This past week, junior Aari McDonald showcased that she is not only an elite two-way guard, but is also one of the most special talents in the country.” | by @danny_sighttps://t.co/q2KGsA7k0w
— Daily Wildcat Sports (@WildcatSports) November 19, 2019
.@ArizonaWBB somehow didn't crack the Top 25 this week, but at least Aari McDonald got some national recognition.https://t.co/5GVi4NIplN
— Ryan Kelapire (@RKelapire) November 18, 2019
• 34 points per game
• 23-39 shooting (79%)
• 20-20 from the free throw line
• New Arizona single-game scoring record (44 points)
Aari McDonald is the @espnW Player of the Week‼️#MadeForIt | #BearDown pic.twitter.com/Xkun1uSMXA
— Arizona Women's Basketball (@ArizonaWBB) November 18, 2019
Arizona just put the smack down on Texas and Aari McDonald had 44 points, so that’s that pic.twitter.com/obXQmifJAM
— Jazzy (@jazzyhotchkins) November 17, 2019
.@AariMcdonald took it to another level last weekend. 🔋
4️⃣4️⃣ points, a new @ArizonaWBB scoring record, and this week’s #Pac12WBB Player of the Week: https://t.co/S59YMUefdj pic.twitter.com/dEWqaulpty
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) November 18, 2019
We had ourselves a week on the hardwood, especially @AariMcdonald and @ZekeNnaji_Hoopz.
In four wins, Aari and Zeke combined to score 113 points and shot 86% from the field.
They were also pure from the FT line (35-37).
The Cats are rolling.@ArizonaWBB | @APlayersProgram pic.twitter.com/CboaB5Gq5s
— Adam Gonzales (@agonzales43) November 18, 2019
FOLLOW @JAVIERJMORALES ON TWITTER!
ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club award winner. He is a former Arizona Daily Star beat reporter for the Arizona basketball team, including when the Wildcats won the 1996-97 NCAA title. He has also written articles for CollegeAD.com, Bleacher Report, Lindy’s Sports, TucsonCitizen.com, The Arizona Republic, Sporting News and Baseball America, among many other publications. He has also authored the book “The Highest Form of Living”, which is available at Amazon.
Recommended for you
