No. 18 Arizona will enter its Pac-12 opener at home against ASU next Thursday coming off three straight victories, including an impressive win over Baylor at Dallas on Sunday.
The Wildcats ended their two-game swing through Texas on Wednesday with a 78-59 win over UT Arlington behind Esmery Martinez’s 13 points, nine rebounds and three steals.
Martinez, a transfer from West Virginia, reached 1,000 points in her career in the game. She hit that mark with 5:31 left in the second quarter. She is the fourth active Wildcat to reach the milestone:
Cate Reese: 1,660 points
Jade Loville: 1,331
Shaina Pellington: 1,290
Martinez: 1,009
Lauren Fields (an Oklahoma State transfer with 863 points in her career), Pellington and Reese scored 10 points apiece for Arizona (10-1) against UT Arlington.
Maya Nnaji grabbed nine rebounds to go with six points before fouling out at the start of the fourth quarter.
Arizona outrebounded the Mavericks 47-26, including 17-7 on the offensive end, resulting in a 22-4 advantage in second-chance points.
The Mavericks (6-6) lost their first home game this season after four wins.
Arizona had a 19-0 run between the first and second quarters to build a 29-8 lead and was not threatened thereafter.
Arizona finished the first quarter with an 11-0 run to take a 21-8 lead behind Pellington’s six points.
Fields had a pair of 3-pointers during Arizona’s 8-0 run to start the second quarter.
NOTES
-With 21 UT Arlington turnovers, Arizona continued its streak of forcing 17 or more turnovers in every game this season.
-The Wildcats tied their season high for single-game assists with 21.
-Arizona dominated on second chance and fast break points, outscoring UT Arlington 22-4 on second-chance opportunities and 18-8 on fast breaks.
-The Wildcats out rebounded UT Arlington 47-26, getting 17 offensive boards to the Mavericks’ seven.
-Pellington opened the game 4-of-5 from the field and ended the night 5-of-8 with 10 points.
-Nnaji, a freshman who is the sister of former Arizona men’s post player Zeke Nnaji, tallied her second-most rebounds in a game this season with nine.
-Fields had three assists, two steals and five rebounds in addition to her 10 points.
-Reese, from nearby Cypress, Texas, finished in double-digit scoring for the eighth time this season. She has scored at least 10 points in four consecutive games. Reese will stay in Cypress for Christmas and rejoin the Wildcats on Monday ahead of their game Thursday against ASU at McKale Center (6 p.m. tipoff).
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