Big 12 battle for post supremacy
Going into Saturday’s game between Arizona and Iowa State, all eyes were on the matchup between Iowa State center Audi Crooks and Arizona forward Breya Cunningham.
The two talented sophomores went round for round in the paint with neither able to dominate the other.
While the Cunningham vs. Crooks battle for post supremacy was fun to watch, it was Cyclones junior guard Sydney Harris who stole the show.
Harris, averaging 7.5 points per game, went 9-for-14 from the floor for a season high 24 points, leading Iowa State (12-6, 3-2 Big 12) to the 79-58 win over Arizona (11-7, 2-3 Big 12).
“I think that what really hurt us was that Audi Crooks demands a lot of attention inside, and so that made us really out of position for the weak side, and I don’t know why,” Arizona coach Adia Barnes said on Arizona closing out late and allowing the Cyclones to go 10-for-24 from 3-point range.
Cunningham didn’t see any easy buckets, scoring just seven points, but she played a huge role for the Wildcats with eight rebounds, four assists, two blocks, and two steals. She also forced Crooks into two held balls. Cunningham limited Crooks, who averages 23 points per game, to a season-low 11 points.
The improvement in strength and toughness in Cunningham from freshman to sophomore year showed up Saturday. Cunningham held her own against the larger Crooks.
Jada on point
Arizona starting sophomore point guard Jada Williams had a slow start to the game. She was on the floor for seven minutes in the first quarter and had zeros across the stat board. The second quarter was another story. Fueled by Williams’ 10 points and two assists, Arizona cut Iowa State’s 17-point lead down to nine points with under a minute to go in the half.
Williams had a team-high 17 points with four rebounds, four assists, one steal.
Ball control is an important part of being a team’s point guard. The speedy Williams had just one turnover against the Cyclones.
Half-court buzzer beater
Arizona practices shooting half-court shots in pregame warm ups prior to every game. It keeps the players loose and you never know when all that practice might pay off. Saturday, all that practice did indeed pay off. With seconds remaining in the first half, Arizona trailing Iowa State 34-25, freshman guard Lauryn Swann threw up a half-court shot as the buzzer sounded and … swished it. The Wildcats went into the locker room down six points.
Freshman mistakes happen and in Saturday’s game those mistakes were made on the defensive side of the ball for Swann.
“Some of that was Lauryn, as a freshman, being out of position a lot,” Barnes said. “She gave up a lot of 3s on the back side. But when we explained to her, I think it was just the understanding, if the ball is in the wing and she’s really low in helpside and not on the line of the ball, it’s very hard to get out to shooters. And they killed us on that.”
Swann shot 3 for 4 from beyond the arc and had nine points.
Confidence builder for Jones
Skylar Jones has been working through plantar fasciitis and has struggled to get back to her normal playing mode. Against the Cyclones, Jones knocked down two 3-point shots and ended with eight points. She also picked up three fouls in 17 minutes on the floor.
“I was glad to see Sky do better today,” Barnes said. “I thought she had some tough calls. I was sad about that because she was great yesterday, feeling good. Comes in locked in, and then gets two bad calls. That was rough. So I actually let her play through with two fouls, because I wanted her to get a little bit confident.”
Arizona travels to Manhattan, Kansas to face the No.12-ranked Kansas State Wildcats on Thursday, January 16.
Game Extras
Arizona forward Sahnya Jah was not in attendance after playing only 11 minutes in the previous game against Baylor. Barnes said that Jah is “not with the team right now. Coach’s decision.” She is a transfer from South Carolina who did not last the entire season last year with the Gamecocks.
Wildcats supporting Wildcats. Brent Brennan, Alonzo Carter, Brandon Sanders and new defensive line coach and associate head coach Joe Salave’a all in McKale for the Arizona game.
I spy with my little eye.. Coach Brennan and Coach Carter at the Arizona Women’s Basketball game. @RealCoachCarter @CoachBrennan @AllSportsTucson pic.twitter.com/0I01Hl1hbp
— Lori Burkhart (@loriburkhart) January 11, 2025
New @ArizonaFBall DL/Associate Head Coach Joe Salave’a and Brandon Sanders are here to support Arizona Women’s Basketball! pic.twitter.com/F1NMSw13Wt
— Jenna Fink (@jennamfink) January 11, 2025
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