Arizona falls flat, bounced from NCAA Tournament by UNC
Wildcats shoot less than 29 percent from the floor, Tar Heels roll 63-45 at McKale Center
TUCSON, Ariz ( KYMA, KECY-TV ) - On Monday night in the McKale Center the Arizona women's basketball team looked to advance to the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 in consecutive years for the first time in program history. To get there, the Wildcats would have to get by the University of North Carolina.
"There isn't just someone that's going to come out and score 30 or 40 points all of the sudden, but it's by committee" Arizona Head Coach Aida Barnes said. "Everyone has to do their job a little bit better this time of year because we don't have a star. Of all the top teams, everybody usually has a go to player, they can just pass the ball down to and score, we're just different and that's okay. We have multiple players that can do different things."
That would not be the case on Monday night as the Wildcats struggled to find any kind of rhythm. With 5:22 remaining in the opening quarter, Arizona senior Bendu Yeaney busted a three pointer to give the Wildcats at 9-8. That's the last time they would lead as North Carolina bullied their way to a 14-9 lead at the end of the quarter. UNC held Arizona scoreless for a combined 11:27 from the time Yearny made her three in the first quarter to the time senior Sam Thomas made her's in the second quarter.
Arizona trailed 28-17 and never recovered despite being in their home venue. They cut the Tar Heels lead down to seven twince in the third quarter but the Wildcats lacked firepower. Shaina Pellington who scored 30 points in the opening round win against UNLV, finished with only three points. Cate Reese who scored 16 in Saturday's win, scored six. The Wildcats were led by senior Sam Thomas who finished with 15 points and Bendu Yeaney added 10.
Thank you for everything, @s_thomas14 ❤️💙 pic.twitter.com/dpRQhqmxPk
— Arizona Athletics (@AZATHLETICS) March 22, 2022
The Wildcats hopes for back to back sweet 16 appearances ends at home with a 63-45 loss.
This moment ❤️ pic.twitter.com/1IcOJlJLhU
— Arizona Women's Basketball (@ArizonaWBB) March 22, 2022
A new era of Wildcat basketball awaits as seniors Cate Reese, Sam Thomas, Bendu Yeaney and Taylor Chavez played their last game on the hardwood at the McKale Center. In all, Arizona will lose six seniors and start the new season with many new faces.
