EL PASO — Cate Reese scored 19 points on 8-of-13 shooting and grabbed 17 rebounds to help No. 20 Arizona stay undefeated with a 54-43 win over UTEP on Saturday.
Arizona (9-0) outscored UTEP 12-3 in the second quarter to lead 33-17 at the half and extended to its largest lead at 47-28 late in the third quarter.
UTEP (7-2) opened the fourth quarter with a 12-3 run to cut the deficit to 50-41 with 3:03 left in the game, helping to make it the smallest margin of victory for the Wildcats this year.
Arizona made just 1 of 14 from 3-point range but shot 38% overall from the field compared to UTEP’s 26%.
Aari McDonald added 13 points and Sam Thomas scored 12 for the Wildcats. Reese had her third double-double of the season and the tenth of her career.
Ariona Gill had 11 points and Katia Gallegos added 10 points and nine rebounds for the Miners.
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It was a happy homecoming for Reese, a Cypress, Texas native who is playing some of the best basketball of her college career. She hit 8 of 13 shots against UTEP, connected on 3 of her 5 free throw attempts and grabbed four offensive rebounds and 13 defensive rebounds. She also had three blocks and a steal. Monday night, Reese went for 16 points and 11 rebounds in a runaway win over Monmouth. Reese now has three double-doubles this season, and 10 in her career.
The Wildcats will host Tennessee State on Thursday night.
