UA women's basketball coach Joan Bonvicini likes a lot about Suzy Bofia.
What's not to like? Bofia is a 6-foot-6-inch junior with a seemingly never-ending wingspan and the ability to leap and move quickly despite her size.
But Bonvicini especially admires one characteristic.
"Her second jump is just so incredibly quick," Bonvicini said. "She just anticipates well."
Case in point: Bofia's game-high 17 points and 19 rebounds in 23 minutes in the UA's 118-58 exhibition romp of Division II Grand Canyon on Monday night at McKale Center.
"She had a great shot. I still don't know how she made it, the one behind the backboard," Bonvicini marveled.
Bonvicini turned to Bofia and asked her how she made the shot and if she practices it.
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Bofia simply grinned and then deadpanned, "Yeah."
Eight of Bofia's rebounds were offensive boards, as she kept grabbing the ball out of the reach of her smaller opponents. She shot 8 of 11 from the field.
"I'm feeling confident, but I miss my sister a lot," Bofia said. "I can't wait for her to get back."
Bofia's twin, 6-7 center Beatrice, missed her second consecutive game with a sprained knee ligament. Bonvicini said Beatrice Bofia is day-to-day.
The frontcourt thrived without her. Suzy led three players with double-doubles and was one of six in double-digits scoring. Arizona had a commanding 56-27 advantage in rebounds.
"We weren't getting (Suzy) the ball as much as she was getting offensive rebounds and putting them back in," Bonvicini said.
Sophomore forward Amina Njonkou finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Freshman forward Rheya Neabors, who has been the team's first player off the bench and can play wing or post, added 17 points and 10 rebounds.
Like Suzy, she had two double-doubles in as many exhibition games.
"She has been versatile, willing to learn, and she's just smart," Bonvicini said of Neabors. "A lot of times with freshmen, they make defensive mistakes, and she doesn't."
The Wildcats have a week to prepare for their Nov. 14 regular-season opener against Nicholls State. Ballhandling is one area they can improve. Arizona committed 23 turnovers, but had 27 assists and forced Grand Canyon to turn the ball over 37 times.
"I was not happy about our turnovers," Bonvicini said. "I wasn't happy with our zone."
arizona 118
G. canyon 58
