Arizona’s newfound hot 3-point shooting continued Sunday in Tempe, with the Wildcats burying 13 of 20 from beyond the arc to throttle rival ASU, 91-52, in the opening game of Pac-12 women’s basketball competition for both teams.
While Kailyn Gilbert led Arizona with 19 points on 7 of 10 from the field and 2 of 3 from long range, Helena Pueyo broke out with arguably her best game of the season. The fifth-year wing and often-recognized team leader knocked down a career-best 5 of 6 3s (6 of 8 shots overall) for 18 points, while also carding two rebounds, three assists and a pair of steals for the Wildcats, now 8-3 on the year and 1-0 in Pac-12 play.
ASU falls to 7-4 overall and 0-1 in conference action.
Playing the second of three games over the span of eight days, the Wildcats roared out of the gate, leading 24-16 after one and 56-24 at the half. UA cruised to the victory after the break.
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Five Wildcats finished in double figures in scoring: Gilbert, Pueyo, Breya Cunningham (11), Esmery Martinez (10) and freshman Skylar Jones who dropped in 10 points in 26 minutes played, both career high marks.
Arizona’s Kailyn Gilbert (15) yells as she gets the shot off under heavy pressure from the Sun Devils defense during the first half Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023, at Desert Financial Arena in a Pac-12 women's college basketball matchup in Tempe. The Wildcats led 52-24 at halftime.
Cunningham finished with nine rebounds, while Martinez had eight.
Perhaps more telling considering the issues with roster depth Arizona has faced this season: All nine Wildcats who played saw at least 16 minutes of action for coach Adia Barnes’ squad.
Just three games ago, Arizona as a team was shooting 21% from 3-point range through the first eight games of the 2023-24 season; the Wildcats had made 28 three pointers made in all up to that point. In the three games since: they've drained 30 of 48 — a robust 63%. That started with a 10-of-20 night in an 81-38 win over UC San Diego on Dec. 7, a 7-of-8 mark during Arizona’s 88-75 loss to No. 5 Texas on Wednesday and the 13-of-20 result in Tempe Sunday.
Arizona’s season 3-point shooting has climbed to a much more respectable 32 percent.
Sunday at Desert Financial Arena, Gilbert added six rebounds and four assists to go with her 19 points, which tied ASU sophomore Jalyn Brown for the game-high in scoring. Brown had eight rebounds for the Sun Devils, while ASU’s Traynna Crisp and Jaddan Simmons chipped in 12 and 11 points, respectively.
Arizona’s Kailyn Gilbert (15) jumps to get the shot off during the first half in the game against the Sun Devils Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023, at Desert Financial Arena in a Pac-12 women's college basketball matchup in Tempe. The Wildcats led 52-24 at halftime.
After the Wildcats hung tough early — and battled back late — Wednesday against the highly-ranked Longhorns at home, Sunday’s result provides a surely welcomed bridge for Barnes' team heading into Wednesday’s tilt against nationally-ranked Gonzaga in Phoenix.
Arizona and ASU are both in action — along with the UA and ASU men’s teams — as part of Jerry Colangelo’s Hall of Fame Series at the Footprint Center. That’s the home court of the Phoenix Suns, the team which Colangelo ran for decades to first cement his legacy on the proverbial Mount Rushmore of Arizona’s sports icons.
Wednesday’s schedule:
• Session 1 (women), Game 1 — Fresno State (7-5) vs. ASU (7-4), noon (Watch: ESPN+)
• Session 1 (women), Game 2 — No. 21 Gonzaga (11-2) vs. Arizona (8-3), 2:30 p.m. (TV: Ch. 13 (KOLD); Also watch: ESPN+)
• Session 2 (men), Game 1 — No. 25 Northwestern (8-2) vs. ASU (6-4), 6:30 p.m. (TV: ESPN2)
• Session 2 (men), Game 2 — Alabama (6-4) vs. No. 1 Arizona (8-1), 9 p.m. (TV: ESPN)
Arizona women's basketball defeated Arizona State by a final score of 91-52 on Sunday, Dec. 17 in Tempe. Kailyn Gilbert scored a game-high 19 points, while Helena Pueyo made a career-high five three-pointers for the Wildcats. (Pac-12 YouTube)
Photos: Arizona Wildcats defeat the ASU Sun Devils 91-52, women's college basketball
Arizona’s Esmery Martinez (12) swats at the ball as ASU’s Maggie Besselink (11) looks for a passing lane during the second half in the game at the Desert Financial Arena in a women's college basketball matchup, 600 East Veterans Way, Dec. 17, 2023.
Arizona’s Helena Pueyo (13) eases by an ASU defender on her way to the net during the first half in the game at the Desert Financial Arena in a women's college basketball matchup, 600 East Veterans Way, Dec. 17, 2023.
Arizona’s Salimatou Kourouma (24) fights for possession of the ball against ASU’s Maggie Besselink (11) during the first half Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023, at Desert Financial Arena in a Pac-12 women's college basketball matchup in Tempe. The Wildcats led 52-24 at halftime.
Arizona’s Kailyn Gilbert (15) jumps to get the shot off during the first half in the game against the Sun Devils Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023, at Desert Financial Arena in a Pac-12 women's college basketball matchup in Tempe. The Wildcats led 52-24 at halftime.
ASU’s Trayanna Crisp (4) passes the ball behind her back as Arizona’s Esmery Martinez (12) and Skylar Jones (4) cover her during the first half in the game at the Desert Financial Arena in a women's college basketball matchup, 600 East Veterans Way, Dec. 17, 2023.
Arizona head coach Adia Barnes maps out a plan with the other coaching staff before she talks to her team during a timeout in the second half in the game against ASU at the Desert Financial Arena, 600 East Veterans Way, Dec. 17, 2023.
Arizona’s Kailyn Gilbert (15) charges through ASU’s defense on her way to the basket during the first half in the game at the Desert Financial Arena in a women's college basketball matchup, 600 East Veterans Way, Dec. 17, 2023.
Arizona’s Jada Williams (2) goes into a high pressure defensive area on her way to the net during the second half in the game against ASU at the Desert Financial Arena in a women's college basketball matchup, 600 East Veterans Way, Dec. 17, 2023.
Arizona’s Skylar Jones (4) puts her arm out to swat at the ball as ASU’s Jalyn Brown (23) dribbles during the second half in the game at the Desert Financial Arena in a women's college basketball matchup, 600 East Veterans Way, Dec. 17, 2023.
Arizona’s Salimatou Kourouma (24) gets the shot off as ASU’S Kadidia Toure (1) raises her arm during the first half in the game at the Desert Financial Arena in a women's college basketball matchup, 600 East Veterans Way, Dec. 17, 2023.
Arizona’s Esmery Martinez (12) and ASU’s Arizona’s Jalyn Brown (23) battle for the ball during the first half in the game at the Desert Financial Arena in a women's college basketball matchup, 600 East Veterans Way, Dec. 17, 2023.
Arizona’s bench and fans cheer loud after Helena Pueyo (13) sinks a three-point-shot in during the second half in the game at the Desert Financial Arena in a women's college basketball matchup, 600 East Veterans Way, Dec. 17, 2023.
Arizona’s Kailyn Gilbert (15) struggles to get the shot off as ASU defenders use high pressure during the first half in the game at the Desert Financial Arena in a women's college basketball matchup, 600 East Veterans Way, Dec. 17, 2023.
ASU’s Jalyn Brown (23) struggles to break through Arizona’s Esmery Martinez (12) in the game at the Desert Financial Arena in a women's college basketball matchup, 600 East Veterans Way, Dec. 17, 2023.
Arizona’s Kailyn Gilbert (15) shoot the ball over ASU’s Mallory Miller (24) during the second half in the game at the Desert Financial Arena in a women's college basketball matchup, 600 East Veterans Way, Dec. 17, 2023.
Arizona’s Isis Beh (33) battles for a rebound against ASU’s Treasure Hunt (12) and Jalyn Brown (23) during the second half in the game at the Desert Financial Arena in a women's college basketball matchup, 600 East Veterans Way, Dec. 17, 2023.
Arizona’s Jada Williams (2) and Esmery Martinez (12) try to stop ASU’s Jaddan Simmons (2) shot during the second half in the game at the Desert Financial Arena in a women's college basketball matchup, 600 East Veterans Way, Dec. 17, 2023.
Arizona’s Helena Pueyo (13) gains possession of the ball after ASU’s Maggie Besselink (11) loses control during the second half in the game at the Desert Financial Arena in a women's college basketball matchup, 600 East Veterans Way, Dec. 17, 2023.
Arizona’s Breya Cunningham (25) braces herself for the shot as ASU’s Maggie Besselink (11) during the second half in the game at the Desert Financial Arena in a women's college basketball matchup, 600 East Veterans Way, Dec. 17, 2023.
ASU’s head coach Natasha Adair laughs with other staff before the start of the game against the Arizona Wildcats at the Desert Financial Arena in a women's college basketball matchup, 600 East Veterans Way, Dec. 17, 2023.
Arizona's Isis Beh (33) covers ASU’s Isadora Sousa (44) as she looks to pass the ball to Trayanna Crisp (4) during the first half in the game at the Desert Financial Arena in a women's college basketball matchup, 600 East Veterans Way, Dec. 17, 2023.
Arizona’s Courtney Blakely (1) goes up for a shot as ASU defenders begin to raise their arms during the second half in the game at the Desert Financial Arena in a women's college basketball matchup, 600 East Veterans Way, Dec. 17, 2023.
Arizona’s Salimatou Kourouma (24) jumps for the ball against - during the second half in the game at the Desert Financial Arena in a women's college basketball matchup, 600 East Veterans Way, Dec. 17, 2023.
Arizona’s Esmery Martinez (12) jumps for the shot as ASU defender Isadora Sousa (44) defends her during the first half in the game at the Desert Financial Arena in a women's college basketball matchup, 600 East Veterans Way, Dec. 17, 2023.
Arizona’s Helena Pueyo (13) puts her arms up to cover ASU’s Jalyn Brown (23) pass during the second half in the game at the Desert Financial Arena in a women's college basketball matchup, 600 East Veterans Way, Dec. 17, 2023.
Arizona’s Breya Cunningham (25) blocks ASU’s Trayanna Crisp (4) shot during the second half in the game at the Desert Financial Arena in a women's college basketball matchup, 600 East Veterans Way, Dec. 17, 2023.
ASU’s Jaddan Simmons (2) battles to keep possession of the ball from Arizona’s Helena Pueyo (13) after falling during the second half in the game at the Desert Financial Arena in a women's college basketball matchup, 600 East Veterans Way, Dec. 17, 2023.
Arizona’s Kailyn Gilbert (15) locks into the net as ASU defenders Mallory Miller (24) and Treasure Hunt (12) put high pressure on her during the second half in the game at the Desert Financial Arena in a women's college basketball matchup, 600 East Veterans Way, Dec. 17, 2023.
Arizona’s head coach Adia Barnes chats with Courtney Blakely (1) on the sidelines during the second half in the game against the ASU Sun Devils at the Desert Financial Arena in a women's college basketball matchup, 600 East Veterans Way, Dec. 17, 2023.
Arizona Wildcats huddle after the 91-52 win against the Arizona Sun Devils at the Desert Financial Arena in a women's college basketball matchup, 600 East Veterans Way, Dec. 17, 2023.
Arizona’s Kailyn Gilbert (15) locks into the net as ASU defenders put high pressure on her during the second half in the game at the Desert Financial Arena in a women's college basketball matchup, 600 East Veterans Way, Dec. 17, 2023.
Arizona’s Jada Williams, Helena Pueyo, Skylar Jones, and Kailyn Gilbert practice dribbling drills before the game against the Sun Devils at the Desert Financial Arena in a women's college basketball matchup, 600 East Veterans Way, Dec. 17, 2023.
Arizona’s Kailyn Gilbert (15) smiles while practicing free throws before the game against the Sun Devils at the Desert Financial Arena in a women's college basketball matchup, 600 East Veterans Way, Dec. 17, 2023.
The Arizona Wildcats take practice shots before the game against the Sun Devils at the Desert Financial Arena in a women's college basketball matchup, 600 East Veterans Way, Dec. 17, 2023. The Arizona Wildcats (7-3) face the ASU Sun Devils (7-3).
Contact Star sports editor Brett Fera at bfera1@tucson.com. On X(Twitter): @brettfera
Brett Fera
Sports Editor
