PHOENIX — Arizona’s system was working, until it wasn’t.
When the third quarter rolled around, the Wildcats hit the wall, as No. 20 Gonzaga got hot and raced to an 81-69 victory in Jerry Colangelo’s Hall of Fame Series Wednesday afternoon at Footprint Center in Phoenix.
Arizona drops to 8-4 overall with all its losses coming against teams either ranked at the time of the game, or that became ranked shortly after the Wildcats played them. Gonzaga improves to 12-2.
Defense was working well for the Wildcats at the start and at the finish. In the first quarter, the Bulldogs had more turnovers (8) than field goals made (7). In the fourth quarter Arizona forced seven more — finishing with 20 turnovers and scoring 20 points off them.
But it was what came in between — 10 minutes of the Wildcats being on their heels on defense and being outscored 29-14 — that was the difference in this one.
People are also reading…
The offense looked stagnant as just “didn’t execute the game plan,” UA coach Adia Barnes said. “If you keep the ball on that side and dribble, dribble, dribble it’s like what the defense wants you to do.”
Gonzaga guard Brynna Maxwell (22) gets fives from the bench after hitting a 3 from the corner late the Bulldogs’ game against Arizona Wednesday in Phoenix.
Just like against No. 5 Texas last week, the Wildcats rallied in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Zags 23-14, but it was just too late.
In that rally, Sali Kourouma, who finished with 17 points, was aggressive and was seemingly everywhere. She knocked down 4 of 5 from the field — and score 12 points in that frame — was drawing fouls and picked two steals.
Kailyn Gilbert added nine points, two steals and three rebounds during the fourth quarter en route to leading all Wildcat scorers with 21.
Helena Pueyo was the only other Wildcat in double-figures, finishing with 12 — 10 of those coming in the first half on 4 of 5 shooting.
The Wildcats shot 45.5% and the Bulldogs shot 62.7% from the field.
She said it
Barnes on what didn’t work: “(It’s) just lack of defense. I think if you saw we made some runs. We’re not going to win a lot of games if we just stay in the quarter court and just play. And just let the ball move like we don’t have as much size and have no depth. That’s just not our personnel.
Arizona guard Salimatou Kourouma (24) attempts to get an inlet pass under control under pressure from Gonzaga forward Eliza Hollingsworth (12) Wednesday in Phoenix.
“We’re going to be our best where we’re up. We’re breaking the timing and spacing of other offenses we’re getting steals. We are going out and running in transition. That’s our identity. That’s how we’re going to be good. We’re having a really tough time with some on-ball defense and rotations.”
Key moment
Once again, the Wildcats were right in the thick of it until the end of the first half, when they let the Zags get a few quick baskets to go ahead by eight at the half, 38-30. The momentum for Gonzaga continued into the third quarter when Arizona came out flat on both ends of the court, leading to the Wildcats being outscored 29-14. Arizona only allowed Brynna Maxwell to score two points in the first half. However she exploded for 14 in the third quarter thanks to four makes from long distance. She finished with 17 points.
Stuffing the stat sheet
Pueyo: 12 points, 7 rebounds.
Gilbert: 21 points, 4 steals, 5 rebounds.
Jada Williams: 4 points, 4 assists, 1 steal, 4 points.
Arizona guard Kailyn Gilbert (15) gets walled off by Gonzaga forward Eliza Hollingsworth (12) while attempting to drive the lane during the Wildcats loss to the Bulldogs Wednesday in Phoenix.
Esmery Martinez: 1 point, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal.
Breya Cunningham: 2 points, 2 steals, zero rebounds
Kourouma: 17 points on 7 of 10 shooting
Other side
Yvonne Ejim led all scorers with 27 points. She also had four blocks. Kayliegh Truong added 16 points (6 of 7) and five assists. Her twin sister, Kaylynne dished six assists
Early game
In the first game in the all-day event, Arizona State beat Fresno State 80-76 in a tight one until the very end. Five Sun Devils finished in double figures: Kaddia Toure (22 points, 9 rebounds), Jaylyn Brown (20), Trayanna Crisp (14) Jaddan Simmons (10) and Journey Thompson (10). Mia Jacobs led Fresno State with 31 points.
By The Numbers
9 and 40: Gonzaga made 9 of 19 from long distance and scored 40 points in the paint.
3 of 14: Arizona’s hot 3-point shooting the last three games cooled down int his one, with the Wildcats making just 3 of 14 from distance (21.4%).
124: With Ejim’s 13 field goals against Arizona, she has now tied Caitlin Clark with 124 made field goals this season; that leads the nation. The only difference is that Ejim has played two more games than Clark.
12: The Wildcats doubled up on the Bulldogs in steals, 12-6.
Photos: Arizona roughed up in second half, falls to Gonzaga 81-69 in Colangelo Hall of Fame Series
Arizona guard Salimatou Kourouma (24) knocks the ball out of reach of Gonzaga forward Yvonne Ejim (15) during their game in the Jerry Colangelo Hall of Fame Series, Phoenix, Ariz., December 20, 2023.
Arizona forward Esmery Martinez (12) takes a knock from Gonzaga forward Yvonne Ejim (15) on her shot in the third quarter of their game in the Jerry Colangelo Hall of Fame Series, Phoenix, Ariz., December 20, 2023.
Arizona forward Esmery Martinez (12) and Gonzaga guard Brynna Maxwell (22) go to the floor chasing the ball in the fourth quarter of their game in the Jerry Colangelo Hall of Fame Series, Phoenix, Ariz., December 20, 2023.
Arizona guard Kailyn Gilbert (15) gets walled off Gonzaga forward Eliza Hollingsworth (12) driving into the lane in their game in the Jerry Colangelo Hall of Fame Series, Phoenix, Ariz., December 20, 2023.
Arizona forward Esmery Martinez (12) knocks the pass into the lane from Gonzaga forward Yvonne Ejim (15) in their game in the Jerry Colangelo Hall of Fame Series, Phoenix, Ariz., December 20, 2023.
Gonzaga guard Brynna Maxwell (22) is an inch or two short of chasing down the ball rolling into the hands of Arizona guard Helena Pueyo (13) in the Jerry Colangelo Hall of Fame Series, Phoenix, Ariz., December 20, 2023.
Gonzaga guard Brynna Maxwell (22) gets fives from the bench after hitting a three from the corner late the Bulldogs’ game against Arizona at the Jerry Colangelo Hall of Fame Series, Phoenix, Ariz., December 20, 2023.
Arizona forward Esmery Martinez (12) and Gonzaga forward Yvonne Ejim (15) try to corral the ball in the Jerry Colangelo Hall of Fame Series, Phoenix, Ariz., December 20, 2023.
Arizona forward Breya Cunningham (25) slices through the crowd of Bulldogs for a basket the game against Gonzaga in the Jerry Colangelo Hall of Fame Series, Phoenix, Ariz., December 20, 2023.
University of Arizona president Robert Robbins, left, and athletic director Dave Heeke watch the Wildcats in the second half against Gonzaga at the Jerry Colangelo Hall of Fame Series, Phoenix, Ariz., December 20, 2023.
Arizona head coach Adia Barnes gives out the high fives as her Wildcats head to the bench for intros before the tip-off against Gonzaga in the Jerry Colangelo Hall of Fame Series, Phoenix, Ariz., December 20, 2023.
Arizona guard Jada Williams (2) can’t get a handle on the rebound in front of Gonzaga forward Yvonne Ejim (15) in their game in the Jerry Colangelo Hall of Fame Series, Phoenix, Ariz., December 20, 2023.
Arizona guard Salimatou Kourouma (24) looks for room to shoot trying to get by Gonzaga forward Yvonne Ejim (15) in the Jerry Colangelo Hall of Fame Series, Phoenix, Ariz., December 20, 2023.
Arizona guard Kailyn Gilbert (15) goes head-to-head with Gonzaga guard Brynna Maxwell (22) dribbling out of the defensive lane in the Jerry Colangelo Hall of Fame Series, Phoenix, Ariz., December 20, 2023.
Arizona guard Salimatou Kourouma (24) attempts to get an inlet pass under control under pressure from Gonzaga forward Eliza Hollingsworth (12) at the Jerry Colangelo Hall of Fame Series, Phoenix, Ariz., December 20, 2023.
Arizona guard Courtney Blakely (1) hops her way past the baseline defense of Gonzaga guard Kaylynne Truong (14) in the fourth quarter of their game in the Jerry Colangelo Hall of Fame Series, Phoenix, Ariz., December 20, 2023.
Gonzaga forward Maud Huijbens (5) draws a foul from Arizona guard Salimatou Kourouma (24) driving into the lane in their game in the Jerry Colangelo Hall of Fame Series, Phoenix, Ariz., December 20, 2023.
Arizona guard Skylar Jones (4) pushes her way to a basket past Gonzaga forward Maud Huijbens (5) in their game in the Jerry Colangelo Hall of Fame Series, Phoenix, Ariz., December 20, 2023.
Arizona forward Breya Cunningham (25) doesn’t quite have the reach to swipe the ball from Gonzaga forward Maud Huijbens (5) in the second quarter of their game in the Jerry Colangelo Hall of Fame Series, Phoenix, Ariz., December 20, 2023.
Gonzaga forward Yvonne Ejim (15) elbows her way to the ball past Arizona forward Breya Cunningham (25) in the first quarter of their game in the Jerry Colangelo Hall of Fame Series, Phoenix, Ariz., December 20, 2023.
A young Arizona fan claps for the introduction of the Wildcats before the game against Gonzaga in the Jerry Colangelo Hall of Fame Series, Phoenix, Ariz., December 20, 2023.
Arizona guard Jada Williams (2) loses the footrace to a loose ball to Gonzaga guard Kayleigh Truong (11) in the second quarter of their game in the Jerry Colangelo Hall of Fame Series, Phoenix, Ariz., December 20, 2023.
VIDEO: The Arizona women’s basketball team gets loose in the hallways of Footprint Center in Phoenix in the early afternoon on Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023, prior to taking the court against No. 20 Gonzaga as part of Jerry Colangelo’s Hall of Fame Series. (PJ Brown/Arizona Daily Star)
VIDEO: The Arizona women’s basketball team warms up at Footprint Center in Phoenix in the early afternoon on Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023, prior to taking the court against No. 20 Gonzaga as part of Jerry Colangelo’s Hall of Fame Series. (PJ Brown/Arizona Daily Star)
