Photos: Arizona Wildcats homestand opens with win over Cal, Pac-12 women's basketball
Coach Adia Barnes' Arizona Wildcats get back in the win column with a 66-55 win over Cal on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024, at McKale Center. Arizona improved to 11-9 overall on the year, and 3-5 in Pac-12 play. The Golden Bears are now 13-7 and 3-5.
Arizona guard Jada Williams (2) goes straight at Cal’s forward Ugonne Onyiah (0) in the fourth quarter of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 26, 2024.
Arizona guard Jada Williams (2) splits Cal’s guard Kemery Martin (15), left, and guard Lulu Laditan-Twidale (10) to get to the basket in their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 26, 2024.
Arizona guard Skylar Jones (4) goes up against Cal’s guard McKayla Williams (24) on a fourth quarter drive during their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 26, 2024.
Cal’s guard McKayla Williams (24) tracks down a loose ball in the lane doing the Bears’ game against Arizona at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 26, 2024.
Arizona forward Esmery Martinez (12) prepares to beat the victory drum after the Wildcats came back against Cal for 66-55 win at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 26, 2024.
Arizona guard Helena Pueyo (13) gets a congratulatory pat on the butt from head coach Adia Barnes after she drained a three in front of the Wildcat bench in the third quarter against Cal at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 26, 2024.
Arizona forward Esmery Martinez (12) finds a seam to get off a shot against Cal in the fourth quarter of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 26, 2024.
Arizona forward Isis Beh (33), top, and Cal’s guard Kemery Martin (15) land on top of guard Courtney Blakely (1) in a dog pile for possession in the fourth quarter of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 26, 2024. Blakely came back to finish the game.
Arizona forward Esmery Martinez (12) scoops up teammate guard Courtney Blakely (1) after she was banged up in a dog pile late in the fourth quarter against Cal at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 26, 2024. Blakely quickly got back to her feet and finished the game.
Arizona forward Isis Beh (33) puts the brakes on a drive by Cal’s guard Leilani McIntosh (1) in the fourth quarter of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 26, 2024.
Arizona forward Esmery Martinez (12) crashes down after narrowly losing the leap for a pass to Cal’s forward Ugonne Onyiah (0) in the fourth quarter of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 26, 2024.
Cal’s forward Ugonne Onyiah (0) loses her handle on the ball to Arizona guard Jada Williams (2) in the fourth quarter of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 26, 2024.
Arizona forward Esmery Martinez (12) gets an elbow to the mouth of Cal’s forward Ugonne Onyiah (0) on her follow through on a shot in the first quarter of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 26, 2024.
Cal’s forward Claudia Langarita (22) hacks Arizona forward Esmery Martinez (12) on her shot during their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 26, 2024.
Arizona forward Breya Cunningham (25) juggles an inlet pass under pressure form Cal’s center Ila Lane (12) at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 26, 2024.
Arizona guard Courtney Blakely (1) charges into the lane against Cal in the second quarter of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 26, 2024.
Arizona forward Esmery Martinez (12) fights to keep possession amidst a crowded lane of Cal defenders closing in in the first quarter of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 26, 2024.
Arizona forward Esmery Martinez (12), top, and guard Helena Pueyo (13) sandwich Cal’s guard Ioanna Krimili (32) in the fight for a loose ball in their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 26, 2024.
Cal’s guard Ioanna Krimili (32) boxes out Arizona forward Breya Cunningham (25) keeping her from reeling in an offensive rebound in the second quarter of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 26, 2024.
Arizona guard Skylar Jones (4) reaches in from behind to try to keep Cal’s guard McKayla Williams (24) from getting the hand off in their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 26, 2024.
Arizona guard Jada Williams (2) pressures Cal’s guard Leilani McIntosh (1) into a turnover during a scramble in their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 26, 2024.
Arizona guard Courtney Blakely (1) gets a face full of Cal’s guard Kemery Martin (15) as she bats the ball away in the fourth quarter of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 26, 2024.
Arizona guard Courtney Blakely (1) dribbles out of the clutch of Cal’s guard Mia Mastrov (21), swiping the ball for a Wildcat breakaway in the fourth quarter of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 26, 2024.
Arizona forward Esmery Martinez (12) gets smacked on the arm taking a close range shot against Cal at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 26, 2024.
Arizona guard Kailyn Gilbert (15), left, watches the third quarter action from the bench as the Wildcats take on Cal at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 26, 2024.
Arizona head coach Adia Barnes talks to the Wildcats in a timeout huddle during the third quarter against Cal at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 26, 2024.
Arizona forward Isis Beh (33) left, and guard Courtney Blakely (1) surround guard Skylar Jones (4) after she forced a Cal turnover early in their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 26, 2024.
Cal’s head coach Charmin Smith pleads her case to one of the game officials after a Golden Bear was charged with a blocking foul in the first quarter of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 26, 2024.
Arizona forward Breya Cunningham (25) looks for room to maneuver against Cal’s center Ila Lane (12) at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 26, 2024.
Arizona guard Helena Pueyo (13) lines up long-range jumper in the first half of the game against Cal at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 26, 2024.
Cal’s forward Marta Suarez (7) tries to dislodge the ball from Arizona forward Esmery Martinez (12) in their game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 26, 2024.
Cal’s guard Leilani McIntosh (1) forces Arizona guard Helena Pueyo (13) into a pass in their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 26, 2024.
Arizona guard Courtney Blakely (1) spins away from the pressure from Cal’s guard Leilani McIntosh (1) in their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 26, 2024.
Arizona guard Helena Pueyo (13) steps in between Cal’s center Ila Lane (12), left, and guard Ioanna Krimili (32) to swipe the ball and trigger a Wildcat fast break in the first quarter of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 26, 2024.
Arizona guard Jada Williams (2) jostles the ball out of the grip of Cal’s guard McKayla Williams (24) during the game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 26, 2024.
Kelly Presnell
Photojournalist
Determination, heart, home crowd pushed 'Cats seven-player rotation to a 66-55 win over Cal. Arizona snaps a four-game losing streak.
Arizona women's basketball hosts ASU Sunday at McKale Center: Scouting report, tenacious defense, injuries trending up. There have been more than 80 season-ending injuries for major conference teams this year — a number that appears to be growing every day.