Perfect 10: Barnes edges Polk as Arizona's best ever

Barnes is No. 1

This list should look a little bit different.

Next to the No. 1, you’ll see read the name “Adia Barnes”.

And that’s well-deserved, for a number of reasons — statistics, accolades, team success.

Barnes was a star, no question.

But so was Shawntinice Polk. 

UA women's hoops not the same since Polk's death 

For three years, Polk was quite possibly the most dominant Wildcat in team history. The 6-foot-5-inch center was a force in the low post — she ranks sixth in Arizona history in scoring. Polk was Arizona’s all-time leading rebounder for six years — she remains in second place — and has the most blocked shots in program history. 

Polk died just before her senior season when a blood clot made its way to her lungs. Her death shook the UA campus and the Tucson community. The women’s basketball team hasn't been the same since.

Given four years, Polk likely would have become the greatest player in UA women's basketball history. 

That title belongs to Barnes.  

Barnes holds many UA records 

The guard is the lone Pac-10 Player of the Year winner in school history, a three-time first-team all-conference selection, a seven-time Pac-10 Player of the Week winner, the 1996 WNIT Most Valuable Player and was the 1995 Pac-10 Freshman of the Year.

Barnes is also Arizona’s only All-American. She made the Associated Press' third team in 1998. 

"I thought she'd be a good player, but even as a freshman, Adia exceeded my expectations," then-UA coach Joan Bonvicini told the Star in 1997. "The thing that sets her apart is her personal drive to be better and her ability to put pressure on herself. The best players want to carry the team."

Barnes was dominant statistically: She remains Arizona’s all-time leader in scoring, scoring average, field goals made and attempted. She’s also second in rebounding, third in double doubles and fourth in steals.

The Wildcats made the postseason in each of Barnes’ last three years with the program. She was the first UA player drafted into the WNBA. 

Barnes continues to make basketball her profession. She's an assistant coach at Washington. 

"After high school, so many people overlooked me," Barnes said in 1998. "Someone here believed in me and gave me the opportunity to believe in myself and helped me to grow."

The list:  

10. Lisa Griffith 

Years at UA: 1997-2000

Career stats: 9.8 points per game, 2.3 three-pointers per game, .382 three-point percentage 

Accomplishments:

• UA's all-time leader in 3-pointers made, career, season and single game (made seven three times)

• Four-time All-Conference honorable mention

UA career rankings:

• Career scoring, 13th

• Assists, 7th

• Steals, 6th

• Three-point percentage, 2nd 

9. Brenda Pantoja 

Years at UA: 1992-96

Career stats: 6.0 assists per game, 1.7 steals per game, 1.7 three-pointers per game 

Accomplishments:

• 1996 NCAA assists leader (9.4 per game in 1995)

• UA single-game assists (16, twice) and steals (9) record-holder

• UA career assists leader

UA career rankings:

• Three-pointers made, 4th

• Three-point percentage, 5th

• Steals, 9th

• Fewest turnovers, 1st 

8. Reshea Bristol 

Years at UA: 1998-2001

Career stats: 10.7 ppg, 4.0 apg, 2.2 spg 

Accomplishments:

• All-conference first team selection

• UA single-game assists record (tied, 16)

• UA single-season steals record

UA rankings:

• Career free throws made, 7th

• Career scoring, 11th

• Career assists, 6th

• Career steals, 3rd

• Single-season assists, 2nd 

7. Dana Patterson 

Years at UA: 1985-88

Career stats: 11.6 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 0.8 blocks per gmae, 51.8 field goal percentage in 112 games played

Accomplishments: 

• Two-time All-Conference selection (one first-team)

• First Wildcat ever chosen to consecutive all-conference teams

UA career rankings:

• Field goal percentage, 4th

• Scoring, 9th

• Rebounding, 5th

• Blocks, 5th

• Double doubles, 4th 

6. Elizabeth Pickney 

Years at UA: 1999-2002

Career stats: 13.4 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 1.2 bpg

Accomplishments:

• Two-time first-team all-conference selection

• Tied-UA career free throws made leader

UA career rankings:

• Scoring, 5th

• Scoring average, 9th

• Rebounding, 4th

• Blocks, 3rd

• Double-doubles, 8th

• UA single game free throws made record (tied, 15) 

5. Ify Ibekwe 

Years at UA: 2008-10

Career stats: 14.3 ppg, 10.3 rpg, 1.9 spg, 1.4 bpg in 116 games

Accomplishments:

• Two-time honorable mention AP All-American

• Three-time first-team all-conference selection 

• Three-time Pac-10 player of the week

• 2011 Pac-10 defensive player of the

•UA career rebounding and double doubles leader

• UA single-season rebounding record

UA career rankings:

• Field goals made, 4th

• Free throws made, 5th

• Scoring, 4th

• Scoring average, 7th

• Steals, 5th

• Blocks, 2nd 

4. Dee-Dee Wheeler 

Years at UA: 2002-05

Career stats: 15.9 ppg, 3.8 apg, 2.5 spg, 1.5 3-pointers in 124 games

Accomplishments:

• 2004-05 honorable mention AP All-American

• Three-time first-team all-conference selection

• 2002 Pac-10 Freshman of the Year

• Career record holder, steals

UA career rankings:

• Field goals made, 2nd

• Three-pointers made, 5th

• Scoring, 3rd

• Assists, 5th 

3. Davellyn Whyte 

Years at UA: 2009-13

Career stats: 16.3 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 3.4 apg, 2.1 spg, 2.2 3-pointers 

Accomplishments:

• 2011-12 honorable mention AP All-American 

• Four-time first-team all-conference selection 

• Two-time conference player of the week

• Recorded lone triple double in school history (31 points, 16 rebounds, 10 assists in 2013 game)

• One of only two players to score 2,000 career points

• UA record holder for minutes and games (126) played

UA career rankings:

• Scoring, 2nd

• Scoring average, 3rd

• Field goals made, 3rd

• 3-pointers made, 2nd

• Free throws made, 4th

• Free throws attempted, 1st

• Rebounds, 6th

• Assists, 8th

• Steals, 2nd

• Double doubles, 7th 

2. Shawntinice Polk 

Years at UA: 2003-05

Career stats: 15.6 ppg, 9.7 rpg, 2.4 bpg, .573 FG% in 94 games

Accomplishments:

• 2002-03 honorable mention AP All-American

• Three-time first-team All-Conference

• WomensCollegeHoops.com All-Freshman first team

• 2003 Pac-10 freshman of the year

• Three-time Pac-10 player of the week 

1. Adia Barnes 

Years at UA: 1995-98

Career stats: 18.5 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 2.1 spg, .509 FG% in 121 games

Honorable mention: Miroslava Acosta (1985-87), Joy Hollingsworth (2005-07), Amy Gamble (1988-89), Margo Clark (1991-94), Felecity Willis (1997-2000)

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