The Arizona Women’s Basketball team goes for a possible sweep of the Lady Devils in a Double Duel Showdown.
Just like in a western movie, the Arizona Wildcats Basketball team will face their arch rivals the Arizona State Sun Devils in a home and home series starting in Tempe, Arizona. Followed up on Sunday in Tucson in McKale Center, the Lady Cats will play the Sun Devils a second time and are 8-2 on the home floor this season.
Much of the talk surrounds Junior Forward LaBrittney Jones, who has been scoring, rebounding, and blocking shots all over the place. In her last game against Colorado, she had 22 points and nine rebounds in 40 minutes of action. It’s also important to note, that Jones has moved into fifth place on the all-time blocks list at Arizona. According to Arizona Wildcats Basketball News, ‘She tallied up 92 blocks, and is 130 blocks away from the all-time record, which is held by Shawntinice Polk, who has 222 career blocks.”‘
The Arizona Women’s Basketball team come into the “Duel” home series with an overall record of 11-7 and a conference record of 2-4. The Lady Cats are looking to get head coach Niya Butts her first win over ASU since February 9, 2014, which was at the tail end of a home and home series.
The Lady Cats can get the win with their bench play. The bench has been able to notch 30 or more points six different games this season, and that is pleasing to hear to those who follow the Arizona Women’s Basketball team. Also, the play for the Lady Cats have been sluggish at times, but they’ve been able to ride into victory lane in the end. In their game against Cal, the team was outscored 27-22 in the first two-quarters, and then the Cats came alive and outscored then No. 21 ranked Cal 35 to 25, winning 57-52.
The Lady Cats have been able also to protect home court winning eight out of ten times trying to keep pace with their fellow Men’s team who is working at extending their unprecedented 50 home game winning streak. The Lady Cats are averaging 66.7 points per game at home which is a remarkable average at home.
Head Coach Niya Butts, in her 8th year, has earned a record of 100-135 and is looking for that elusive 101st career victory at Arizona against ASU. She’s 2-8 against the Sun Devils, a team that has had Arizona’s number in recent years.
The Sun Devils are ranked No. 8 in the country and have a 15-3 record overall on the year. What’s more impressive is their perfect 6-0 conference record. They’ve beaten the likes of Utah and No. 12 Stanford to highlight a couple of games.
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This series is going to be a tough one, but Coach Butts is going to try her best to light a fire under her team and see if they can get early defensive stops on the Sun Devils like they did in Tucson two years ago. A superb game, the Cats defeated the Lady Devils 68-49 behind then Senior Guard Carissa Crutchfield‘s 20 point effort, and then Senior Forward Erica Barnes‘ 14 point effort, as they put away then No. 11 ASU in Tucson.
Predictions for both games:
Expect ASU to come out guns a-blazing in the first half in both games. However, with the amazing play of LaBrittney Jones, and the desire to get Coach Butts her 101st win, the Cats should overcome the storm in the first half, and rally to beat ASU in Tempe 68-67, and do the same in Tucson by the score of 71-69.
Where:
- Today: Arizona at Arizona State
- Sunday: Arizona State at Arizona (McKale Center)
Time/Date:
- Today: Jan, 22 at 7:00 MST, 6:00 PST
- Sunday: Jan. 24 at 5:00 MST, 4:00 PST
TV: Pac-12 Arizona Cindy Brunson (play by play) and former Stanford Standout Chiney Ogwumike (commentary analyst)
Radio: TuneIn Radio IMG Sports Network Arizona, KTUC 1400 AM (Women’s Basketball)
More wildcats: Arizona Wildcats Basketball makes it 12 straight against Stanford 71-57
Bear Down and Rise Up!