Arizona's 80-61 loss to Ruzomberok, a Slovakian club team, on Tuesday was not entirely shocking to women's basketball head coach Joan Bonvicini, but it was a bit unsettling.

"It was a disappointing display," Bonvicini said. "We were not playing the way this team is capable of playing. The good thing is that it doesn't count. I guarantee we will play better against San Francisco."

The Wildcats play the Dons in the Preseason Women's National Invitational Tournament tomorrow. Bonvicini said the team will need to execute a lot better by then.

"Crashing the boards, switching on defense, getting back on the fast break, those are all things this team should be doing," Bonvicini said. "Our team last season was based on transition defense. I only saw one steal that led to points in the game."

The Wildcats forced 21 turnovers against the Slovakians, but committed 29 of their own. Turnovers were one of Arizona's main problems last season.

"Taking care of the ball is crucial," Bonvicini said.

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UA redshirt freshman point guard Lisa Griffith got her first taste of big-time basketball Tuesday and it wasn't entirely sweet. Ruzomberok point guard Iveta Bielikova scored 17 points and added 11 assists against Arizona. Griffith had only five points and two assists.

"She was experienced. She knew what to do with the ball," Griffith said. "I think that was something their whole team did. We just didn't come together and stop them."

Griffith was playing her first real game since competing at St. Mary's Academy in Portland, Ore. Bielikova is 30 years old. Griffith's last opponent was about 17.

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Arizona's guards weren't able to give the team the punch it had last season. The combination of Griffith, junior shooting guard DeAngela Minter, freshman point guard Felicity Willis and sophomore shooting guard Monica Crank finished with 16 points and 14 assists.

Last season's starting point guard, Brenda Pantoja, averaged 13 points and 9.3 assists per game. Starting shooting guard Andrea Constand contributed 13.1 points and just over two assists per game.

"The back court is young this season, but they're going to get better as they get more experience," Bonvicini said.

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Bonvicini said she was impressed with the play of some of her players, especially the freshmen. Along with Griffith and Willis, Bonvicini said freshman Kate Crane showed a lot of energy. Crane is a guard/forward who can shoot from the outside and play physical inside.

Jacque Barrington had eight points and seven rebounds for Arizona. She earned the start over center Marte Alexander, who went down with bruised ribs after the Wildcats' Red-Blue scrimmage on Nov. 3. Alexander looked as if she was having trouble breathing during the second half of Tuesday's game. She was pulled from the game but returned to play later.

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The Wildcats may be fortunate they get a chance to play so soon after an exhibition loss. Arizona received 24 votes in the USA Today/CNN Preseason Top 25 Coaches Poll released on Monday. The team was also selected fourth in the Pacific 10 women's basketball media poll. The 19-point loss could have easily affected its ranking.

Arizona won both of its preseason games last season, 90-43 over the Mexican National Team and 74-56 over the Portland Saints.

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