Wildcat women ready to get it on against Broncos

Ian Mayer Arizona Daily Wildcat UA redshirt freshman guard Reshea Bristol (10) scoops up a loose ball from Oregon State earlier this season. The Wildcats square up against Santa Clara tonight at McKale Center at 10 pm in their NCAA Tournament opener.

And with these words UA head coach Joan Bonvicini and her Wildcats prepare for an NCAA Tournament run they hope ends at Kansas City's Final Four.

You've got to love tournament time.

The Santa Clara Broncos, champions of the West Coast Conference and heavy underdogs as a No. 14 seed playing the third seed Arizona Wildcats at McKale Center Friday, are going to come ready to play, said Bonvicini.

"They're going to try to slow the game down with a lot of back cuts and screens," Bonvicini said.

"They don't have a big scorer like we do but they have a lot of different players who can score," she added. "I'm sure they've put in a few wrinkles."

But wrinkle all they want, the Broncos are facing an uphill battle and the Wildcats know it.

"They are definite underdogs," senior forward Adia Barnes said.

Despite Santa Clara's significant height advantage - they have seven players over six feet tall, compared to only three for the Wildcats - Arizona players think their speed and defense will lead them to victory.

"We've learned to overcome height," senior forward Mikko Giordano said. "Defense is going to be key."

"We are a very hard team to match up against," Bonvicini added. "We're a much better defensive team than most people realize and that is something we take pride in."

And considering Santa Clara averages 22 turnovers a game, the Arizona perimeter defense, led by Felecity Willis, DeAngela Minter, Lisa Griffith and lately, Reshea Bristol, should have the chance to break open in the transition game.

"We'll press," Bonvicini said. "At what point I'm not sure, but we'll press."

Bristol, hot after being named to the Pacific 10 Conference All-Freshman team, is ready for action after sitting out of Arizona's two NCAA games last year as a redshirt freshman.

"I'm very psyched up," Bristol said. "My confidence is really high.

"We've worked really hard as a team to accomplish our goals. I've got a lot of people backing me up. I can play as well as the seniors and above."

On the offensive end, UA's guards realize how important it is for them to sink their shots.

"If we all can hit from the outside, that will definitely open things up for both Adia and Marte (Alexander)," Griffith said.

Regardless of position or class standing, the players and coaches know the onus is on them to live up to the standards they set for themselves.

"This is our opportunity and we have to seize it," Bonvicini said.

And the Wildcats are anxious to do so, especially Barnes.

"I'm excited," she said. "I'm like let's, let's get it on."

No. 3 Arizona vs. No. 14 Santa Clara

(21-6, 14-4 Pac-10) (23-7, 11-3 WCC)

When: tonight at 10

Where: McKale Center

Admission: $10

TV/Radio: The game will be televised on ESPN2 and broadcast on KFFN (1490 AM)

What: The first-ever home NCAA Tournament game for Arizona's women's basketball team - Santa Clara is making its first tournament appearance since 1994 - UA head coach Joan Bonvicini is making her 12th coaching appearance in the tournament in the last sixteen years (second-straight with the Wildcats) - Santa Clara senior point guard Lisa Sacco was named the West Coast Conference's player of the year