By
Kamy Shaygan
Arizona Daily Wildcat
James leads UA in scoring with 19, 5 others reach double digits
The Arizona women's basketball team turned up the intensity on the both the offensive and defensive ends of the court Saturday afternoon.
The unranked Wildcats knocked off the "Love and Basketball" club team at McKale Center 98-53, behind a stingy defense that forced 29 turnovers.
"I thought we were much better than a week ago in (during the Red and Blue Game)," UA head coach Joan Bonvicini said.
The UA charge was led by freshman forward Veranda James, who finished with a game high 19 points despite playing only 18 minutes because of early foul trouble.
"She is an excellent player and obviously she has a knack for scoring," Bonvicini said. "She's a scoring machine."
The Wildcats shot 56.7 percent from the field and got out to an early lead against "Love and Basketball," leading by 20 points with five minutes left in the first half.
Along with James, five other Wildcats finished with double digit points -senior guard Reshea Bristol, junior forward Elizabeth Pickney, junior guard Tysell Bozeman, junior center LaKeisha Taylor and sophomore forward Krista Warren.
"I think double digits are always great," Bozeman said. "If you have more than one person to go to, who can stop you?"
Offensively, the "Love and Basketball" club team could not get anything going courtesy of Bozeman. The Riverside, Calif. native finished with a game-high five steals to go along with her six rebounds and 10 points.
UA hounded "Love and Basketball" all game on defense, holding the team to 23.5 percent shooting.
Bozeman illustrated the team's intense attitude late in the second half as she dove for a ball out of bounds, despite Arizona being up by 45 points.
"I have always been an intensive player like that," Bozeman said. "Once I see a loose ball, I just want it."
Bonvicini was impressed by Bozeman's competitiveness.
"She brings a great deal of intensity," Bonvicini said. "She is the kind of person who brings that spark that just gets everyone pumped up and can help you win a big game."
The team's unity also played a big factor in the win according to Warren.
"This year, our team's spirit for the games is higher than it's ever been," Warren said. "Everyone is cheering on every player - even if it's a freshman."
"We are all starting to know each others plays. It's all starting to come together," she said.
For the "Love and Basketball" club team, guard Val Agee finished with a team highs in both points (9) and rebounds (5).
"I was very pleased," Bozeman said of the game. "As a young team, we played real good tonight."
