JON HELGASON/Arizona Daily Wildcat

UA senior forward Liz Pickney battles with a Team Concept player for a loose ball during thier game last night in McKale Center.

Coaches always emphasize the importance of a free throw.

In last night's exhibition game against Team Concept - an Amateur Athletic Team based in Portland, Ore. - the Arizona women's basketball team learned exactly that.

Trailing Team Concept with 43 seconds remaining in the game, senior center LaKeisha Taylor made two crucial free throws to tie the game at 81.

With the game tied, senior Elizabeth Pickney drew a foul and the opportunity to give the Wildcats the lead.

Pickney - who finished with 28 points - became the hero of the game.

With the game on the line, Pickney converted both of her free throws to give Arizona an 83-81 victory and its first win of the preseason.

"In our first game, in clutch situation we really showed a lot of poise," UA head coach Joan Bonvicini said. "We were just smart at the end and didn't fold."

However, the entire game was not so pleasing to Bonvicini.

Despite the improved performance in the second half, Arizona's first half was not so impressive.

"The first half, we looked like a team that is very young and that it was our first game," Bonvicini said. "We had too many turnovers, not a lot of leadership and were really out of sync."

Plagued by turnovers and poor defense in the first half, the Wildcats struggled to take possession of the game.

Arizona shot 10-37 from the field and 1-7 behind the three-point line.

A much more aggressive squad took the court in the second half.

The Wildcats shot 17-37 from the field and 4-10 from the three-point line.

It was Arizona's performance at the free throw line that propelled it to victory - shooting 24-29 at the line and 82.8 percent.

Taylor finished with 15 points - shooting 9-10 at the free throw line.

In her first collegiate game, UA freshman Dee-Dee Wheeler continued to impress Bonvicini.

Wheeler added 12 points and five assists to UA's victory.

"The girl is going to be really good, and she really steps up our intensity," Bonvicini said.

Junior guard Julie Brase agreed.

"She had to step it up and she played her role perfectly," Brase said. "With her intensity, she gets everyone around her to get motivated. Expect a lot out of her for the rest of the season."

Despite the victory, Wheeler was critical of her performance.

"I still need to learn which plays to run instead of looking over at coach B for help," Wheeler said. "My defense could have been better too. I know I have to step up and lead the team."

Last night's exhibition game gave the Wildcats the opportunity to determine which areas still need improvement.

Arizona will have the chance to make those changes in its final exhibition game before it begins its regular season with a match against NWBL UAS Elite Sunday.

With the day off, Bonvicini said to expect improvements starting tomorrow.

"There's going to be a big improvement between now and Sunday," Bonvicini said. "I told them to enjoy their day off, but after that (expect) to work."

The Wildcats tip off at 2 p.m. on Sunday.