DAVID HARDEN/Arizona Daily Wildcat

UA freshman forward Krista Warren drives for a layup against Team Concept last week in McKale Center. The Wildcats begin their regular season Sunday against Pepperdine.

Senior duo leads women's hoops against Pepperdine

The Arizona women's basketball team passed its first two tests of the preseason by blowing away exhibition opponent USA Elite 88-65 and squeezing by Team Concept 83-81.

The real season begins Sunday when the Wildcats take on Pepperdine in their first game of the year.

The Wildcats proved during the preseason that they are more confident than last season, according to UA head coach Joan Bonvicini.

"(The two wins) are big confidence builders," she said. "We're going to be challenged each game. We're going to have a good team but we're going to need to continue to grow. It's good to have confidence but we just need to go one game at a time."

Arizona holds a slight advantage over Pepperdine with a 3-2 edge in the series.

Last year, UA advanced to the second round of the Women's National Invitational Tournament with a come-from-behind, 85-65 victory over the Wave, which included a 25-3 run.

Despite victories in their last three games against Pepperdine, Bonvicini said the Wildcats have to be prepared for a challenge.

"When we played Pepperdine a year ago, it was a very unusual game," Bonvicini said. "They're a team that is very well coached and very quick and we're not going to get any other take than what we had a year ago. A lot of it is going to be new."

Arizona's strength this season comes from the experience of seniors Elizabeth Pickney and LaKeisha Taylor.

Pickney led UA in scoring with 29 points while grabbing 12 rebounds against USA Elite.

Taylor finished with 21 points and 13 rebounds.

For Pickney and Taylor, those numbers are becoming expected in each match.

"Hopefully, LaKeisha and I can continue to execute (and put up those numbers)," Pickney said. "But if LaKeisha or I were to step down, then someone else would step up - there's nothing to worry about."

Sophomore guard Aimee Grzyb combined for 10 points and nine assists while junior guard Julie Brase contributed eight points and four assists.

Despite the preseason victories, Bonvicini said there is plenty to improve on before Sunday's game.

Although the guards did a better job against USA Elite in finding Pickney and Taylor in the post, Bonvicini said the guards need to continue to find open players and the two seniors must continue to be aggressive on the boards.

Turnovers are another area Bonvicini said she is looking to improve on, and she said the team must play smarter than it has in exhibition play.

Despite the areas that Bonvicini said need improvement, both preseason games were a good indicator of just how much this team has improved.

"I think we are getting better and that's very important," Bonvicini said. "We showed a lot of improvement from (Team Concept)."

The Wildcats tip off their regular season at 2 p.m. in McKale Center.