Brase breaks shooting slump, Wildcats roll Pepperdine 81-77

ERIC M. JUKELEVICS/Arizona Daily Wildcat

UA freshman guard Candice Allen drives against a Pepperdine defender in last night's game in McKale Center.

In the Arizona women's basketball team's three preseason exhibition games, junior guard Julie Brase had difficulty converting open shots.

In the Wildcat's season opener against Pepperdine, Brase put those struggles behind her.

The UA junior proved deadly down the stretch, hitting two big three-point baskets to give Arizona an 81-77 victory.

"I was getting really frustrated because I wasn't hitting my shots and shots weren't falling (during preseason)," Brase said. "I came out today saying I had to play hard on defense and then my offense will come."

Brase scored a career-high 18 points while adding seven assists.

However, the Wildcats' victory did not come easy.

After leading the Waves 49-32 at the end of the first half, the Wildcats came out in the second half and pushed the lead to 24. But they left the door open for a Pepperdine comeback.

The Waves tied the game at 75 late in the final frame, and UA had to win the game from the free-throw line.

With 16 seconds left in the contest and the Wildcats holding onto a two-point lead, freshman point guard Dee-Dee Wheeler made two free throws to give UA a four-point lead.

The freshman then forced a Pepperdine turnover to give the Wildcats possession of the ball.

Wheeler said she never felt pressure while at the free throw line and in clutch situations.

"At the end of the game, you can always give me the ball and I'll put it in," Wheeler said.

Wheeler finished the day with 15 points and two assists and shot a perfect 4-4 from the free throw line.

Arizona's two seniors - forward Liz Pickney and center LaKeisha Taylor, who dominated the preseason in scoring and rebounds - were quiet yesterday in comparison to their performances in the Wildcats' exhibition games.

Taylor, who was fighting the stomach flu, got into early foul trouble and had difficulty scoring in the post.

She finished the night with just three points and two rebounds, well below her mark of 21 points against last week's exhibition game to USA Elite.

Pickney - who scored 29 points against USA Elite - scored 12 points while grabbing two rebounds against Pepperdine.

Despite having more difficulty finding Taylor and Pickney down low, the Wildcats established more of a threat from the perimeter.

"They know Arizona as the twin towers (in Liz and LaKeisha)," Wheeler said. "Now we are showing teams (the guards) can shoot and they have to play us straight on."

Arizona was dominant from the free throw line and finished the game 19-23 and 82.6 percent.

The Wildcats' next challenge comes on Wednesday when they battle the Women's National Invitation Tournament Champion, Ohio State and then the NCAA Champion Notre Dame on Saturday.