Wildcats welcome former UA players to McKale Center

Nothing beats seeing familiar faces after spending 40 minutes in a pit.

After having its three-game winning streak snapped in its first road game of the season against New Mexico in Albuquerque's Pit, the Arizona women's basketball team returns home to McKale Center, where success has been a little easier to come by this weekend.

UA (3-1) will play host to its 11th annual Arizona Basketball Classic featuring a match up between No. 20 Wisconsin and Pittsburgh at 6 p.m. before the Wildcats take on Holy Cross at 8 p.m.

"When you're at home, you have people cheering for you, and when you're on the road, there's no one on your side but the 20 people in your traveling party," UA assistant coach Denise Dove Ianello said. "At home, you have people who will boo for the officials and cheer you on."

UA will welcome back some familiar faces in this year's tournament.

Pittsburgh head coach Traci Waites was an associate head coach from 1995-98 and played under UA head coach Joan Bonvicini at Long Beach State from 1988-89.

Lisa Griffith Scott, one of Waites' assistants, played at UA from 1997-2000.

Scott, who is married to former UA football player Yusuf Scott, is the Pacific 10 Conference career leader in both three-point shots made and attempted.

Wisconsin head coach Jane Albright coached Ianello when she played at Northern Illinois from 1988-91.

The Wildcats have won five of the last six tournament titles and seven total championships in the tournament's 10-year history.

Despite the team's achievements, Bonvicini said to expect a high-caliber game against Holy Cross.

"Holy Cross is a great team," Bonvicini said. "They win their conference every year, they're a very smart team. They can hit from the inside or outside and are very versatile. They're going to mix it up against us."

Holy Cross will have to defend three members from last year's All-Tournament Team - sophomore guard Aimee Grzyb, junior forward Krista Warren and senior forward Elizabeth Pickney.

With three wins at home, including recent upsets against both defending NCAA National Champion Notre Dame and Women's National Invitational Tournament Champion Ohio State, Bonvicini said her team is confident in what it can do at home.

"It's nice to be home," Bonvicini said. "We beat two very good teams and we are more confident; we just need to get back on track."

In order to improve on New Mexico's loss, Bonvicini said it is crucial that UA improve its rebounding and shot selection.

The Wildcats shot 33.8 percent from the field and 15.8 percent from behind the three-point line in their loss to New Mexico on Tuesday.

Bonvicini said UA players need to be more consistent with the ball and will base tonight's starting lineup by the top five rebounders from New Mexico's game.

The consolation game will be take place Sunday at 1 p.m. with the championship game following at 3 p.m.