Wildcats slip before critical road trip

Just when it appeared the Arizona women's basketball team was about to chalk up a third straight win, UC Santa Barbara went on a 19-7 run to turn a 71-71 tie with 6:20 remaining into a runaway victory for Gauchos.

As if the loss alone is not bad enough news, Arizona now takes to the road for a four-game trip to California.

Head coach Joan Bonvicini said a loss like this makes road games more important.

"The good thing is this was not a conference game," Bonvicini said. "We got a wake-up call. We need to take care of business and win the games in LA."

That might be easier said than done.

The road has been anything but kind for Bonvicini's squad. Arizona has not won a Pac-10 road game since the victory over Stanford on January 6th of last season.

Bonvicini cited several areas that cost UA the game.

"Our decision-making was really poor," Bonvicini said. "We attempted 32 threes. That is way too many."

In the first half, Arizona stayed in the game with a flurry of three-point shots.

The Wildcats continued to rely on the three ball in the second half, but as UCSB made its run, Arizona had no answer inside or out.

Everything that was working for the Wildcats came to a halt during the critical stretch late in the second half.

"We want to shoot the three when we can, but we need the posts to touch the ball," Bonvicini said. "We needed to do something other than shoot the three."

The Wildcats did manage to make 12 of their 32 three-point attempts but failed to connect from long range after sophomore Candice Allen scored from behind the arch with 6:23 left.

The Wildcats were also brutalized on the glass during the decisive run that led to the fast break points that broke Arizona's back.

For the game, Arizona was out-rebounded 41-33, after holding a 19-16 advantage at the half.

Junior guard Julie Brase said getting beat on the boards and down court was what decided the game.

"We have got to get back (on defense)," Brase said. "Those are mental errors. (UCSB) was getting the long rebounds and that was hurting us."