JON HELGASON/Arizona Daily Wildcat Senior forward Krista Warren brings the ball up in last night's Red-Blue Game. Warren led all scorers with 19 points, but her Blue team fell to the Red team by the score of 91-73.

Last night's Red-Blue Game was supposed to showcase a host of newcomers, and they did not disappoint, though the freshman blue-chippers were not exactly the center of attention.

Junior transfer Jessica Duger scored 18 points in 19 minutes to lead the Red team to a 91-73 victory at McKale Center last night.

"She had the game of her life," head coach Joan Bonvicini said. "I'm really excited for her."

Duger, a transfer from Yavapai College, was 2-of-5 from the field in the first half, but connected on 4-of-6 in the second frame, including three three-pointers.

As if she couldn't have been in the zone any more, with just over eight minutes left in the second half, she caught a pass on a fast break and whipped it behind her back to freshman CoCoa Sanford for an easy two, leaving the 480 fans in McKale Center wondering how she did it.

"Honestly, it's just natural talent," said Duger of her first highlight reel as a Wildcat. "When you see someone in the corner of your eye, you just do it."

Senior forward Krista Warren ÷ though playing on the opposite team ÷ acknowledged Duger's hot hand in the waning minutes of the game with a pat on the shoulder and a smile.

"Jessica was amazing," said Warren of Duger. "She has had a hurt shoulder. This past week she got to play, and tonight she came out there and played how we know she can play."

Tonight was also the premiere of highly touted freshman Shawntinice "Polkey" Polk, who redshirted last year.

Polk netted 15 points on 6-of-10 from the field. Perhaps her most impressive stat was her six assists coming at times when she was double teamed or simply looked for an open teammate cutting to the basket.

Polk said tonight's game was good from an experience standpoint.

"It was a lot of fun," Polk said. "It got some of the nervousness out."

The game started with a steal and lay-up by freshman Phakisha Peterson, who finished the game with eight points and played on both teams.

Neither team could get a sizable lead until midway through the first half.

Peterson scored to tie the game at 21.

The Red team took a two-point lead when Sanford connected on two of her 15 points, and the Red team never trailed en route to the 18-point win.

Pacing the Blue team was Warren with a game-high 19 points, followed by sophomore center Danielle Adefeso with 14.

Warren said last night's game exemplified the amount of depth and talent the Wildcats have on their roster this season.

"Tonight proved who wants to work hard and who wants to play," Warren said. "Everyone deserves to play, not just the first five. We can go nine or 10 deep."

Game notes

· Senior guard Julie Brase (Blue team) was injured halfway through the first half. She did not return. Bonvicini said Brase's injury was nothing but a "dead leg" ·

· The winning Red team was comprised of just two players with game experience in Wildcat uniforms, compared to five on the Blue squad ·

· The Red team dished out 28 assists but committed 23 turnovers ·

· Freshman guard Natalie Jones had six assists and one turnover. The Blue team had 11 assists and 26 turnovers.