The UA women's basketball team will try to make a disappointing Los Angeles road trip a distant memory starting tonight against Oregon State in McKale Center.
The Wildcats (18-7, 10-4 Pacific 10 Conference) were knocked from first to third place in the Pac-10 following consecutive road losses to UCLA and Southern California last week.
UA head coach Joan Bonvicini said there's no point in dwelling on what might have been in Los Angeles.
"The only thing I really talked to the team about (Tuesday) was not looking backward but to look forward, which is obviously our next game with Oregon State," Bonvicini said. "For us, we're still in control of ourselves. We're right there and we want to finish strong, particularly at home. It's a big game."
Junior guard Dee-Dee Wheeler said the team was able to put the heartbreak from Sunday's two-point loss at USC behind it.
"Everything had cooled down by that time," she said. "After the game, we went to eat and everything, so by the time we got on the plane, everybody was tired and went to sleep."
"It's hard to get over it, but you have to," Wheeler added.
The Wildcats' only conference road sweep of the season came in Oregon. Arizona staged a last-minute rally to upend the Ducks (12-12, 4-10) 70-66 Jan. 22, then went on to its most lopsided road win of the season, a 65-54 victory at Oregon State (14-9, 8-6), two days later.
"We're at home. We can't say, ÎWe're at home, we're going to win,' but I think it gives us confidence," said Bonvicini of Arizona's 25-game home winning streak. "We're going to have to earn it. Oregon State's playing well right now. They've won three in a row and they're going to come in here really hungry."
The 13th-year head coach said she has emphasized three things in practice this week: defense, ball control and cutting down on fouls.
Sophomore center Shawntinice Polk, Arizona's second-leading scorer and leader in rebounds and blocks per game, fouled out for the seventh time this season at USC. But the 6-foot-5 Polk hasn't fouled out in McKale since the Wildcats' season opener against Northern Arizona.
"Polkey has to stay in the game because she gives us so much, and I think the other big thing is we have to take care of the ball better," Bonvicini said, noting Arizona's 28 turnovers at USC.
Wheeler said the team knows what needs to be done tonight against the Beavers.
"We've just got to let them know there's no way they're going to win the game, and let them know that this is our house," Wheeler said. "We have a winning streak, and we're not going to lose any more games here in the Pac-10."
Saturday's game against the Ducks ÷ Arizona's final regular season home game ÷ will be "senior day," when seniors Aimee Grzyb and Jessica Duger will be honored in a ceremony before the game.
Wheeler hopes Grzyb, who averages just over 10 points per game, will have extra incentive to perform well Saturday.
"Her whole family is going to be here, and I definitely hope that's going to be a motivation for her," Wheeler said. "I hope she comes out with great leadership and really goes out with a bang."
Bonvicini said her team remembers its near-collapse at Oregon and will take steps to ensure history doesn't repeat itself Saturday.
Arizona has won three of its last four against the Beavers and has a four-game win streak over the Ducks. Tonight's game starts at 7 p.m., and Saturday's game against Oregon tips off at 2 p.m.