AUSTIN, TEXAS ö The Wildcats were compelled into doing what they didn't want to do ö and what they couldn't do.
The Arizona women's basketball team was forced into playing Michigan State's type of game in its season-ending loss last night. The Spartans, who have several wide bodies in the paint, made the Wildcats adjust to their style of slow-paced, aggressive basketball.
That's why UA head coach Joan Bonvicini limited sophomore forward CoCoa Sanford, who typically averages 15-20 minutes per game off the bench, to four minutes of playing time ö all in the first half.
Instead, Bonvicini played the larger and more aggressive Danielle Adefeso 18 minutes.
"When we put CoCoa in, it's to press. We needed someone who was going to bang and put a body on someone underneath," Bonvicini said. "(Danielle) was able to do that better."
The junior forward worked hard under the glass, grabbing seven rebounds, including three on offense. But the bigger lineup slowed the Wildcats down and kept them from doing what they do best: run.
Arizona notched just four fast-break points in the game. The Wildcats had several more fast-break opportunities but were unable to cash in.
Junior guard Dee-Dee Wheeler, whom more than one Pac-10 coach described as the quickest player in the conference, said she was surprised at the Spartans' ability to get back on defense and prevent what are typically easy breakaway baskets.
"I was impressed with that, even with their post players," Wheeler said. "Their two guards, they really did well with me, so I really didn't have anyone to pass it to if I penetrated. They did a good job of getting back."
The Wildcats' quickness showed with their typical sticky fingers. They recorded 13 steals, including four each from Wheeler and sophomore guard Natalie Jones, and three from senior guard Aimee Grzyb.
But Arizona scored just 15 points off 19 MSU turnovers, while the Spartans took advantage of 18 Wildcat turnovers to the tune of 22 points.
"We forced them into turnovers. I didn't think we did as good a job converting on those turnovers," Bonvicini said.