Women's golf beats Bucks, takes fifth in Myrtle Beach

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - The Arizona women's golf team defeated Ohio State in the final-round matchup yesterday after its third day of competition at the Hooters Collegiate Match Play Championship in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

The Wildcats carded three wins to the Buckeyes' two, as Arizona finished the tournament in fifth place.

UA sophomore Erica Blasberg defeated Ohio State's Kristen White 2 & 1, and Wildcat junior Mar Garcia fell to the Buckeyes' Allison Hanna 4 & 3, in the final round.

Ohio State's Lindsay Knowlton defeated Wildcat sophomore Lani Elstno 2 & 1 yesterday morning, while Arizona sophomore Whitney Welch and UA junior Miriam Kraschinski defeated their opponents, 4 & 3.

The tournament was the Wildcats' final event of the fall. Arizona will tee off in its spring season, beginning Feb. 9-11 in the Northrop Grumman Regional Challenge.

Women's hoops 22nd in preseason coaches' poll

The UA women's basketball team is ranked No. 22 in the preseason USA Today/ESPN/WBCA Coaches' Poll released yesterday. This marks the first time since the 1999-2000 season that the Wildcats have been ranked in the first poll of the season.

The Wildcats have been listed among the top 25 teams in four of the six preseason polls released so far this year. Their highest ranking is No. 17 in the Lindy's poll, while the lowest is No. 23 in the Athlon Sports Top 25. Arizona failed to receive a single vote in the preseason coaches' poll last year. The Wildcats earned 71 votes in the 2000-01 poll, after being ranked No. 24 in 1999-2000.

The Wildcat women have one more exhibition game, against Athletes in Action on Thursday, Nov. 13, at 7 p.m. Arizona officially tips off the 2003-04 season on Saturday, Nov. 22, against Northern Arizona at 2 p.m. in McKale Center.