DAVID HARDENArizona Daily Wildcat Arizona sophomore Shawntinice Polk spins around a defender last night in the UA's loss to Athletes in Action in McKale Center.

Fortunately, this one didn't count.

The Arizona women's basketball team committed 31 turnovers and managed just eight free throws in its final exhibition game of the season, allowing Athletes in Action to pull out an 81-77 overtime victory last night in McKale Center.

Athletes in Action, an Ohio-based Christian squad made up of former collegiate and professional players, was out-shot from the field by Arizona, 43 percent to 38 percent, but made 23 of 28 shots from the free-throw line. The Wildcats shot 8 of 12 from the charity stripe.

Center Shawntinice Polk led the UA with 19 points and 11 rebounds, but also turned the ball over eight times in a losing effort.

Guard Dee-Dee Wheeler added 15 points, nine boards and eight assists for Arizona, but was only 6 of 23 from the field, including 1 of 11 from 3-point range.

"We missed a lot of open shots and had a lot of turnovers," Wheeler said.

The Wildcats led, 67-63, with two minutes left in regulation, but AIA went on a 6-2 run in the last 90 seconds to force the game into the extra period.

"I thought we made a lot of bad decisions," said UA head coach Joan Bonvicini. "They're a veteran team but we had every opportunity to win the game in regulation."

Arizona fell behind early, 17-11, but rattled off 10 unanswered points thanks to a pair of lay-ups by freshman forward/center Shannon Hobson and two 3-pointers by sophomore guard Katrina Lindner.

AIA responded by outscoring the Wildcats, 23-13, over the remainder of the first half to take a 40-34 lead into halftime.

"Defensively, we just broke down and made a lot of mistakes," Bonvicini said.

Arizona opened the second half with an 11-0 spurt, and the Wildcats held AIA scoreless for the first six minutes of the half en route to their biggest lead of the game, 45-40.

Arizona wouldn't trail again until a pair of free throws allowed AIA to regain a 57-56 lead late in the second.

Arizona would enjoy its final lead following two free throws by freshman guard Rachael Schein, giving the Wildcats a 75-74 lead with 2:08 left in overtime. But AIA would take the lead for good at 76-75 with 1:20 to play.

"They didn't hurt us inside. It was all jumpers," Wheeler said.

Hobson added 11 points off the bench for Arizona, while junior center Danielle Adefeso scored 10 points and grabbed five boards in just 10 minutes of playing time for the Wildcats.

Despite the defeat, Bonvicini downplayed the importance of winning last night's game heading into the regular season.

"I think the important thing is learning to get better," she said. "I can promise you this: We'll get it started."

All five AIA starters scored in double figures, led by former University of Wisconsin forward Katie Voigt, who tallied 23, including 19 in the second half and overtime.

Starting senior guard Aimee Grzyb suffered a minor knee injury in practice earlier this week and sat out last night's game. Bonvicini said she expected Gryzb to be ready to play in time for Arizona's regular season opener against Northern Arizona Nov. 22 in McKale.

"We definitely missed (Grzyb's) leadership tonight," Wheeler said.