Amid the mess that was last night's Arizona vs. Southern California women's basketball game, a pair of positive performances by Wildcat power forwards Danielle Adefeso and Shannon Hobson went somewhat unnoticed.
While freshman forward Rachael Schein started at the power forward position for the second straight game, it was Adefeso and Hobson who saw the bulk of playing time at the four spot.
The duo combined for a 75 percent field goal percentage, four rebounds and two steals. And in a game that the Wildcats turned the ball over 36 times, Adefeso and Hobson committed just two turnovers apiece.
"It was good," said sophomore center Shawntinice Polk of Arizona's one-two punch at power forward. "They were working in and out, back and forth, giving (USC) different looks."
"It gave Polkey different looks. It also gave the other team a different look," echoed junior guard Dee-Dee Wheeler. "I think they both have different things to bring."
A freshman, Hobson scored eight points in a career-high 22 minutes during last night's 75-64 win over USC. She was 3 of 4 from the field and 2 of 2 from the free throw line.
"Shannon's starting to come into her own," said UA head coach Joan Bonvicini. "She's going to be pretty good. The numbers are going up."
Equally as impressive was the play of Adefeso, who had started eight straight games for Arizona until Schein took her place Saturday at Stanford. The junior also went 3 of 4 from the floor and grabbed three big rebounds in 18 minutes.
"Danielle comes in with a different defensive look than Shannon, and on the offensive end they both work hard," Polk said.
Sophomore forward CoCoa Sanford, who started Arizona's first six games of the season at power forward, played just two minutes against the Women of Troy. Bonvicini said Sanford was relegated to the bench because USC's physical style of play was more suited to the talents of Adefeso and Hobson.
And while the tandem has forced Bonvicini into a tough decision, Polk said she has no preference as to which of her teammates ultimately earns the starting job.
"It doesn't matter. It can't matter," she said. "I don't know what Coach B's gonna do."
Neither does Coach B.
When asked who will start at the four spot tomorrow against UCLA, Bonvicini simply shook her head.
"I have no idea," she said.