Attracting 10,000 fans is a tall order to fill for most collegiate women's basketball teams.
But that's the goal UA women's head basketball coach Joan Bonvicini has set as a result of comments made that her program could not host that many fans.
"I didn't pick that number off the top of my head," Bonvicini said. "It wasn't anyone in the athletic department but basically someone said...that they (didn't think) the women could do that (attract 10,000 fans)."
Fans get a chance to show their support for the UA women's basketball program as the Wildcats (15-5, 7-3 Pac-10) take on No. 20 Maryland tomorrow at 4 p.m. in McKale Center, following the men's basketball game at noon.
Arizona currently ranks 49th nationally in attendance, averaging 2,190 fans per game. No. 9 Connecticut leads the country in attendance with an average of 14,066 fans. In the Pacific 10 Conference, Oregon (3,701), Stanford (3,688), Washington (3,072) and ASU (2,633) all draw more people than Arizona.
"When I heard the comments and read what was said, it was disrespectful to me personally and it was disrespectful to women because...(of) the tone it was said (in)," Bonvicini said. "It was demeaning and a double-standard."
The impact of Bonvicini's goal was felt Wednesday, as 4,710 fans filled McKale Center in a 56-49 victory over ASU.
"I think it would be incredible but we don't want to underestimate the fans that did come (Wednesday) because they showed their support," said senior center Danielle Adefeso. "We're trying to get more people to come out. We want 10,000 fans, but we don't want to disrespect the people that already come out of their house. If the men can do it every night, then the women should eventually be able to do it too."
"We should have great fan support no matter what," said senior point guard Dee-Dee Wheeler. "We're a great team. There's two teams in Tucson and we need to get the support."
Bonvicini hopes students will return for the women's game following the men's noon matchup with Washington State and is personally buying pizzas for everyone in attendance. Bonvicini and guest coach Gov. Janet Napolitano will distribute the food at 3 p.m. in the north end of McKale Center.
Maryland dropped a close game to No. 1 Duke last night, 60-57, at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
"The game Saturday will be a very different style than our game with Arizona State," Bonvicini said. "It's going to be outstanding players, outstanding athletes, it's going to still be a good defensive struggle but it's going to be up and down a lot more."
The Terrapins are without the services of freshman phenom Laura Harper, who is out for the season after injuring the Achilles tendon in her left ankle. Harper, who was averaging 13 points and nearly 10 rebounds per game, will have surgery later this week.
Freshman Jade Perry has averaged four points and four boards per game in Harper's absence.
"They're a great team - good posts, good guards," said Adefeso, who just missed a double-double against ASU with nine points and a team-high 10 rebounds. "I think we match up fairly well so it'll be a good game. I feel that if we bring the intensity we brought for ASU, we can contend with anyone."
Maryland is bolstered by sophomore guard Shay Doron, who leads the team with more than 19 points per game.
"When you do games like this, it really is an opportunity to compare yourselves to the ACC and other people across the country," Bonvicini said. "It's a way to get seeded in the NCAA Tournament."
The UA coaching staff is familiar with Maryland head coach Brenda Frese, who graduated from UA in 1993.
With Wednesday's victory, Arizona sits third in the Pac-10 standings behind Stanford and Southern California.
The Terrapins average 75 points per game, which ranks 11th nationally and third in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Arizona ranks 29th nationally in scoring with an average of 72 points per game.