JACOB KONST/Arizona Daily Wildcat Freshman guard Jessica Arnold has sustained the same shoulder injury three times but continues to play on, scoring 18 points in last week's loss to No. 22 Maryland.

Freshman guard Jessica Arnold has made her presence known on the UA women's basketball team. In Saturday's 84-77 overtime loss to No. 20 Maryland, Arnold notched 18 points, three rebounds and one assist.

The Tucson native was even more impressive in Arizona's 86-65 drubbing of Oregon State Jan. 22, as she tallied a career-high 21 points and swiped three steals. Despite tearing her labrum in her left shoulder for the third time Dec. 27 against Washington, Arnold remains one of the team's biggest offensive threats. On the season, she is averaging almost 16 points per game on 49 percent shooting.

Arnold sat down and talked to the Wildcat yesterday about playing through injury, chocolate and Luke Walton.

Wildcat: Did you expect to see this much playing time as a freshman?

Arnold: Honestly, no I didn't. I didn't think I was going to be starting. I thought I was going to get some minutes but I didn't think it was going to be anything like it is now. So I guess I'm a little surprised by it. But I've worked hard in practice so I just got to keep working hard. So it's not like a give-in thing.

Wildcat: How do you keep going after sustaining the same injury three times?

Arnold: I don't know. It's hard but I love basketball. It's just something I've always done. It's something I know I have to play through and I've done so far throughout high school and now I'm experiencing it through college. I love basketball and if I want to play, this is what I have to do.

Wildcat: What made you decide to stay in Tucson and go to the UA?

Arnold: Basically, I grew up going to Coach B's camps. I've always wanted to be an Arizona Wildcat. They've got an awesome team. You've got Polkey, Dee-Dee Wheeler. They're awesome players, I just wanted to play with them. Arizona is a great school and I'm loving it so far.

Wildcat: I know your dad played baseball here - did that have something to do with it?

Arnold: Not really. I know he played baseball here. Everyone went here. My mom went here, my uncle, they all went here. So I guess it had a factor and I know a lot of family came from here so I knew it was a good school and all of that.

Wildcat: What's the worst thing about growing up in Tucson?

Arnold: The heat. I wanted to go somewhere where it's cold. My mom was like, "You know, I don't think you could handle it." I think I could because I don't like the heat here. Like right now, it's perfectly fine outside. I love the weather right now but during the summertime, the 100-degree weather, I just can't handle it.

Wildcat: You ran track and played volleyball at Palo Verde High School. What do you think is the most physically demanding sport?

Arnold: Basketball and then probably track second. Basketball you got to have the conditioning, you got to have the physical aspect of the game, the mental aspect of the game. And track is a lot of the conditioning things like that. Basketball is a lot more physically demanding.

Wildcat: What sport receives the least recognition?

Arnold: I would probably have to say swimming. I see them come in the training room and they're sweating. They're doing the same exact stuff that I'm doing playing basketball except they're in the pool. I don't think many people know about how hard they work. Well, ever since the Olympics, I think it's gotten a lot more recognition because of Michael Phelps and all of them.

Wildcat: How do you feel about being the shortest athlete on the roster at 5-foot-4?

Arnold: (Laughs) It's funny because Katrina (Lindner), she used to be the shortest. The shortest person always goes out when we run out onto the court. She's like, "Yes! I don't have to do it anymore." So I come and then Katrina goes and then Dee-Dee goes. So I'm just like whatever, I'll take it. I'm used to all the criticism.

Wildcat: Is 10,000 fans for a women's basketball games a realistic goal?

Arnold: It could be. I don't understand why it's not because we have a great team. I know we have a great guys team and all that. They're awesome. But I think we could. We should get 10,000 fans. What are the people in Tucson doing without basketball? The sports here at the university are the only things around here. I definitely think we can. Eventually, maybe. We're starting to get more fans, since Coach B started to talk about all that. I think it's realistic.

Wildcat: What food can you not live without?

Arnold: I love chocolate. It's so bad too. But I love chocolate. I'll always be like, "OK, I'm not going to have chocolate for like a month." But I can't do it. I have to have it. It's so bad too. It's so not good for you.

Wildcat: Luke Walton or Luke Jackson?

Arnold: Luke Walton 'cause I've watched him play all the time. He's just a great player. I just think he's awesome.

Wildcat: Men's Final Four predictions?

Arnold: U of A, Duke, Georgia Tech, Illinois.

Wildcat: Women's Final Four predictions?

Arnold: North Carolina, Duke, Tennessee, U of A.