JOSH FIELDS/Arizona Daily Wildcat Natalie Jones hangs out in the Eddie Lynch Pavilion in McKale Center Monday afternoon. Jones shot 100 percent from the field during her Saturday game against USC, scoring 15 points and giving her first Pacific10 Conference Player of the Week award.

Despite suffering from tendonitis in her right arm, junior guard Natalie Jones has been on fire as of late. Jones was named US Bank Pacific 10 Conference Player of the Week for Feb. 7-13, as she averaged 20 points, four assists, four rebounds and more than two steals in the Wildcats' sweep over UCLA and USC this weekend. Against UCLA Thursday, Jones notched a career-high 25 points, and recorded 15 points on 100 percent shooting with six assists against the Trojans Sunday. This marks the first time Jones has received this award and is the 34th all-time selection for Arizona. Jones sat down with the Wildcat after Monday's practice to discuss injuries, tundras and turning 21.

Wildcat: You're on the hot seat. How does it feel to be named Pac-10 Player of the Week for the first time in your collegiate car?

Jones: It's been a great honor. It's my first one. It just feels good - all the hard work pays off, all the hours, the shooting and extra video with the coaches. It's a great feeling to have this accomplisht.

Wildcat: How is it that your tendonitis in your right elbow is getting worse but your shooting is getg better?

Jones: It's off and on. I really can't say it's getting worse. It's more like contact - if I get hit, then you know it's worse. Right now, I'm getting used to it - used to having pain every time I shoot. It's surprising that with my arm hurt, I'm shooting much better than I was when it was OK. I would just say it's off and oight now.

Wildcat: What do you take more pride in, your defenor your offense?

Jones: I take more pride in my defense. I love when I get a defensive stop or a steal. I love when I get a defensive stop or a rebound and throw it up to one of my players and make a layup. Like Coach (Joan) B(onvicini) says, I need to become a more offensive threat. I need to come into the game mentally prepared to score. I have been chosen to guard the most talented player on the other team. I need to not take that so much into the game. I need to take in like, 'Hey, I d to score too.'

Wildcat: What do you credit to your ent offensive presence?

Jones: It's kind of like self-talk. It's something that's very mental for me. I just got to go in being positive. A lot of times I get caught up in a making a mistake and getting so much down on myself because I know I'm better than that. With me, it's just the whole mental part. My coaches are constantly telling me, let's be mentally prepared for this game. When I feel that I'm more comfortable in my game and I'm relaxed, then thatwhen I play at my best.

Wildcat: Who the best player in the Pac-10?

Jones: I think we have two of the best Pac-10 players, to be truthful. Dee-Dee Wheeler and Shawntinice Polk are great players. I love having the chance to play with Dee-Dee, learning some stuff from her. It's going to be great to see her play in the WNBA. Polkey, I think she's thest post player in the nation.

Wildcat: With four games remaining in the rlar season, is Arizona about to peak?

Jones: I feel it because we've had our ups and downs this season. I feel it's a test to our true character. We went to the Bay Area and got swept. Everyone was disappointed. But it just shows our true character that we are able to come home, play a really close game with UCLA, and then play that game against USC. It shows our true character and it also shows confidence in the girls. I'm amazed at how our freshmen are handling having this kind of season because they come from high school powerhouses, not having to play too many games like the ones we play in the Pac-10. I'm happy with how we're playing. Hopefully, we can take this on for our next four games, go into the Pac-10 tournament and make it furthen the NCAA (Tournament) than we have.

Wildcat: Along with your injury, the Wildcats have been riddled with other injuries this season. How has that impacted the team?

Jones: We can't dwell on our injuries because there's other teams that have maybe the same or even worse injuries. It's just something that you become more adapted to. It's just something about taking care of your body.'s just something you really can't think of.

Wildcat: t has been the highlight of your collegiate career?

Jones: The highlight would probably be just playing better. I know it's kind of late in the season right now, but I'm just glad that's come now (rather) than later. I'm just happy with the way I'm playing. I'm happy that my team is giving me so much feedback. They're giving me compliments and just keeping melf-motivated at times when I tend to get on myself.

Wildcat: You're from Anchorage, Alaska. t is there to do in Anchorage besides feeding polar bears?

Jones: I'm going to be real with you; I don't know why my family decided to move to Anchorage, Alaska. I was originally born in Belize and we ended up moving to Alaska. If you're a nature kind of person, (if) you like hunting and stuff, you can do that. But I tend to just play sports. I grew up on sports and that's all I do. I love going back and hanging out with my family. It's like I took living in Alaska and everything for granted. Because when I go back it's just so relaxing and so quiet. If you're a ure kind of person, that place is for you - which I'm not.

Wildcat: Why do they call it a three-dog night?

Jones: A three-dog night? I've never heard of that. You know what, I'm not big on history or anything like that. I have no idea what that is. A three-dog night?

Wildcat: Have you ever played hockey with all that ice up there?

Jones: I've never played hockey, but I've ice skated before. I'm horrible. I can't even stand on my feet for five seconds.

Wildcat: What was it like winning three state championships at East Anchorage High School?

Jones: It was great. Many people might think, "Hey, Alaska, there's no competition up there." We had great girls that ended up going on further from high school. It was amazing. My high school coach is really known up there, known around the world. It was a great feeling to win it. Hopefully we can do it here but I only have one more year left. It was a great feeling to win those.

Wildcat: You were born in Belize City, Belize. Do you speak any other languages?

Jones: I don't. There's like a dialect of Spanish. But my mom can speak it. My mom says I'm too Americanized. I lost that when I came. But I did have to take bilingual (classes) when I first came here because I really didn't understand the American language.

Wildcat: What did you do for your 21st birthday?

Jones: Hmm, what did I do? I went to Vegas. And that's it. What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.

Wildcat: Time for some random questions. Ice cream or Popsicles?

Jones: Ice cream.

Wildcat: Snow or rain?

Jones: Snow.

Wildcat: Soda or coffee?

Jones: Soda.

Wildcat: Beach, tundra or desert?

Jones: I would go with tundra.