With winter break over, the Arizona Icecats are now smack in the middle of a January home schedule that includes three of last year's American Collegiate Hockey Association tournament teams.

The next goliath on the schedule is Iowa State.

The fourth-ranked Cyclones will be in Tucson for a two-game set with the No. 6 Icecats (11-3) at the Tucson Convention Center tonight and tomorrow. Both games start at 7:30 and will be broadcast live by KTKT (AM 990).

"They're just another tough team," Golembiewski said after his team started January by sweeping No. 3 Eastern Michigan last weekend.

The Icecats were the underdogs last year when they swept the Cyclones in Tucson.

The key to the game for the Icecats should be the play of freshman center Ben Ruston, who has provided most of the Icecats' offensive punch this season. Ruston tallied six goals against Eastern Michigan.

The Icecats will conclude their January home schedule next weekend against second-ranked Michigan-Dearborn.

- Craig Degel

Women's hoops at ASU

Minutes after a sloppy 36-point win against Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo Tuesday, the Arizona women's basketball team seemed willing to get back on the court and show its next opponent just how good it really is.

Then again, the prospect of playing Arizona State can do that to people.

"I'm excited because they are our rival," sophomore forward Adia Barnes said. "I know it's going to be a tough game no matter how good they are or how good we are. I'm mainly excited because it's ASU and I hate ASU. I think we're going to be prepared."

The Wildcats head to Tempe Saturday to take on the Sun Devils in the UA's first Pacific 10 Conference road game of the season. Arizona has won four in a row against ASU (4-7 overall, 0-2 in the Pac-10) and is looking to improve on its 10-1 record (1-1 in the Pac-10), which is the best start ever for a Wildcat team.

Last season was a lean one for Arizona - 11 wins in 30 games. In a season of lows, two wins over Arizona State seemed the bright spots of the season. This season, however, there is a lot more on the line than pride. The Wildcats will need every Pac-10 roa d win they can get if they hope to make the NCAA Tournament. That will be a tough task considering Arizona failed to receive a vote for The Associated Press Top 25, despite its record. California, which Arizona defeated 102-66 Jan. 4, received one vote.

Arizona is led by senior point guard Brenda Pantoja, who has a chance to break Regina Grennan's career record of 522 assists. Pantoja is currently tied with Grennan, averaging over 10 assists per game, and is third on the team with 13.8 points per game.

Barnes is Arizona's leading scorer, averaging 16.7 points and 8.9 rebounds per game. Senior forward Andrea Constand, who scored 22 points in Arizona's win over Cal Poly, is second this season with a 14.8 points-per-game scoring average.

"ASU is the devil's team. Yes, they're the devils, no pun intended," Constand said. "This is a very, very big game for me. This is my last time playing up at ASU."

The Sun Devils are led by junior guard Molly Tuter, who averages 14.4 points and 6.0 rebounds. She leads the team in blocks with 10 in the last 11 games.

Senior forward Emma Witkowski is another force for ASU and should offer a challenge to Barnes at small forward. Witkowski is averaging 11.3 points and 3.1 rebounds.

"We have to jump ahead and beat ASU so that we can keep gaining confidence," Constand said. "This is definitely going to be a very, very big game."

- Craig Sanders

Perfect start for women swimmers

Arizona swimming coach Frank Busch had mixed expectations at the beginning of the season, but so far the women's swimming and diving team has been perfect.

"(Starting 6-0) is great," Busch said about the team's best start since he has been coach. "We knew we would be good, but we just did not know how good we would do, especially in the dual meets."

By defeating Nebraska 106-96 on Jan. 6 at Hillenbrand Aquatic Center, the women were able to keep their dual meet record intact.

Arizona held a slim 94-90 lead against Nebraska heading into the final 400-meter freestyle relay, but the team of Shannon Hosack, Claudia Stanescu, Becky Gumbert and Lisel Kolbisen won the relay in a time of 4 minutes, 1.95 seconds to ensure the victory.

Leading the way for the Wildcats were Laurie Kline, Heather Branstetter and Heather Wilson, who finished first, second and third, respectively, in both the 800-meter and 400-meter freestyle.

The UA men's swim team was also in action against the No.1-ranked Michigan Wolverines, but lost to the defending NCAA champions 135-109.

Junior Abe Wick led Arizona, winning the 50-meter freestyle with a time of 24.47 seconds. Adam Grodzki also added a win in the 100-meter freestyle in 54.67 seconds.

The women will next host Texas Jan. 26-27 at Hillenbrand Aquatic Center.

"I think (swimming against Texas) will be fun," Busch said. "This will be the first time we'll go into a meet where the level of talent on both teams is even."

The men face California in Berkeley Jan. 19.

- Jacinda Sweet