Waites going home

Ryan A. Mihalyi Arizona Daily Wildcat UA women's basketball assistant coach Traci Waites will return to her home state of Georgia on Friday for the Wildcats' first round game of the NCAA women's tournament against Western Kentucky.

A former Miss Georgia player of the year in 1984, Waites grew up in nearby Conyers. She attended Georgia in Athens her first two collegiate years before joining UA head coach Joan Bonvicini at Long Beach State.

"I just feel so fortunate," she said. "For me this is going home."

If Arizona gets past Western Kentucky in its opening game, there's a good chance the Wildcats will meet up with the No. 2-seed Bulldogs.

"As a team, it's not so much that I'm going home, it's us being focused to play," she said. "But personally, to be able to have my family see our team up close and personal, that's great."

She couldn't come up with an exact number as to how many of her relatives were in the area, but she said "there's a great deal."

As for any inside tips to playing at the Stegeman Coliseum, she said it's a lot like Arizona's McKale Center.

"It's open and large. I don't think they have as many seats as here, though," she said.

Bonvicini, who included Waites on the staff three years ago, was all smiles when she found out.

"I'm happy for Traci. This is going to special for all of us, especially her," she said.

When playing at Long Beach State, Waites said the 49ers lost the one time she met up with her old school.

"I definitely want some revenge," she said, laughing. "This is great for us. We have worked so hard all season to get to this point. Getting the opportunity was all that we needed."

At Georgia, Waites was an All-Tournament selection when the team went to the Final Four during her freshman season. An All-American candidate in 1989 at Long Beach State, she became the only player to make a Final Four appearance for two schools.

"Sometimes things like this just happen. We'll see how it goes," Waites said.

Arizona Athletic Director Jim Livengood had his own opinion.

"It's fate, Traci," he told her on Sunday night. "It must be."

At the team's annual awards banquet on Sunday, junior forward Adia Barnes was named most valuable player after leading the team all season in scoring, rebounding and steals. Barnes, also an All-Pacific 10 Conference selection for the second-straight year, is among the top 17 scorers all-time in the conference. She became Arizona's all-time leading scorer earlier this season.

After a season in which she doubled her career totals in every statistical category, sophomore guard Monika Crank was named the most improved player. Crank missed practice yesterday, however, because she is still recovering from a concussion she suffered in Saturday's game with California. She is expected to play in the NCAA Tournament.

The comeback player award was given to Amber Phoenix, who played this season after missing the last two years due to knee injuries.

Junior guard DeAngela Minter was selected as defensive MVP. Mikko Giordano claimed the top free-throw percentage prize for her team-best 84.2 percent from the line.

Freshmen Lisa Griffith, who received an honorable mention selection to the All-Pac 10 team, was named newcomer of the year. Griffith, who is also a member of the Pac-10 all-freshman team, set the UA and Pac-10 record for three-point shots made this season .