Loss to USC is Wildcats' motivation in victory

Karen C. Tully Arizona Daily Wildcat UA junior Adia Barnes (30) had 20 points in UAÍs 69-45 win over UCLA Saturday at McKale Center.

Just ask UCLA. They got 40 minutes of in-your-face basketball Saturday from the Wildcats and were sent home from the McKale Center after losing 69-45.

When Arizona (13-3 overall, 3-2 in Pacific 10 Conference) was not full-court pressing they were pushing the tempo and frustrating UCLA's guards.

"This was extremely important victory, it's crucial that we win our home games," junior forward Adia Barnes said. "We were pumped up, we knew that we could come out strong against these guys."

This three days after Southern Cal came into McKale and outlasted the Wildcats down the stretch to win 87-72, snapping Arizona's home winning streak at six.

"The Pac-10 Conference is very competitive, so every win is important," head coach Joan Bonvicini said. "I'm pleased with this win because it really showed that our team is getting its confidence back."

Without a senior in the starting line-up and redshirt freshman Lisa Griffith running the point-guard position, it's easy to see Bonvicini's concern.

"We have two freshman point guards (Griffith and Felecity Willis). They are beginning to understand how teams are going to try and attack us, it really shows how much that they have learned," Bonvicini said.

Unfortunately for UCLA (8-7, 2-4), they are without their point guard, sophomore Erica Gomez, who suffered a serious knee injury early in the season. Arizona took advantage of the situation by forcing her replacement Tawana Grimes into seven turnovers. UC LA as a team finished with 31.

"We are without a true point. Arizona did a great job of exploiting our weakness and you have to hand it to them for that," Bruin head coach Kathy Olivier said.

The Wildcats did the small things as well. Making free-throws (78 percent for the game), good passes when running the clock out and not missing easy lay-ups.

"This is the best we have played this year. We forced them into turnovers and unlike against USC, we capitalized on their mistakes," Bonvicini said.

Barnes had an All-Conference type of game. Scoring 28 points on 10 of 15 shooting, pulling down 10 rebounds and finishing with seven steals. All were games best, as well as her 8 of 9 shooting from the free-throw line. It was obvious when she out of the g ame.

Barnes is five points behind Timmi Brown's 1,283 from becoming the all-time scoring leader, Brown played from 1987-91. With her current average of 10 rebounds a game, Barnes could become the all-time rebounder this season as well. She is 107 rebounds shy of Dana Patterson's (1985-88) career record of 723.

"I really don't think about it," Barnes said of her records.

Sophomore Monica Crank, a UA shooting guard, tied her career high with 14 points and added three assists.