New record on line for Arizona women

A place the UA women's basketball team has never been.

Yet, that record and any other records are of little priority. It's not ignorance, it's focus on the present. That means Thursday night's 7 p.m. game against Oregon State in Corvallis and then Oregon in Eugene on Saturday are the focus of the Wildcats' thoughts.

"We don't get caught up in the records, we can't," UA head coach Joan Bonvicini said. "As the guys learned in their trip to L.A., you can't overlook anybody. Our conference (Pacific 10) is full of too many good teams."

However, the record still looms. Last season at the 17 game mark, Arizona (13-3 overall, 3-2 in the Pac-10) set a school-best 13-4 record and went on to finish 22-8 after winning the National Women's Invitation Tournament. Leading up to it they were considered as a team on the "bubble" for the NCAA's, which was eventually declined, prompting the NIT invite.

Put together another successful year, add the NIT history and this possible best-ever start and a trip to the NCAA Tournament could be on the horizon.

"We know that we have good team, and we are going up there to win," sophomore Monica Crank said. "We treat every game as important, because it may be the determining factor."

On paper against OSU the Wildcats have the advantage. Oregon State (7-7, 1-4) has lost five of its last six and is averaging a dismal 63.8 points per game to Arizona's 79.4, which is second in the conference. This is unfamiliar ground for the Beavers, who have been ranked among the country's elite in the last few years (they made it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 1995).

"Success tends to run in cycles, and right now they are down," Bonvicini said. "You have to take it when you can get it."

That no-holds-barred attitude is shared by her counterparts.

"I think that it is obvious that you have to win your home games. People expect you to accomplish that. Road wins are what separate the pack," Oregon coach Judy Runge said.

Arizona has not beaten OSU in Corvallis in three years, and only two teams have beaten OSU in the last 26 games in the Gill Coliseum. Having already lost at McKale to Southern Cal, the Wildcats need an equalizer.

"We want to get on a little win streak," Bonvicini said. "Oregon State might not be where they were, but they are still a good team. By no means is it a gimmie."

The Beavers have three players averaging double figures, and a physical presence in 6-foot-5 senior center Tina Lelas. Arizona will look to 6-4 Marte Alexander to match-up with the league's seventh best scorer (16.2 per game.).

Against UCLA, which UA routed, 69-45, the Wildcats pushed the tempo and used a full-court press most of the game. It created easy baskets off turnovers, which, if successful against OSU, would take a little pressure off of freshman Lisa Griffith, who is starting against the team from her native state for the first time.

"Defensively against UCLA, our intensity was great. We will press, but it's keeping the intensity up no matter what defense we are in," Bonvicini said.

Arizona's speed and athleticism are not secrets anymore. "They are very quick up and down the floor and move the ball very fast around the perimeter. We must be sharp and play our game, and rely on our intensity on our home court," OSU head coach Judy Spoelstra said.

Playing your own game is something the Wildcats believe in as well.

"We have to stick to our stuff, and do the little things, like making good passes and receiving them" Griffith said.

If Arizona stays with the game plan that has gotten them this far, that means Adia Barnes needs to be involved. The junior forward is the team's leading scorer (20.3 per games) and rebounder with a 9.5 average. With five points tonight, Barnes will become the all-time leading scorer in Arizona women's basketball history. Barnes needs only four points to tie Timi Brown (1987-91) for the scoring title at 1,315 career points.

"She's a great player, (but) hopefully one player won't be the difference," OU's Runge said. "She will get her points, but we want to stop other players from beating us."