Seniors trying to end ASU series undefeated

Ian Mayer Arizona Daily Wildcat Lisa Griffith (3), sophomore point guard, comes down from a lay up made on Nebraska earlier in the season. Griffith made 13 points in her last 5 games, breaking out of a mid-season slump.

First postseason action with an NIT berth. First NCAA tournament bid. First 20-win season.

And so on and so on...

But there is a certain first the six seniors have no interest in experiencing- losing to Arizona State (9-11, 5-6 in the Pacific 10 Conference).

The ninth-ranked Wildcats (15-5, 8-3 Pac-10) have beaten the Sun Devils nine straight times, meaning no current UA player has experienced a loss to the ASU, which might make one ask, is there really a rivalry?

"There is obviously a rivalry," UA senior forward Mikko Giordano said, "but it probably means more to the coaches. We have rivalries with a lot of schools. We have a deep rivalry with Oregon. We have a deep rivalry with ASU. We find a reason to have a rivalry with every school."

But as the battle enters its 53rd contest, with UA leading 31-21, there is more at stake than just state bragging rights.

After a week off, the Wildcats are trying to regain their confidence before they travel to Maples Pavilion to play Stanford Feb. 28.

And ASU may be the perfect team for the Wildcats to get back on track against.

In the first contest, UA forward Adia Barnes came off the bench with 33 points, six rebounds and three steals as Arizona ran over the Sun Devils, 70-60 in Tempe last month.

The Wildcats relied heavily on their transition game. With a parade of layups, Arizona ended the game with a 54 shooting percentage. They also committed a Pac-10 season-high 36 turnovers.

But in last Thursday's loss at Washington, the Wildcats shot a dismal 41 percent - hitting only 29 of their 70 shots - while registering 18 turnovers.

"It's been tough because we haven't played as well as we can," UA head coach Joan Bonvicini said. "Every player on this team is doing their best to help the team."

After losing to the Huskies, Bonvicini changed her lineup, inserting Felecity Willis and Shontey Hambrick for Reshea Bristol and Marte Alexander.

Asked if the benchings created any strife on the team, Hambrick dismissed the idea.

"Our team's not like that," she said. "Everybody is happy for everybody else. When one person succeeds, we all succeed. When one person fails, we all fail. That's what it means to be a team."

Alexander still played her normal amount of minutes (29). Hambrick played 14 minutes while Giordano played sparingly, collecting four fouls in five minutes.

"I think Marte played well on Saturday," Bonvicini said. "It helped."

No. 9 Arizona vs. Arizona State

(15-5, 8-3 Pac-10) (9-11, 5-6)

When: Tomorrow at 7 p.m.

Where: McKale Center

TV/Radio: The game will be broadcast on KFFM (AM 1490)

Admission: Free for UA students with ID; $3 for UA faculty and staff, youth and senior citizens; $4 general admission

What: The Wildcats look to stay within reach of the Pacific 10 Conference title in second place - UA senior center Marte Alexander is the school's all-time leader in blocked shots with 104 - Arizona has beaten the Sun Devils nine straight times and leads the all-time series 31-21