UA women face huge test against top-ranked Purdue

Nicholas Valenzuela Arizona Daily Wildcat Junior forward Tatum Brown (53) and freshman guard Julie Brase (20) reach up for a rebound against Slovan Bratislava in an exhibition game Nov. 6. Brown is a starting forward and averages 5.5 points and 6 rebounds a game.

On Sunday, Purdue ended previously No. 1 and three-time defending national champion Tennessee's 46-game winning streak, defeating the Lady Vols 78-68 in West Lafayette, Ind. The Boilermakers jumped from No. 5 to the top spot in the polls, the first time the team has ever been ranked No. 1.

"In terms of the win over Tennessee, it was a great basketball game," Purdue head coach Carolyn Peck said. "It was just a lot of fun. One game doesn't make a season, though, and we still have 26 games to go."

After Arizona's 72-48 loss Sunday at Nebraska, the two teams enter tonight's match on opposite sides of the spectrum, but Peck is not ready to overlook the Wildcats.

"They have a strong backcourt and they're bigger probably than we are in the post," Peck said. "I came to Arizona when I was coaching at Tennessee, they have a great following in there and (McKale's) a tough place to play. We're going to have to be on our toes to win this one."

With two days of practice before the game, Arizona head coach Joan Bonvicini is getting her team ready.

"We'll be ready to play. It's our home opener and a big game in itself," Bonvicini said. "It becomes a much bigger game with Purdue's win, and particularly for us because we want to get back on track."

Despite the lack of experience at the Division I level, it has been Arizona's frontcourt that has been causing the most problems.

Arizona doesn't play with a true center. Freshman Elizabeth Pickney and junior transfer Tatum Brown pick up as the two dominant forwards. Junior transfer Angela Lackey, who leads the team with 14.5 points per game, is the swing forward.

"I think we're starting to gel together," Brown said. "We had an awesome practice Tuesday, where we worked on the mistakes we made in the Nebraska game."

According to Brown, the loss was not such a bad thing for the team to experience.

"I hate to say it, but I'm glad we lost because it's an eye-opener for this team," she said. "It's just going to motivate us and help us play to the potential we have."

Playing a top-ranked team is exciting, no matter how experienced you are. For senior guard Monika Crank, who is redshirting the season because of a torn ACL she suffered in September, it is important for her to provide leadership from the bench and in the locker room.

"After a loss like that, we're looking for redemption," Crank said. "We're young, but we're capable to play with a top team. Any team you play that is ranked higher, especially No. 1, is exciting. It gives you more motivation to go out and try to beat them."

Last season, Purdue beat Arizona 68-54 at Market Square Arena in Indianapolis, and the Wildcats are looking for revenge.

"That was probably the poorest game we played last year," assistant coach Denise Dove said. "We just weren't prepared to play that game. We just hope we already got our worst game of the year over with and now we can just move forward."

Bonvicini knows that Purdue is going to come out confident. The Boilermakers are led by senior guards Ukari Figgs and Stephanie White-McCarty, one of college basketball's finest guard pairs.

Arizona will concentrate on slowing the tempo and keeping them away from the boards.

"They're a very good defensive team and play very smart," Bonvicini said. "We want to play Arizona basketball and we didn't do it on Sunday. We want to play hard and smart, but most of all, we want to compete."

Bryan Rosenbaum can be reached via e-mail at Bryan.Rosenbaum@wildcat.arizona.edu.