Women fall to top-ranked Boilermakers

Wildcat File Photo Arizona Daily Wildcat Junior forward Angela Lackey (34) attempts to drive through the Purdue defense last night at McKale Center. Lackey had 11 points in the Wildcats' 65-58 lose to the top-ranked Boilermakers.

The top-ranked Boilermakers escaped with a 65-58 victory over Arizona in front of a crowd of 3,076.

Junior guard Felecity Willis, who led the Wildcats with 14 points, tied the game at 54-54 with 3:58 left with a breakaway lay-up. Arizona had a couple of chances to take the lead, but Purdue's Kelly Komara hit a key three-pointer on the Boilermakers' next possession.

Arizona fought back to a one-point deficit, but another three-pointer by Stephanie White-McCarty made it 60-56 with 2:31 remaining. Arizona had a chance to tie with more than a minute remaining, but junior guard Lisa Griffith's three-point attempt was just long.

"No loss feels good, but we came together tonight and are only going to get better," Griffith said. "We felt we could play with them, so losing hurts."

This was Purdue's first-ever game where they held the No. 1 ranking, after a 78-68 win over preseason No. 1 Tennessee.

"We didn't look at it that way," Purdue head coach Carolyn Peck said. "It was just another game on the schedule, and they played a tough game. They kept coming at us and fortunately, we stayed ahead."

Arizona head coach Joan Bonvicini told her players to hold their heads high.

"This game further proves that we are going to be able to compete this year," Bonvicini said. "This game will only make us better."

If the 72-48 loss to Nebraska last weekend was a kick in the butt, this game showed the potential the team has.

"All the young ladies, I'm very proud of them," junior forward Tatum Brown said. "I knew we were going to give them a run for their money, and we almost won. When it was tied, I just felt, 'We're winning this.'"

White-McCarty led all players with 23 points, but her partner in the backcourt, senior Ukari Figgs, was held to 10 points by a dual effort by Willis and Griffith.

"The team improved tremendously from last Sunday," Bonvicini said. "From tonight, we can only go forward."

Bonvicini expressed concern with her team's rebounding.

"They were taking advantage of us not getting our weak side boards," she said.

Purdue's offensive rebounding let them get two, three and sometimes four chances to score on a single possession.

"We could have rebounded better," said freshman forward Elizabeth Pickney, who had 11 points. "We're always working on our rebounding and blocking out."

Brown led the Wildcats with eight rebounds.

"It is definitely a growth spurt, great for all new players and vets to come together in a big game," Griffith said. "It was a confidence builder and I'm proud of the way the team played."

The "Arizona basketball" that was missing Sunday against Nebraska made a comeback, helped by two strong practices this week.

"We played incredible compared to the Nebraska game," Pickney said. "We picked up our game because we played Arizona basketball."

The team was helped along by the crowd, who made a tremendous difference in the team's home opener.

"I don't know if it was a letdown, but this is a tough place and team to play," White-McCarty said. "It's nice to come in and get our first road win, especially here."

Bonvicini said she was happy with the crowd, and invited them back for more.

"Our fans were great tonight," she said. "We want them to come back."

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