More shots, blocks over break

Women1s basketball set to play during holidays

Nicholas Valenzuela Arizona Daily Wildcat Junior guard Lisa Griffith (3) goes up for a lay-up during Sunday's game against No. 2 Louisiana Tech at McKale Center. The women's basketball team will continue to play games over semester break, including UCLA on Jan. 2 and USC on Jan. 4 at home.

Opponent: Stephen F. Austin (3-1, 0-0 Southland)

Game Date: Thursday at 7 p.m.

Where: McKale Center

What: Stephen F. Austin, one of the country's top teams, makes Arizona's non-conference schedule even more difficult. The Ladyjacks lost to No. 5 Georgia in the championship game of their own tournament last weekend.

Opponent: No. 25 UC Santa Barbara (4-1, 0-0 in Big West)

Game Date: Saturday, Dec. 19 at 7 p.m.

Where: Santa Barbara, Calif.

What: Arizona takes on its fifth ranked team of the season, this time on the road. Santa Barbara is led by guard Erin Buescher, who averaged 17.1 points and 8.7 rebounds last season.

Opponent: No. 11 Colorado State (10-0, 0-0 in Western Athletic)

Game Date: Sunday, Dec. 27 at noon

Where: Fort Collins, Colo.

What: Colorado State is currently one of six remaining teams in Division I that is unbeaten, and the only unbeaten team in the WAC. The Rams won the preseason WNIT, led by an MVP performance by senior guard Becky Hammon, who averaged 21.3 ppg in the three wins. This game will be televised live on Fox Sports Rocky Mountain.

Opponent: UCLA (5-2, 0-0 in the Pac-10)

Game Date: Saturday, Jan. 2 at 1 p.m.

Where: McKale Center

What: The Pac-10 season officially tips off for both schools. UCLA is the preseason No. 1 team in the Pac-10, and like Arizona, the Bruins have played a difficult schedule to prepare for the season. The Bruins have played four ranked opponents, and have beaten two of them - then-No. 5 North Carolina and then-No. 24 Nebraska. The Cornhuskers beat Arizona at the beginning of the season.

Opponent: Southern Cal (3-3, 0-0 in Pac-10)

Game Date: Monday, Jan. 4 at 7 p.m.

Where: McKale Center

What: The Trojans will be without Kim Clark, who broke her leg in a soccer game in November. They will have her older sister, Kristin, a senior guard who averaged 16.0 ppg last year. Last season's young 12-15 squad has a year under its belt, and should be a solid team in the Pac-10.

Opponent: Washington State (5-0, 0-0 in Pac-10)

Game Date: Thursday, Jan. 7 at 7 p.m.

Where: Pullman, Wash.

What: The Cougars are the Pac-10's only unbeaten team, but many have questioned the strength of their schedule. They'll find out with this early test against Arizona.

Opponent: Washington (2-4, 0-0 in Pac-10)

Game Date: Saturday, Jan. 9 at 1 p.m.

Where: Seattle

What: The Huskies are perennial upper-division finishers, and this season should not be any different, even with a slow start. Guard Jamie Redd and forward Amber Hall are as good as any duo in the country. Hall led the conference in rebounding last year with 11.2 rpg.

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