Backinfocus

Ryan A. Mihalyi Arizona Daily Wildcat Sophomore guard Reshea Bristol (10) grabs a ball heading out-of-bounds during the game against Oregon at McKale Center Thursday. Bristol was named Pac-10 Player of the Week for her average of 17 points, 3.5 rebounds, four steals and three assists in a sweep of the Oregon schools.

Bristol, a native of Omaha, Neb., was named Pac-10 Player of the Week for Jan. 18-24 after averaging 17 points, 3.5 rebounds, four steals and three assists in Arizona's home sweep over No. 25 Oregon and Oregon State.

Against the Beavers, Bristol shot 11-for-12 from the free throw line, helping Arizona set a school record for the most free throws made and attempted in a game. She scored a career-high 20 points against Oregon State.

Things haven't always been going well for her, though, as she struggled during the first few games of the season. Bristol didn't play Nov. 23 at home against San Diego State because she had been suspended by the team for academics, and had to make some changes if she was going to fit back into the team.

"The suspension was a motivational wake-up call for me," Bristol said. "I just kind of got my act together after that."

Against No. 9 Colorado State on Dec. 27, Bristol scored 18 points and grabbed seven rebounds - both team highs - in a tough 80-70 loss in Fort Collins, Colo. She led the team in scoring in the next two games, against UCLA and Southern Cal, and was also becoming a key figure in rebounding and on defense.

"I think she's really helped our team, she's added another dimension," head coach Joan Bonvicini said. "She's been working a lot harder lately."

Bonvicini knew it was difficult to sit Bristol out a game, but necessary because as a coach she places a priority on academics.

"We had to sit her down and take basketball away because she was not getting it done academically. I think she listened," Bonvicini said. "We weren't trying to be mean, but her priorities were messed up. Now that she's got them straightened out, her game has gotten better and she's helped our team."

Bristol rose to fame last season after hitting the game-winning shot at the buzzer to defeat Stanford at McKale Center. She was also named to the Pac-10 All-Freshman Team.

More pressure was placed on Bristol because she was one of three returning players to this year's team.

"I've just basically been staying focused and being prepared for games better," Bristol said. "I'm not trying to rush myself and I'm just playing team basketball."

Assistant coach Denise Dove was happy to see Bristol playing more relaxed and up to her potential.

"I think she came in and was a lot more focused, intense and coachable," Dove said. "Those things equaled her picking her game up and playing better. What you do off the court, your personal decisions, affects your play.

"Early on, she wasn't as focused as she needed to be, both in school and on the court. Her grades and the fact that she wasn't starting really woke her up, and she realized she needed to take care of business."

Now that Arizona is 9-7 overall and 4-3 in the Pac-10, the team has found itself to be back in the conference race. The players will take a lot of confidence with them to play at Stanford and California this weekend, and a big part of that can be attributed to Bristol.

"For me personally, I'm proud that Reshea overcame a lot to get where she is now," Dove said. "The Pac-10 Player of the Week award is the beginning of a lot of things to come."