Griffith sets record in UA win over WSU

Nicholas Valenzuela Arizona Daily Wildcat Junior forward Angela Lackey (34) shoots over a Washington defender during Thursday's game at McKale Center. The Wildcats won over the Huskies 84-65.

Thursday, Arizona (12-8 overall, 7-4 Pacific 10 Conference) knocked off Washington 84-58. The wins avenged losses to the two teams earlier in the season and have propelled Arizona to a three-game winning streak.

Against the Cougars (9-11, 3-8), Arizona shot 7 of 10 from behind the three-point line. The Wildcats also out-rebounded Washington State 40-36.

Junior guard Lisa Griffith shot 4 of 4 three-pointers, breaking the all-time UA record for most three-pointers made in a career with 190. She finished with 15 points.

"I knew it would happen, and my teammates did a great job setting screens and getting me the ball," Griffith said. "It still feels good."

Junior forward Angela Lackey led Arizona with 20 points and 11 rebounds.

Head coach Joan Bonvicini challenged Lackey to go for another double-double, and after watching the Houston Rockets-Los Angeles Lakers game Friday night, Lackey, whose nickname is "Li'l Barkley," was inspired.

"I watched Charles Barkley play last night and I tried to do some of the things he did," Lackey said. "I came in here as a four and I expected to play there. I have advantages at both the three and four, and I'm happy wherever the coaches put me."

Junior guard Felecity Willis had a solid game, scoring 18 points. She got the team going after she raced for a loose ball, tipped it over the defender and made the layup.

"She does everything," Bonvicini said. "The thing that separates her from everyone else is her athletic ability."

Willis also had a few things to say about her playing.

"The key for me was taking away (Cougar) Tricia Lamb's three-point shot," she said. "Coach (Denise) Dove was challenging me to stop her. We had to keep our guard up at all times because we kept letting them back in, but we relaxed and played more aggressively."

Lamb had been averaging over 17 points per game, but shot 2 of 16 and finished with only four points.

The key to the game for the Wildcats was shooting the ball, something they did well. UA shot 51 percent from the floor and 70 percent from three-point range.

"We shot very well with our three-pointers," Bonvicini said. "Lisa and Felecity have been spending a lot of time after practice shooting threes, and they're being leaders."

Bryan Rosenbaum can be reached at Bryan.Rosenbaum@wildcat.arizona.edu.