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Post players excel early in season

Head coach Joan Bonvicini said she expected her team to be running the offense in a very fast-paced style, but the first two exhibition games featured strong play by the Arizona post players under the hoop.

During the first two games, senior forward Tatum Brown and sophomore forward Elizabeth Pickney led the Wildcats in the paint.

In a very physical manner, Brown scored 13 points and grabbed five rebounds in each game against SBC Prerov Czech Republic and the New Zealand National Team. Pickney scored 12 against the Czechs with six rebounds and then poured in a game-high 17 points when playing the Kiwis.

"Even though we run a three guard offense, our posts really do a bulk of the scoring," Bonvicini said. "Our posts have definitely been an intricate part of our offensive scheme."

Brown said that most of her games should be highlighted by rough play down low.

"There are a lot of people under, so you have to take the ball up strong," Brown said. "There are some days where you are not as physical, but for the most part I try to keep my game as physical as possible."

Bonvicini said that she has been pleased with the strong looks that Brown has given in practice and in the first two games.

"Tatum is doing really, really well, as we have been proud of her commitment, her attitude and how hard she is working," she said. "This is all certainly showing in her play."

Bonvicini added that she is pleasantly surprised with the rugged performance that Pickney has turned in recently.

"First of all, I have been really impressed with the play of Liz Pickney of how much more physical she has been, compared to what she has been in the past," Bonvicini said. "We have always known that she's a really good scorer, but we're really pleased that she is making a much more powerful move to the basket. I am very, very pleased to this point."

Pickney said after their game against New Zealand that she goes into each match hustling as much as she can.

"We are strong at the post this year and Tatum and I try to play very physical," Pickey said after the game. "With the combination of the guards and forwards, we should make some interesting looks this season."

"I think that I can keep this up the whole year," Pickney added. "If we stay physical, we should dominate under the hoop this year."

Brown added after the Kiwi game that the mixture between her and Pickney makes for a potent force down low.

"The two of us have played well together for these first few games," Brown said. "We complement each other nicely and should make for a fierce force this season."

Last year's statistical leader was senior forward Angela Lackey who scored 14.4 points per game and pulled down 5.4 rebounds per game, but this year has began the season by coming off the bench in an offense where Bonvicini likes to constantly rotate players in and out.

Bonvicini said she is one of the more talented players on the team and has the potential of getting big numbers in games.

"She gives us something completely different than our other posts," Bonvicini said. "She is very versatile in that she can step out and hit the jumper, she has a quicker move to the basket. We just want to see her get out and play as hard as she can."