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Wildcats open season with Hawaiian tournament win

From Staff reports

The No. 24 UA women's basketball team said they were crossing the Pacific with hopes of opening the season in an impressive manner. If starting the season 3-0 and returning from Honolulu with the Hawaiian Regent Wahine Classic crown is impressive, they accomplished their goal.

With an 86-73 victory over Hawaii last night, the Wildcats secured the championship after downing Oklahoma and Tennessee Tech earlier in the weekend.

Sophomore forward Elizabeth Pickney led Arizona over the Rainbows with 20 points on 7-for-14 shooting and added eight rebounds. Senior guard Lisa Griffith added 14 points, six assists and seven rebounds.

The Wildcats opened up the game with a 43-21 lead at the end of the first half, but Arizona was outscored in the second half of competition, 52-43.

Arizona finished with shooting 47 percent from the field on 31-of-66 field goals, including 6-for-15 from behind the three-point arc.

Following her one-game suspension for "a violation of team rules," senior forward Angela Lackey was the driving force for the Wildcats in the Saturday night win over Tennessee Tech.

With 14 points, she was one of five players in double figures en route to the 87-71 Arizona victory.

Senior forward Tatum Brown added 13 points, senior guard Felecity Willis and Pickney each scored 12 and sophomore guard Julie Brase had 11 points.

Playing without Lackey, Arizona began its winning streak against Oklahoma Friday night.

Pickney scored 22 points on 8-for-13 shooting as the Wildcats beat Oklahoma 75-59.

Brown added 12 points and senior guard Monika Crank had 11.

Arizona, which led 33-30 at the half, opened the second half with a 27-11 run, with Pickney scoring 10 points and Brown 7. Over the final 20 minutes, the Wildcats made 14-of-26 shots.