Arizona routs UCLA for first win over top-10 team since 2004

Photo by Jacob Snow/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Complete domination

Aari McDonald owed UCLA one.

Two days before Arizona’s rematch with No. 8 UCLA, McDonald said she was determined to avenge the loss the Bruins handed them in Westwood earlier in the month.

She barked, then she bit.

McDonald scored 27 points, including 14 in a tone-setting first quarter, and Sam Thomas added a career-high 20 as No. 16 Arizona routed the Bruins 92-66 on Friday in front of 7,407.

It’s Arizona’s first win over a top-10 team in four tries this season and its first win over a top-10 team since 2004.

Not only that but it showed how dominant the Wildcats are at full strength. They have been marred by injuries and illness throughout Pac-12 play.

When Arizona (17-3, 6-3) lost to UCLA 70-58 in Westwood on Jan. 5, it was without starting forward Dominique McBryde (ankle) and Helena Pueyo (illness) was severely limited. Both were healthy Friday.

Still, McDonald having a bounceback game made the biggest difference. When she plays like she did Friday, Arizona has no ceiling.

McDonald was held to 19 points on 20 shots in the loss at UCLA, but went 10 for 15 from the field Friday. She drilled her first four shots, including a pair of step-back 3s, to give the Wildcats an early double-digit lead that the Bruins failed to narrow all night.

Sam Thomas erupted in the second quarter, burying three 3s to extend the lead to 38-22 with 4:29 left the half.

The Wildcats shot 11 for 24 from distance, one of their most prolific nights of the season. Arizona held UCLA to 33 percent shooting and won the turnover battle, 15-10. UCLA guard Japreece Dean, McDonald’s rival, went 0 for 11 from the field.

Trailing 47-32 at the break, the Bruins scored the first four points of the third quarter to trim their deficit to 11 but that was as close as they’d get. UCLA missed 14 straight shots, allowing Arizona expanded its lead to 70-48 heading into the fourth.

Thomas opened the period with her fourth 3 and Cate Reese, who had 13 points, scored underneath to make it a 25-point game, so lopsided that Adia Barnes subbed in sparsely-used freshmen like Tara Manumaleuga, Mara Mote, Birna Benonysdottir, and Sevval Gül.

McDonald knifed for a layup to make it 82-52 with 5:37 left before exiting to a standing ovation.

Arizona will go for its fifth straight win Sunday vs. USC at noon. The Trojans lost to No. 19 ASU in triple overtime Friday.

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