TUCSON – With each game, Becky Burke and Arizona fans alike learn more about the new squad taking the hardwood in Tucson this season. After a sluggish start, the Wildcats exploded in the second quarter and never looked back, as Arizona Women’s Basketball defeated UC Irvine 75-61 to start the season 2-0.
“We’re just getting better every game,” said head coach Becky Burke after the win. “We just saw some joy, we saw some excitement. We want improvement from exhibition one to exhibition two (and) we want improvement to game one into game two. And that’s what we’re seeing.”
The Wildcats trailed the Anteaters 15-10 at the end of the first quarter after not scoring a field goal in the final 6:49 of the first frame. But Mickayla Perdue was fouled on a three quarter court heave with 0.5 seconds left on the clock, sending her to the line, where she cut the lead to five heading into the second quarter.
From there, Arizona out-scored UC Irvine 31-17 in the second quarter, with offensive explosions from Mickayla Perdue and Daniah Trammell, who scored 14 and nine in the second, respectively.
Perdue’s hot second quarter carried into the second half, as the reigning Horizon League Player of the Year finished with 31 points, connecting on 9-of-20 from the field, including 5-13 from beyond the arc in 40 minutes.
“Once I see them, whether it’s a free throw, a layup, whatever it is, once I see that first one go in, I think that kind of moves me a little bit,” said Perdue after her breakout game at McKale.
Foul troubles plagued both teams in the second half, which didn’t allow either side to find much of an offensive rhythm. Arizona led by as many as 21 midway through the third quarter, but let its foot off the gas, letting the lead dwindle to as little as 11 early in the fourth quarter.
“I told them at halftime, if any ounce of complacency sets in, you have yourself a ball game. I mean, we’re up 10 or 12, whatever it was at half,” said Burke. “Like we’re not a team that can relax or get comfortable. We won’t be one all year. You know, we gotta keep our foot on the gas.”
But the Wildcats used complimentary basketball to keep the Anteaters at bay, forcing 17 UC Irvine turnovers that led to 13 points for the UA. Arizona also had a positive turnover to assist ratio, finishing with 16 assists to 13 turnovers, including 12 assists by senior Lani Cornfield, the most since Aari McDonald’s career-high 14 assists against Prairie View A&M in 2019.
“She makes everyone better…there’s a reason she was my first call when I got this job,” said Becky Burke on Cornfield after the game.
Mickayla Perude (31), Lani Cornfield (14-point, 12-assist double-double), and Daniah Trammell (13) finished in double figures, as the Wildcats remained perfect through the first two games of the year.
Arizona has the week off before hosting Grambling State on Sunday, November 16, at 2:00 PM MST.