Adia Barnes in what she saw from Arizona in the 2OT loss to No. 7 USC:
We battled a really good team, No. 7 team in the country. Took them into two overtimes and had chances to win. I’m not upset at all. Obviously I’m disappointed in the loss, but our kids played their hearts out. We basically played six players…they battled, they never gave up.
Barnes on USC’s offensive rebounding down the stretch:
Killed us. I talked about it with the staff, it was the exact situation as Oregon State that lost the game. The offensive rebound that led to the threes. When you give No. 7 two, three chances, they’re going to hit one. And then [Kayla] Padilla got hot. That’s tough, because you give up the offensive rebounds, and Rayah [Marshall] killed us. But some of that’s because our bigs are in foul trouble, so we’re playing small, so that hurt us too. So the fouls and the rebounding were the difference.
Barnes on Arizona’s defense against JuJu Watkins:
We guarded one of the best players in the country really well. I mean, we made JuJu [shoot] 7-19. We gave her 19 attempts for 20 points, so we did a good job on her. We followed the game plan.
Barnes on Arizona’s ability to hang with the No. 7 team in the country:
I feel good about us, I feel good about how we’re playing. I think the whole country knows by now that we’re an NCAA Tournament team. If not, it’s just not fair. I think there’s no doubt, and I think we’ve showed that towards the end of the season. I think there’s no doubt, we play in the best conference in the country. It’s deeper than any conference by far, and I don’t think anybody can argue that.
Barnes on Arizona’s tough losses in conference play this season:
We lost [to] Oregon State in double overtime, like this. Kind of a similar situation. We were playing right with Colorado, who’s one of the top in the country. So yeah, if we would have won these other four or five games, we would be No. 2 in the Pac-12, and the tournament wouldn’t even be a question. I think we’re battle tested. That’s why I think we should be in the tournament, I don’t think there’s a doubt in my mind. And we had a really tough non-conference, and all those teams are winning.
Barnes on Arizona’s culture strengthening as the season progresses:
The chemistry and cohesiveness of this team is awesome. It’s what I want, and it’s what we need, and it’s why we’re playing the way we’re playing. We’re playing team basketball.
Helena Pueyo on her near-triple-double performance:
I’m just ready to play. If I have to play the one, the two, three, or four, I’m just going to play. I’m just going to do whatever it takes to win. And if I have to do a little bit of everything, I’m going to do it. I feel confident right now.
Pueyo on her mom and brother surprising her ahead of her final weekend playing at McKale:
I was so excited, I was like ‘oh my gosh’. They came from Spain, just for like four days. I’m so happy they can be here for my last senior night. It’s going to be special.
Skylar Jones on her free throw shooting and confidence at the line:
I think it’s just me having more experience now than I did at the beginning of the season. I was nervous, I didn’t have any confidence. I was very not fundamentally ready when I got here. That’s why the way I’m playing now is a surprise, because I could not even do a back-pivot pass, none of that. College is just so much different from high school, so I had to adjust. My teammates, they really think I could be really, really good, and they knew that from the jump, so they were always pushing me, encouraging me, because they know I can be really hard on myself.
Jones on her career-high 19 point performance:
I just wanted to win. I just wanted to do whatever to win. I knew I had to get them in foul trouble, so I was just driving to the basket. That’s what I do best anyway. I’m a shooter, but not for real, driving’s my thing. I had everybody fooled, thinking I was a shooter. Slashing’s really my thing. Once I learn how to go right, it’s going to be better.
Jones on playing a number of positions throughout the lineup given Arizona’s short bench:
I think in the long run, it’s going to make me better. It’s going to make me more versatile like Helena when I get older. It’s hard right now, and I don’t want to do, but I’m going to do it, just because I know it’s going to make me better. And in practice, they’re teaching me how to front; get in front, use my body, things like that. I think it’s just going to help me be a better player overall as we progress.