Box Score
TUCSON, AZ – No. 25 Arizona dominated throughout in a 98-48 win over the UNC Greensboro women's basketball team in first-round action of the Mission Management & Trust Fiesta Bowl Classic at McKale Center this afternoon in Tucson.
UNCG (1-2) will take on the University of Delaware, who lost 67-60 to Weber State (UT) in the other first-round game, tomorrow in the consolation game at 1 pm. The Blue Hens (2-2) have dropped two straight after opening the season with a pair of victories. The championship game, Arizona-Weber State, is scheduled to begin at 3:30 pm.
The Spartans played without two starters because of injuries. Both Amanda Eaton and Irene Otamiri suffered ankle injuries earlier in the week during practice. Eaton, the senior guard from Wheeling, WV, had started all 89 games the last three seasons for UNCG, while Otamiri, a sophomore forward from Lund, Sweden, was tied for the team lead with 4.3 rpg. Both are game time decisions tomorrow and should be ready for UNCG's game with local rival High Point on December 11.
Nevertheless, the Wildcats showed why they are regarded as one of the top teams in the nation as they extended the nations second longest home winning streak to 31 straight victories. The Cats last lost at McKale on November 22, 2002, when they opened the 2002-03 season with an overtime setback to Louisiana State, 78-71.
Freshmen Megan Chamberlain and Kemena Brooks led UNCG with 10 points apiece, while freshman Kristen Boone, who made her first career start in place of Eaton added seven points.
Preseason All-America candidates Dee-Dee Wheeler and Shawntinice Polk provided 19 and 13 points respectively to lead Arizona. Wheeler has now scored in double figures in 39 straight games while Polk set a tournament record with eight blocks.
Freshman Ashley Whisonant bettered her previous game-high of nine points with 14 in the opening half and finished with 16 for the game. Natalie Jones chipped in with 15 points.
Arizona opened the game scoring nine of the first 10 points and led 20-9 with 11:15 to go until halftime. The Wildcats would enjoy their largest lead of the half with a 53-24 lead at intermission.
The Cats ran off the first 10 points of the second half to go up 63-24 early in the period. From there, Arizona rolled to the 98-48 victory.
The game featured a match up of coaches with 500 career victories. UNCG head coach Lynne Agee has 507 wins to her credit, while Arizona's Joan Bonvicini upped her career mark to 568-220, the 14th highest active win total in Division I women's hoops.
