LAS VEGAS—Stanford has one of the most storied histories in women’s college basketball, though the program has been on a downturn in recent years. Regardless, beating the Cardinal is never a bad thing, especially to start a season.
Arizona led from wire-to-wire against their former Pac-12 Conference rival in an 84-69 win on Monday afternoon T-Mobile Arena. It was the 12th consecutive season-opening victory for the Wildcats and their largest margin of victory over the Cardinal since a 15-point win in 2003.
Maryland transfer Breanna Williams led the way with 23 points and nine rebounds in 24 minutes off the bench. She was 9 of 13 from the field, scoring the most points in a UA debut since Davellyn White had 27 in the 2009-10 season opener.
Four other Wildcats scored in double figures including Sumayah Sugapong, who had 12 points but was just 3 of 14 from the field. Arizona shot 46.3 percent overall.
But it was the defense that dictated this result. Arizona forced 30 Stanford turnovers, leading to 25 points, and recorded 15 steals. Five were by Sugapong, with Jasleen Green getting four and Arynn ‘Simba’ Finley swiping three.
The Cardinal shot 48.1 percent and got 21 points from Hailee Swain.
Arizona led 42-31 at halftime thanks to 17 Stanford turnovers, but the Cardinal looked much more efficient to open the third quarter. They scored on five straight possessions, an 11-0 run, to tie it at 42.
The UA retook the lead but then saw Makayla Palmer-Presser pick up her fourth foul with 6:17 left in the third.
Sugapong hit her first shot in 10 tries, a 3-pointer, to put the Wildcats up 49-43. Stanford cut it to two but then went more than three minutes without a field goal, during which Williams had seven points including a 3-point play and a jumper in the final minute of the quarter.
Up 61-52 entering the final period, Arizona turned up the defensive intensity. Three more forced turnovers enabled it to get the lead out to 13 with 6:58 left.
A Sugapong triple and a transition layup by Williams made it 74-59 with 3:52 remaining. Stanford hit back-to-back 3s to get within nine but couldn’t get closer as the UA
Arizona forced steals on Stanford’s first four possessions, two of those resulting in transition layups. The Cardinal turned it over seven times in the first three minutes, mostly due to the UA’s pressure on the perimeter.
A 9-2 run to end the first quarter put the Wildcats up 20-11. A steal and score by Williams extended the lead to 14 early in the second quarter, but when Stanford didn’t turn it over it usually converted to keep the game from getting away. The Cardinal shot 45.8 percent in the first half to 44.4 for Arizona.
The UA returns to Tucson for its home opener Sunday against Iona.
