Arizona women’s basketball endured a tough night at the McKale Center, falling 76‑44 to No. 10 UCLA. The loss highlighted the Wildcats’ difficulties handling UCLA’s size and pressure, as well as a stark shooting slump.
Turnover battle favors the Bruins
UCLA forced 16 turnovers from Arizona, converting those into 26 points. In contrast, the Wildcats managed only eight takeaways, scoring seven points off the Bruins’ mistakes. The disparity in the turnover battle proved decisive.
Shooting woes for Arizona
The Wildcats shot just 24.1 percent from the field, making 14 of 58 attempts. From beyond the arc they were 3‑for‑16, and their overall field‑goal efficiency was hampered by a dominant Bruin interior game. UCLA out‑scored Arizona 38‑0 in the paint and shot 41.4 percent overall, though they struggled from three‑point range at 30.4 percent.
Individual performances
Freshman Makayla Presser‑Palmer was a bright spot, tallying eight points and five rebounds while drawing ten free‑throw attempts and converting six. She also led the team with four assists, though she turned the ball over four times. Senior guard Puff Morris matched Presser‑Palmer’s eight points, shooting 3‑for‑10 from the field and 2‑for‑4 from three‑point range. Junior guard Sumayah Sugapong struggled, going 3‑for‑12 overall and 1‑for‑6 from three.
Jasleen Green contributed two assists, and the rest of the roster combined for only two more assists. Arizona’s rebounding was a challenge; they were outrebounded 51‑39, though 16 of their 39 rebounds came on the offensive glass. The Wildcats converted just five of those second‑chance opportunities into points.
Game flow
UCLA established an early lead, opening with a 10‑point advantage (14‑4) and extending it to 13 at halftime. Arizona rallied in the second half, narrowing the gap to single digits twice (37‑29, then 46‑37), but the Bruins responded with a decisive stretch that left Arizona down 23 points after the third quarter. In the final ten minutes, the Wildcats were outscored 14‑5 as coach Julie Hairgrove rested her starters.
Coach’s perspective
Assistant coach Julie Hairgrove praised Presser‑Palmer’s aggressiveness and highlighted the value of the experience against a top‑ranked opponent. “We wanted to give all the players a chance to get meaningful game reps against a quality opponent,” Hairgrove said. “It’s an opportunity to see where we can push and improve.”
Looking ahead
Arizona’s 44 points mark its lowest offensive output since a 41‑point game against No. 8 UCLA in March 2024. The Wildcats will regroup for their next matchup against Oregon State on Sunday, Nov. 15, in Tucson, seeking to rebound from the defeat and build on the promise shown by younger players.
Original reporting: Arizona Desert Swarm (Tucson Sports) — read the source article.
