Arizona women’s basketball pulls away late to defeat Chicago State

The University of Arizona women’s basketball team (8-2) defeated Chicago State University (1-10) 89-70 on Monday, Dec. 15 in McKale Center. This marks the Wildcats’ second consecutive victory after snapping a brief losing streak last week. 

Graduate guard Mickayla Perdue delivered a remarkable performance for the Wildcats, scoring a career-high 34-points. Her shooting ability was on full display as she converted four 3-pointers from well beyond the arc. Perdue’s long-range accuracy not only increased Arizona’s scoring output but also created opportunities for aggressive drives to the basket. Her assertiveness resulted in frequent trips to the free throw line, where she shot 10-of-12 from the charity stripe. 

Redshirt junior combo guard Tanyuel Welch complemented Perdue’s efforts with an efficient double-double. Welch contributed 18 points and recorded 10 rebounds, showcasing her versatility on both ends of the floor. She was highly effective, shooting 70% from the field, which played a key role in helping the Wildcats maintain momentum and dictate the pace of the game. 

For the Cougars, sophomore guard Aiyanna Culver emerged as the offensive leader, finishing with a team-high 23 points. Culver demonstrated her shooting range by going 5- for-10 from 3-point territory, providing a consistent scoring threat and keeping Chicago State competitive throughout the contest. 

The Wildcats entered the game aiming to control the tempo and establish dominance from the outset. They capitalized on Chicago State turnovers to build a quick 7-0 lead. However, Arizona struggled with ball control in the second quarter, committing several turnovers that allowed Chicago State to close the gap. 

Later in the first half, graduate guard Noelani Cornfield made a significant impact with multiple key steals, finishing the game with five takeaways alongside frequent trips to the free throw line. Her efforts helped Arizona maintain momentum and secure a 45-33 lead heading into halftime.

Chicago State came out of halftime with a surge of energy, led by Culver’s three triples in the quarter. The Cougars had multiple offensive rebounds which led to extended possessions and second chance points which helped keep the lead within reach. 

The Wildcats went through a scoring drought during the first three minutes of the fourth quarter, which allowed the Cougars to reduce the deficit to just 2-points, their shortest gap since the opening tip. 

Arizona responded by ramping up the tempo and embarked on a decisive 26-9 scoring run, highlighted by 13 points from Perdue in the final period. During this stretch, Chicago State struggled taking care of the basketball, committing nine turnovers in the fourth quarter and totaling 30 for the game. 

Despite making several mistakes throughout the game, the Wildcats demonstrated tremendous resilience. Each time adversity struck, Arizona responded with tenacious defense and huge scoring runs. These efforts were largely fueled by the leadership and experience of their veteran players, who set the tone for the team. 

Looking ahead 

Arizona head coach Becky Burke will look for her team to clean up the turnovers as Arizona  prepares for its final non-conference matchup against Bellarmine University. The game is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 18 in McKale Center and will be streamed live on ESPN+.

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