Arizona uses a mad 4th-quarter comeback to escape the Oregon State upset bid

It wasn’t straightforward. At instances, it appeared prefer it could be hopeless. So long as there’s time on the clock, nothing is hopeless, although. Arizona proved that by getting back from a 12-point deficit twice to defeat Oregon State 72-69.

“It was all a part of the plan,” Arizona head coach Adia Barnes joked. “Play 34 minutes terrible, then wait till the final 3:24 to play protection and really play.”

The Wildcats relied on an unlikely hero. Lauren Fields, who was 0-4 heading into the ultimate quarter went off for eight factors in 40 seconds with two 3-pointers and a quick break layup to tie issues at 65. A 3-pointer by Helena Pueyo 19 seconds later put Arizona forward for the primary time since 5:05 within the first quarter.

“You possibly can’t make a shot if you happen to don’t shoot it,” Fields mentioned. “So, that’s what I used to be telling myself. Preserve taking pictures, one would ultimately fall. And that’s what occurred.”

Arizona didn’t relinquish the lead.

The Wildcats had been led by Cate Reese with 16 factors, two rebounds, and three steals. Shut behind had been Arizona’s major level guards, Pueyo and Shaina Pellington. The pair had virtually equivalent stat strains with 12 factors, 4 rebounds, six assists, three steals, and one turnover. The few variations had been Pellington had two fouls and a barely increased +/- whereas Pueyo performed 4 extra minutes.

“So, Shaina, 4 for six from the sphere with an incredible quantity of congestion inside,” Barnes mentioned. “One for one from the three. Three for 4 [from the line] and 6 assists, one turnover. That’s actually good for the first ball handler for half-hour.”

Barnes additionally had an excessive amount of reward for Pueyo, who has began scoring extra these days together with driving to the basket and drawing extra fouls. It was her second straight recreation scoring in double figures and her third this season.

“Helena has been phenomenal,” Barnes mentioned. “Her off the bench provides us a punch, brings power. She’s similar to a starter however I believe she likes coming off the bench. I believe she’s good at watching versus beginning for her. I believe she’ll do regardless of the group wants, however it provides us a unique look. Generally with Shaina, typically it’s instead of Shaina, in order that they’re totally different.”

Esmery Martinez led the Wildcats on the boards, amassing eight rebounds to go together with her 9 factors.

The primary half was disjointed for Arizona. With a slower frontcourt on the opposing facet, Reese and Martinez would seem to have a bonus placing the ball on the court docket and driving. As a substitute, each selected to shoot from outdoors. The pair went 1-4 from the 3-point line within the first half with Martinez having the one profitable shot.

Arizona lastly began hitting some pictures in the direction of the top of the second quarter. Pueyo and Madi Conner began forcing the problem, driving to the basket. It stopped the bleeding, however it was nonetheless largely one-on-one basketball and Arizona nonetheless wasn’t getting a number of stops. The Wildcats went into the locker room down by eight.

Barnes shook issues up by beginning the second half with Kailyn Gilbert, Pellington, Pueyo, Martinez, and Reese on the ground. Some freshman errors by Gilbert put an finish to that after a number of possessions.

With Pellington, Pueyo, Fields, Conner, and Reese on the ground, Arizona lastly began to play actual group basketball. Guarding powerful. Sharing the ball. Reese began utilizing her pace to get by the Beavers’ slower frontcourt gamers as a substitute of placing up 3-pointers.

After falling behind by 12 within the third quarter, issues clicked. The Wildcats went on an 8-0 run to shut out the third and tie it at 49 heading into the ultimate 10 minutes of the sport.

The Beavers punched again. The 2 groups traded baskets to begin the fourth, OSU fed proficient freshman ahead Raegan Beers. The guests went on a 10-0 run to take the double-digit lead once more. They ultimately pushed the lead again to 12 factors on a Bendu Yeaney jumper.

Then, got here the ultimate fierce comeback, which relied closely on protection.

Martinez made two free throws with 3:24 to go within the recreation to chop the OSU result in single digits. Pueyo acquired considered one of her three steals on the following Beavers possession. She was off to the races to get the quick break layup.

Then, it was time for Fields. Former Wildcat Yeaney missed a 3-pointer on the opposite finish. Reese rebounded the ball, then despatched it to Pellington, who hit Fields for an open 3 within the nook.

The following play was comparable. This time it was Talia von Oelhoffen lacking the 3-pointer for the Beavers. Martinez acquired the rebound, despatched it to Pueyo, who hit Fields for a second straight 3-point shot.

A 3rd straight OSU possession became no factors when Pellington stole the ball from Yeaney. This time, she acquired it to Fields for the layup on the quick break. Tied ballgame.

A fourth defensive cease, once more on a Pellington steal, became a Pellington-to-Pueyo cross and a Pueyo 3-pointer to take the lead for good.

“The defensive lineup was the one that basically stored the comeback later,” Barnes mentioned. “So, I believe typically simply sitting, processing, watching doesn’t harm. The best way they did our press down the stretch with the traps and the stress, that’s how we have to begin video games as a result of it was the beginning group that got here again in and did it. So, now we have to have the ability to try this persistently and never wait…however the factor is we may have laid down and died. We may have mentioned, ‘Oh, we’re carried out,’…I imply they managed the sport for 34 minutes. They had been main. Each time we had come again, they’d hit the massive 3.”

Preserving confidence, realizing they might do it, made the distinction.

“We didn’t have management of the sport for many of it,” Pellington mentioned. “So simply staying engaged. However when you could have gamers which are in a position to do what Lauren did in the direction of the top, it actually helps you are feeling the hearth and it provides you power. So, I similar to to try to keep prepared so I don’t must prepare. As soon as she began hitting these pictures it was prefer it sort of added gasoline to the hearth for us. So, I believe simply staying engaged was key to coming again down the stretch.”

Arizona was with out freshman ahead Maya Nnaji who was in concussion protocol. It left the group with simply two wholesome posts, each of whom are solely 6-foot-2. Barnes hopes to have Nnaji again when the Wildcats face Oregon on Sunday, Jan. 8.