Arizona Women's Basketball off to a fantastic start to the season under Adia Barnes
Sandwiched between successful Arizona Volleyball and Gymnastics seasons, Arizona Women’s Basketball occupies McKale Center for the winter, hoping to rise from the ashes in the Pac-12 under new coach Adia Barnes.
Heading into Christmas weekend the Wildcats are 8-2. They will play one more game in Tucson before Pac-12 play starts at home on December 29th against Cal. Coach Adia Barnes has returned to her roots in McKale; she was Arizona basketball’s first freshman to win the Pac-10’s Player of the Year award.
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This years squad includes six seniors.
Forward Breanna Workman is finishing her career at Arizona this year as the player on the current roster who has played in the most games. She has 84 collegiate games under her belt; her experience is invaluable to the team.
Breanna Workman has been playing some good ball lately. In the last three games, she averages 11 points and 7.7 rebounds on 57% shooting. pic.twitter.com/lpCctW3C7y
— Arizona W Basketball (@ArizonaWBBall) December 8, 2016
Redshirt senior Lauren Evans went to high school just up the road in Chandler. She started her career at Virginia Tech but transferred to Arizona last year. She’s been through lots of changes during her college career and is now playing under her third college coach. All of the adjusting she’s had to endure only makes her stronger.
One of Arizona’s leaders is senior forward LaBrittney Jones. Jones is coming off her junior season as the team’s defensive leader. While acknowledging the team has an uphill battle this season as they transition under new leadership, her positive attitude will help lay a foundation for the future of Arizona Women’s Basketball.
Another redshirt senior is Farrin Bell, a guard who became a Wildcat after a year at Southern Methodist. This video gives fans a sense of her personality in addition to her sense of humor. Don’t worry Farrin; we won’t ask you to sing.
One of Arizona’s most dependable seniors is Malena Washington, a guard from Texas. Recently Washington scored a career-high 26 points in an overtime win against New Mexico State.
What a day for Malena Washington. She scores 22 second-half/overtime points and scored 14 of Arizona's last 16 points. #BearDown pic.twitter.com/81YfMsvzVG
— Arizona W Basketball (@ArizonaWBBall) December 4, 2016
Finally, senior forward Dejza James is hoping to continue her dominance on the boards after missing the last half of her junior year due to injury. (Of course, James plays for Arizona who currently is injury-cursed.) She successfully rehabbed and was back on the court for the Wildcats’ first game this season.
Fans, use the free time during Christmas and New Years to visit McKale and root on these seniors as they set the table for the future of Arizona Women’s Basketball. On December 27th and 29th, the Wildcats will host Portland State and Cal, respectively. Both tip-off at 7 PM. On Sunday, January 1st, start off the year at McKale watching Arizona Women’s Basketball take on Stanford at 2 PM. Bear Down and here’s to a new coach, new season, and new year!
