Wildcats Dominate in Chicago, Stay Undefeated at 5-0
In a commanding performance, the Arizona Wildcats continued their undefeated streak by defeating Chicago State Cougars 84-48 on Saturday afternoon. The win marks Arizona’s fifth consecutive victory to kick off the 2024-25 season, showcasing the team’s depth and the impressive contributions from their freshman players.
Halfway through the game, Arizona led 52-22, with first-year athletes accounting for an impressive 50% of the team’s points. Freshmen Katarina Kneževic, Mailien Rolf, and Lauryn Swann combined for 25 points and 18 rebounds while maintaining an efficient eight turnovers. Swann, who recently dazzled with a 19-point performance, began this game strong, hitting two three-pointers early on.
Defensively, Rolf was outstanding, posting seven rebounds, a steal, and a block, contributing significantly to a game where Arizona’s bench players scored a remarkable 46 points. Despite having more turnovers than assists, a trend Coach Adia Barnes wishes to rectify, Arizona displayed resilience by converting turnovers into scoring opportunities, outscoring Chicago State 24-13 off turnovers.
Breya Cunningham and Skylar Jones led the starters with 14 and 10 points, respectively, with Cunningham averaging 13.4 points per game for the season. However, the Wildcats must address foul trouble, with Cunningham and several others facing personal fouls that could pose challenges down the line.
Shooting was consistent for Arizona, connecting on 43.9% from the field and 75% from the free-throw line. The Wildcats now prepare for their next challenge against Northern Arizona on November 20, aiming to improve on their season start as they travel north for an in-state clash at 6 p.m. MST.
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Photo credit rivals.com
