2024-25 Women's Basketball Roster - University of Arizona Athletics
This game is a bad matchup for Cal based upon the two games last season. HC Adia Barnes has clearly had Charmin Smith's number. Arizona swept Cal easily twice last year. The Wildcats triumphed by 11 at home and by 21 points in Berkeley. Their speedy guards forced 22 & 23 turnovers in those losses. The Bears were held to 55 points on the road and 68 at home. Ionna Krimili was shut down by UofA in both games. She had 1 & 2 field goals in those games, respectively.

Arizona WBB Season Stats 2024-25 (PDF) - University of Arizona Athletics

This year's version is young. Arizona has three freshmen and seven sophomores out of fourteen on their roster.
Although the Wildcats are still forcing approximately 20 TOs, they are also having major problems handling the ball! They beat Grambling by close to the same margin as Cal but they also matched the Bears in turnovers. Cal had 26 and 'Zona had 27. They lost to Vanderbilt today by giving up 29 points on TOs. Cal lost to Michigan State by committing 20 turnovers that led to 20 Spartan points.

The only way that the Bears can beat the Wildcats is if they play tough defense. Arizona is 6-2 and is beatable. However, too many negatives hangover this matchup for me to predict a victory. Uof A should continue to dominate Cal but only by five points this time (70-65). Suarez had seven turnovers against this team. Only Lulu Twidale had a big offensive game in the final meeting with 24 points (including 6 treys). I hope that I am incorrect tomorrow. GO BEARS!

Let's talk present not the past. Neither team is quite the same as last year so why dwell on it? Check their roster year over year.

Arizona had only two scorers against Vanderbilt - Cunningham (17) and Williams (20). They scored 60 total.

Bears had 4 players in double figures against Michigan State:

Suarez (14), Onyiah (13), Twidale (20), and Krimili (15). Arizona has to account for all four in their defensive schemes.

We were 8 for 22 in 3-pointers. Wildcats 4 for 16.

Vandy had 19 steals this afternoon against 'Zona. I doubt that Cal possesses the foot speed to duplicate that effort. I will state that the unsung hero this year has been Krimili. She is in much better shape and moves quicker. She is the only starter with single digit (9) turnovers, and she is second in steals on the team. Last season, Jada Williams took Ioanna to the basket several times for layups. This year Krimili's defense is much improved. This season Cal's PG Kayla Williams is struggling with 30 assists vs 28 turnovers. When Marta Suarez throws in her contribution to TOs, it makes it tough against formidable defensive teams. Maybe the tide will turn. Fingers crossed.

2024-2025 California Women's Basketball (PDF) - California Golden Bears Athletics

How are their bigs?

Breya Cunningham is their 6-4 soph post that leads Arizona in scoring. She also is a strong rebounder (7.9/g) & shot blocker (17)! Michelle Onyiah needs to have a solid game on Wednesday and stay on the floor. Cunningham was a five-star recruit from La Jolla Country Day along with their point guard, Jada Williams.
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