SALT LAKE CITY – Important players appear at important moments.
For BYU women’s basketball, Paisley Johnson Harding was a great player in defeating Rutgers in the Cougars’ first round at the NCAA women’s basketball tournament.
Aari McDonald, from Arizona, was the great player of the second round.
McDonald had 17 points, 11 rebounds, three assists and four steals to help the Wildcats in third place hold the Cougars 52-46 on Wednesday night at the UTSA Call Center in San Antonio, Texas.
Cate Reese had 12 points and five rebounds for Arizona (18-5), who hit just 34% of the shots, but forced 15 turns – including 11 steals – in his first appearance on Sweet 16 since 1998.
The Wildcats held BYU for a field goal in the final 5:11.
No teams led by more than 5 in a defense game, including McDonald, twice Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year, finalist for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year award.
BYU kept the Wildcats with just 3 points over a 10:33 gap between the third and fourth quarters, taking a 43-39 lead with 5:03 remaining in the game.
But McDonald’s doubled Arizona’s score on that stretch with a 3-point basket, and Sam Thomas drained another 3 to 3 minutes from the end, which returned the lead to the Wildcats.
BYU’s Tegan Graham reduced the deficit to 1 with his third 3-point basket, but the Cougars never led again.
Shaylee Gonzales had 16 points and nine rebounds to lead BYU, who had 13 points, five rebounds and three assists from Graham. Lauren Gustin added 8 points and 11 rebounds for the Cougars (19-6).
“Our team did very well at the beginning,” said Gonzales. “Our defense was offensive, our offense went well. But we changed our defense a little, we moved from one man to an area and we broke the pressure well. Then we let them go back to the game, and they hit a lot of 3s. I feel like the fourth time passed like this; it escaped our hands. “
The Cougars proved that they could stay with one of the best defensive teams in the country, holding the Wildcats for long scoring droughts and holding the lead of up to 4 points with five minutes to go.
But Arizona is one of the best defensive teams in the country – the best, if you ask BYU coach Jeff Judkins – and proved it in the closing moments.
Perhaps, then, it was appropriate when McDonald hit a pass and ran into a bucket in the transition with three seconds remaining, while the Cougars looked for an open 3 in the final minutes, a fall of 4.
“I totally believed in my team,” said Gonzales of Cougars’ advantage in the middle of the fourth period. “It is a pity; it is very frustrating to have that advantage and lose it. But I am very proud of my team for the way we played today.”
Of BYU’s 15 sales, Arizona forced 11 of them. On the other hand, the cougars forced only three of the Wildcats’ nine turns.
“I think we need to be a little more aggressive defensively,” said Judkins. “We were more playing as a team and trying to play in the team’s defense.
“I think next year, we can do better at putting pressure on them. I have some players who can do that. But of all the teams I had at BYU, this is probably the most complete. We are a very good defensive team, and a team very good offensive.
Two days after seeking 28 points in the 69-66 victory over Rutgers, Harding had just 2 points and four rebounds. The senior fell into her hand in the first half and ended up hitting just 1 of 9 in 22 minutes.
That is the disadvantage of facing two of the country’s top defenders, McDonald and Shaina Pellington.
“I think Arizona did a good job with her,” said Judkins. “Her hand is a little sore after it fell on her and she can’t do as many things as she wanted to. But I think she showed a lot of heart. That’s what team basketball is all about. That’s what she is: she’s a player special, special. I’m very lucky to be able to have someone like that. “
Arizona advanced to face Texas A&M No. 2, which held 84-82 in overtime. Delivery at Sweet 16 is scheduled for Saturday at 6 pm MDT.