Box Score

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TUSCON, Arizona -- Louisiana Tech senior Brandi Wingate scored a career-high 26 points, but Arizona capitalized on hot shooting and second chance points as the Wildcats downed the Lady Techsters 77-67 before 827 fans at the McKale Center Thursday night.

Wingate put on an offensive show, hitting 8-of-12 field goals and 10-of-13 free throws in 36 minutes of action despite being constantly double teamed.

However, Arizona shot 49 percent (34-69) from the field and scored 22 second chance points off 17 offensive rebounds as the Wildcats (7-1) won for only the second time in seven meetings against LA Tech (4-4).

"We gave up too many second chance opportunities tonight," said Tech head coach Tyler Summitt. "And so many times I thought they were daggers. We would work so hard to cut the lead down and then would play great defense for 29 seconds, force a miss and then they would get the offensive rebound and score. I thought that was the big difference in the game."

After scoring the first bucket of the game, Tech found itself trailing by double digits late in the first quarter as a Michal Miller three-pointer gave Arizona a 22-10 advantage with 90 seconds remaining in the opening frame.

However, the Techsters wouldn't go quietly. A Tiara Davenport three-pointer two minutes into the second quarter cut the Wildcats lead to 24-22. Tech closed the gap to two points on five different occasions in the second quarter, but each and every time, Arizona scored on its next possession -- three of those times after pulling down offensive rebounds after an initial miss.

Tech trailed 39-33 at the break despite shooting 57 percent (13-23) from the field. Arizona hit 55 percent (18-33) of its first half field goals.

The Wildcats then scored the first seven points after intermission to push the advantage to 46-33 before Wingate took over for Tech. The senior scored 10 points in the final six minutes of the third quarter as Tech closed the gap to as close at 48-43 after a Kierra Anthony jumper with 3:31 to play.

Arizona took a 10-point lead into the fourth quarter and kept Tech at arm's length. Tech would close the deficit down to 73-67 on a pair of free throws by Rochelle Vasquez with 1:30 to play. Arizona scored the final four points of the game to seal the win.

Anthony added 11 points for Tech.

Dejza James led Arizona with 16 points while Jalea Bennett added 14 points.

Tech returns to action Sunday at 3 p.m. when it hosts 9th ranked Mississippi State at 3 p.m.