AU Women's Basketball lost a close contest on Saturday to No. 25 Arizona by a score of 75-63, then came back Sunday to rout Utah State 60-41. Both games were part of the Fiesta Bowl Classic, hosted by the University of Arizona.
Junior forward Chanel Hunt led the Eagles in both weekend games, posting a combined 27 points and 17 rebounds.
AU played the Wildcats close throughout the first half, cutting the deficit to just three points with three minutes remaining in the half. However, the Eagles committed a few costly turnovers in those three minutes, and Arizona went to the locker room with a 31-24 halftime lead.
In the second half, the Wildcats showed why they are a nationally ranked team, peeling off a 22-8 run. About halfway through the second half, the Eagles got hot, but Arizona's relentless offense continued to pour on the points, and the Wildcats held off AU.
Junior guard Angel Jordan put up a team-high 14 points, including four three-pointers, in only nine minutes of playing time off the bench. Hunt posted a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds, while senior guard Kaitlin Schuyler scored 13 points. Junior guard Joanna Barnes also contributed 11 rebounds.
Arizona was led by double-doubles from 6-foot-5 All-American Shawntinice Polk, which put up 18 points and 10 rebounds, as well as Danielle Adefeso, who posted 13 points and 10 boards.
After losing that first-round game, AU had an opportunity to make up for it in the Fiesta Bowl Classic's consolation game against Utah St., who had lost to UMass in the first round. The Aggies kept up with AU in the first half, but the Eagles outscored them by 10 in the second half to seal the game.
Seven minutes into the second stanza, AU went on a 14-4 run, keyed by nine turnovers on Utah State's part. In all, AU's tenacious defense caused the Aggies to commit 20 turnovers in the second half.
Hunt powered the Eagles' victory, scoring a game-high 14 points, including six during that 14-4 second-half run. She also grabbed five rebounds and one steal. Meanwhile, Schuyler added 13 total points, including a pair of three-pointers, as well as, three assists and a steal.
The Eagles' split of the two games puts them at 4-2 for the season. They head to the University of Maryland-Baltimore County Thursday for their next game. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
