Sports • Tuesday, February 11, 2014
THE DAILY WILDCAT • 9
HOT ‘N’ NOT REBECCA SASSNETT/THE DAILY WILDCAT
CARISSA CRUTCHFIELD drives to the basket during Arizona’s 68-49 win against ASU on Sunday that snapped an 11-game losing streak for the UA.
BY ROSE ALY VELENZUAELA The Daily Wildcat
Arizona men’s basketball bounced back from its loss against Cal and defeated Oregon and Oregon State during the weekend. With starting forward Brandon Ashley out, Arizona has made adjustments to continue its season and was able to out-score Oregon State on Sunday by 22. Arizona improved to a 23-1 record for the season. Arizona women’s basketball upset No. 11 ASU 68-49 on Sunday. It was the first win over ASU since 2011 and the first time Arizona has beaten a ranked team since 2005, when it beat No. 19 UCLA. The Arizona softball team started its season and swept its opponent Southern Miss. On Friday Arizona defeated Southern Miss 9-0, Saturday 14-2 and Sunday 12-0. In total Arizona out-scored Southern Miss 35-2 in only 15 innings. No. 73 Arizona women’s tennis team is undefeated after sweeping Sacramento State 4-0 on Saturday. Arizona took all three doubles matches, 6-1, 6-48 and 6-2, early in the competition. The Arizona men’s tennis team improved its record to 7-5 on the year after the victory over UC Santa Barbara on Sunday. The Arizona swimming and diving teams defeated ASU on Saturday. The men beat the Sun Devils 158.5116.5 and the women beat ASU 171.5105.5.
CECILIA ALVAREZ/THE DAILY WILDCAT
KRISTEN KLARENBACH performs against Washington on Feb. 1. Klarenbach was ill last week when the UA lost 197.825-194.425 at Utah.
The No. 13 Arizona gymnastics team fell to No. 4 Utah 197.825-194.425 on Friday. Head coach Bill Ryden said he thought the team was nervous, which he hadn’t seen before. Arizona had four falls on beam. No. 12 Arizona hockey head coach Sean Hogan was ejected from a game for the first time in his 11 years of coaching on Thursday when the Wildcats fell to Colorado State. The referees had called nine consecutive penalties on Arizona and ignored Hogan’s requests for explanations. The Phoenix Coyotes lost to the Dallas Stars 2-1 on Saturday, just before the Olympic break. The Oregon men’s basketball team suffered a loss against ASU during the weekend, but the coaches were upset over something other than the loss. An ASU student reportedly spit on an Oregon assistant coach and athletic trainer after the Sun Devils defeated the Ducks 74-72. The Olympic halfpipe practice was postponed on Monday due to complaints from the riders. The riders said the halfpipe is too vertical on the sides, ing rough landings and difficulty going in to the next jump. The riders had been asking for the workers to fix the pipe since the first day of practice Saturday.
— Follow Rose Aly Valenzuela @RoseAlyVal
BASKETBALL FROM PAGE 8
without Ashley, and gave them the confidence and a game plan to attack a stern frontcourt like Oregon State’s. While Arizona is now increasing emphasis on guards grabbing rebounds, freshman forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson represents the most important piece for the Wildcats. The new starter needs to be confident in his new role and at his new position. Miller said that, with the injury to Ashley, Hollis-Jefferson will now be playing close to the basket more often than he ever has before. Confidence was key to Hollis-Jefferson’s success against Oregon. Prior to
Thursday’s game he was averaging 23.5 minutes of playing time. Against Oregon he played for 34 minutes. He compiled a double-double in the contest, scoring 14 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. On Sunday against Oregon State, Hollis-Jefferson continued to shine and saw his point total increase to 16 points and help on the glass with 5 rebounds, 3 of which were offensive. “He’s a warrior,” McConnell said of Hollis-Jefferson. “I tell him that everyday: ‘You have that warrior’s mentality and they can’t take that from you.’ He just goes out there and outworks people and we all love that.”
— Follow Evan Rosenfeld @EvanRosenfeld17
If all goes according to plan, Pitts’ true talent as FROM PAGE 8 a lethal jump shooter will surface and he will become Nick Johnson praised Pitts and an instrumental piece of the said he has high expectations Wildcats’ puzzle in upcoming for him in the future. seasons. “I kept on telling him His path seems similar before the game, ‘Don’t come to that of sophomore guard in and play scared. Shoot Gabe York. Both are talented the ball, shooters but because needed to you are one improve on of our best defense to shooters,’” gain more ELLIOTT PITTS Johnson minutes and YEAR/POSITION said. experience. FR. GUARD Pitts is an “He’s uncovered always been MAJOR treasure PRE-BUSINESS in every waiting to practice, HOMETOWN be polished getting DUBLIN, CALIF. and put on ready and HEIGHT, WEIGHT the court. preparing,” While he 6’5”, 180 LBS Miller said. has had a “In a funny 2013-14 STATS modest stat way, you line in his 10 GAMES PLAYED, see a guy 67 minutes 39 PERCENT SHOOTING like Elliott played — who doesn’t scoring 17 have a role points with eight rebounds in a game, and yet he’s getting and two steals — the better. He has a beautifulNorthern California native’s looking shot. … I think he can contributions extend far give us maybe a punch on beyond the stat sheet. offense, and that can be one He hustles hard on defense, of the positives as we utilize isn’t afraid to get down and him more.” dirty for a possession and always keeps basketball fundamentals in mind, unlike — Follow Evan Rosenfeld many players his age. @EvanRosenfeld17
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