Photos: Arizona overwhelms Emory-Riddle 117-44 in their exhibition game

For Tucson basketball fans, Arizona’s first home appearance of the schedule offered an emphatic introduction. The Wildcats defeated Embry-Riddle 117-44 in an exhibition game on Oct. 22, giving the home crowd a high scoring performance built around pressure defense, loose ball battles and repeated trips into the paint. The game was not part of the regular season standings, but it gave Arizona a chance to play in front of its Tucson supporters while coaches evaluated a wide group of players and combinations.

The 73 point margin reflected how thoroughly Arizona controlled the game. The Wildcats repeatedly turned defensive pressure into opportunities at the other end, with players contesting passes, tying up ballhandlers and racing for loose balls. Guards Aliyahna Morris and Arynn Finley were pictured denying Embry-Riddle guard Makenzie Alapai the ball, while Morris also won a race to a loose ball in the opening quarter. Later, Morris forced another turnover by tying up Alexes Collier and swiping the ball away.

Arizona’s defense was especially active in the middle stretches of the game. Makayla Presser-Palmer and Dionna Gray squeezed Alapai near the sideline and created another turnover. Karolina Ulan hopped over Gray while pursuing a loose ball, then helped trigger a Wildcat fast break. Ulan also celebrated a run that forced Embry-Riddle to call a timeout during the third quarter. The sequence offered a clear picture of the energy Arizona brought to an exhibition that quickly moved beyond a simple preseason tuneup.

The Wildcats’ effort was not limited to their guards. Forward Breanna Williams was shown fighting through traffic for a rebound, diving into the lane for a loose ball and driving past Embry-Riddle’s Riley Morris-Rexford. Williams also drew a foul while attempting a shot in the paint. Callie Hinder followed an offensive rebound with a putback basket in the second quarter, while Gerda Raulusaityte battled Hannah Williams for position in the lane and later hit the floor to secure a loose ball in the offensive end.

Arizona’s frontcourt players faced plenty of physical resistance from the Eagles. Raulusaityte and Hannah Williams were shown banging for position, while Embry-Riddle forward Bella Barrett worked to receive an entry pass against Sumayah Sugapong. Sugapong answered with active defense, getting a hand in Barrett’s face to disrupt a pass attempt. On another possession, Sugapong launched a shot while defended by Morris-Rexford, and she absorbed contact from Morgan Evenson along the baseline while trying to make a play.

The exhibition also gave Arizona’s coaching staff plenty to monitor. Head coach Becky Burke watched from the sideline during a late offensive possession and questioned a foul call during the third quarter. Assistant coach Todd Starkey signaled to Burke after Sugapong picked up her fourth foul. The moment underscored one of the differences between a relaxed exhibition setting and a meaningless game. Even with Arizona comfortably ahead, foul trouble, officiating decisions and defensive matchups remained part of the evaluation.

Several other Wildcats contributed to an evening that featured constant movement across the court. Molly Ladwig drove past Collier for a scoop attempt and later joined Williams in questioning a possession call. Jasleen Green drove into the paint against Evenson, drew a foul while attacking Alapai and collided with Embry-Riddle forward Hannah Williams on a fourth quarter drive. Dionna Gray created space for a long range jumper before the defense could arrive, while Karolina Ulan muscled her way into the lane against Morris-Rexford.

Embry-Riddle continued to compete despite the widening gap. The Eagles’ players appeared throughout the game photographs contesting drives, challenging shots and pursuing rebounds. Abby Dean spoiled a shot by Presser-Palmer in the fourth quarter, and Dean and Morgan Evenson were involved in a second quarter collision with Sugapong as all three players chased the ball. Collier defended Ladwig and later tied up with Morris, while Barrett battled Arizona players around the basket. The 117-44 result belonged decisively to Arizona, but the Eagles remained part of the physical, fast moving action.

For Arizona, the exhibition served as both a homecoming and a preview of the team’s identity under Burke. The Wildcats displayed the traits visible throughout the photographs, aggressive on defense, willing to dive for possessions and comfortable pushing the ball after turnovers. The result also gave Tucson fans an early look at Morris, Finley, Sugapong, Williams, Raulusaityte, Ulan, Green, Gray, Ladwig, Hinder and Presser-Palmer in game action. With the regular season still ahead, Arizona leaves its home exhibition with a 117-44 victory and a collection of film and in game situations to study before more consequential games begin.