BYU Women’s Basketball Looks To Keep NCAA Run Going Against 3-Seed Arizona

PROVO, Utah – The BYU women’s basketball team has been one of the great stories to emerge from the 2021 Women’s NCAA Tournament. BYU was the first upset in the field of 64 when they took down C. Vivian Stringer’s Rutgers squad on Monday.

It’s GAMEDAY 😈 pic.twitter.com/QyQBd9qPLA

— BYU Women's Hoops (@byuwbb) March 24, 2021

Now Jeff Judkins’ team has another tough test. This time against 3-seed Arizona Wildcats from the Pac-12 Conference, who Judkins believes is the toughest team BYU will face on the defensive end all season.

BYU is looking to advance to only its third Sweet 16 appearance since the Women’s NCAA Tournament began in 1982. The previous two appearances were under the direction of head coach Jeff Judkins who has now won eight NCAA Tournament games in his 20 years as head coach.

Arizona is riding high after a brilliant defensive performance in their first-round win over Stony Brooks. The Wildcats set program records in the NCAA Tournament for fewest points allowed in a tournament game (44), most steals (17), and field goal shooting percentage (56%).

❤️🐻🔽 pic.twitter.com/UqeVEdYzHm

— ADIA BARNES 🐻⬇️🌵🌞 (@AdiaBarnes) March 24, 2021

Arizona finished in second place behind Stanford in the Pac-12 Conference and the Wildcats entered the NCAA Tournament ranked No. 11 in the AP Top 25.

BYU women’s basketball and Arizona have never met before in the NCAA Tournament. The last meeting between the two programs was a BYU victory in 2013.

What You Need To Know: (11) BYU vs. (3) Arizona 

BYU will look to their stars for big performances once again in Paisley Harding, Shaylee Gonzales, and Lauren Gustin. Harding scored 28 points in BYU’s upset win over Rutgers. Gonzales scored 17 points, pulled down six rebounds, dished out four assists, and had three steals.

What a performance from @paisleynikelle!

28 points to lead the comeback 🪣 pic.twitter.com/OqD11uki6B

— BYU Women's Hoops (@byuwbb) March 23, 2021

Gustin, according to head coach Jeff Judkins, is the nation’s strongest player in this year’s Women’s NCAA Tournament. She’s a walking double-double. Last game she had 11 and 10.

Keep an eye out for grad transfer Tegan Graham who’s one of the leaders on this team for the winning plays she makes off the bench. She had nine points against Rutgers, including a three in the fourth quarter to create some separation from the Scarlet Knights.

This is Arizona’s first NCAA Tournament appearance in 16 years. BYU comes into this matchup with a lot more experience in the NCAA Tournament than the Wildcats. But this Wildcats team can get out and defend. Arizona is 16th nationally in scoring defense allowing 55.5 points per game.

The Wildcats are led by Pac-12 Player of the Year and Co-Defensive Player of the Year Aari McDonald. McDonald, a former transfer from Washington, McDonald is averaging 19.4 points and 2.72 steals per game.

Arizona is No. 15 in the final NET rankings heading into the NCAA Tournament compared to BYU women’s basketball who was at 50.

BYU vs. Arizona – Women’s NCAA Tournament Second Round

Where: UTSA Convocation Center

Location: San Antonio, Texas

When: Wednesday, March 24th, 2021, 5 p.m. (MDT)

Prep for round for ✌️ pic.twitter.com/cj346hIEIM

— BYU Women's Hoops (@byuwbb) March 23, 2021

BYU/Arizona: How To Watch Women’s NCAA Tournament

TV: ESPNU

Announcers: Tiffany Greene & Steffi Sorensen

Which Channel: DirecTV (208), Dish (141), AT&T U-Verse (1605), Verizon FiOS (573), Comcast XFinity (Utah – 400)

How To Stream

Stream: ESPN app or watchespn.com. Log in with your television provider credentials.

Ms. Big Shot pic.twitter.com/Wz4d8F9k3Z

— BYU Women's Hoops (@byuwbb) March 23, 2021

BYU Women’s Basketball Facts

2020-21 Record: 19-5 overall

Head Coach: Jeff Judkins (20th year at BYU, 20th year as Division I head coach)

Judkins Coaching Record in NCAA Tournament: (8-9)

BYU’s last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2019

Arizona Fast Facts

2020-21 Record: 17-5

Head Coach: Adia Barnes (5th year at BYU, same as Division I head coach)

Barnes Coaching Record in NCAA Tournament: (1-0)

Arizona’s last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2005

Last Game Starting Lineups

BYU

G – Shaylee Gonzales, R-Soph.; 5-10

G – Paisley Harding, Sr.; 5-9

G – Maria Albiero, Sr.; 5-8

F – Lauren Gustin, Soph.; 6-1

C – Sara Hamson, Sr.; 6-7

Arizona

G – Aari McDonald, Sr.; 5-6

G – Bendu Yeaney, Jr.; 5-10

F – Sam Thomas, Sr.; 6-0

F – Trinity Baptiste, Sr.; 6-0

F – Cate Reese, Jr.; 6-2

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12–3 p.m., KSL Newsradio). Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper and the KSL Sports app.