Arizona held a 15-point lead over NAU with less than four minutes to play Friday night. That’s when the Wildcats eased their foot off the gas pedal — and infuriated their head coach.
Arizona turned the ball over on back-to-back possessions. The Wildcats then yielded three consecutive offensive rebounds.
The lead was down to 11, and Becky Burke had seen enough. She subbed out three starters and elected to finish the game with four backups on the court.
The Wildcats hung on to win 87-76, improving to 4-0 in Burke’s first season. But she was none too pleased during or after the game.
“Anytime you can win, we’re appreciative of that. It’s hard-earned,” Burke said. “But I’m disappointed in a lot of different ways, a lot of different areas.
“It was not a clean game. It was not a pretty game. Not a game that I loved our attention to detail and following the prep and the scout. I just thought some things got loose. I didn’t think we had toughness for a lot of it.
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Arizona women’s basketball head coach Becky Burke talks with UA guard Tanyuel Welch (11) in the second half at McKale Center on Nov. 19, 2025. Arizona won 87-76.
“It’s one of those games where you win, but it doesn’t feel like you won.”
Burke mostly was frustrated with Arizona’s effort and execution on defense. The Wildcats had allowed an average of 61.3 points on 38.7% shooting in their first three games. The Lumberjacks (1-5) scored 76 points and shot 51% from the floor.
“We just gave up 76 points to a team that I thought we were going to be able to keep in the 50s,” Burke said.
“They gotta all understand that we’re winning games on the defensive end of the floor this year,” she added. “We might not score 87 again. I just know who we are. So 76 ain’t gonna cut it.”
Burke was hopeful that her team could draw inspiration from Aari McDonald, who returned to McKale Center for “Aari McDonald Night.” McDonald watched the game from courtside alongside her husband, former UA football player Devon Brewer.
McDonald excelled on both ends of the court. She’s Arizona’s all-time leader in points per game and was a two-time Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year.
Arizona Wildcats guard Mickayla Perdue (0) is all smiles after hitting a three and drawing a foul in the second half during a game at McKale Center on Nov. 19, 2025. Arizona won 87-76.
Asked what her players could take from that example, Burke said: “That it can be done. You can be dynamic on offense and also be dynamic on defense. You gotta have pride on that end of the floor. It’s gotta matter to you just as much when nobody’s necessarily cheering for what you’re doing.”
Guard Mickayla Perdue got it done on the offensive end, pacing the Wildcats with 27 points on 9-of-16 shooting, including 4 of 9 3-pointers. It was her second game scoring 27 or more.
“Offensively, she’s great,” Burke said. “Just going to continue to challenge her defensively.
“We are asking a lot out of her on the offensive side of the floor. It’s hard to ask somebody to score 20-some a night, and then also defend at the level that I expect. But that’s the standard.”
Perdue was one-upped by NAU guard Naomi White, who scored 28 points in 29 foul-plagued minutes. White entered Friday ranked ninth in the country in scoring at 23.8 points per game.
Burke threw multiple players at White, but she still shot 8 of 17 from the floor, including 4 of 9 3-pointers, and got to the foul line 11 times.
Arizona guard Tanyuel Welch (11) and Northern Arizona guard Naomi White (25) grab at the ball as Arizona Wildcats head coach Becky Burke makes a jump ball gesture towards the referees in the first half on Nov. 19, 2025.
“The game plan was not what you saw,” Burke said. “We didn’t make her catches difficult. We didn’t crowd her. We didn’t switch high on her.
“Now, don’t get me wrong: She made some tough ones. But for the most part, I don’t think she’s leaving this gym like, ‘Oh, I had to work for everything I got against Arizona.’ That was what we said. We needed to make her feel (that) coming in.”
Acknowledging Aari
A video of McDonald’s highlights at Arizona played on the video board about 10 minutes before tipoff. The Indiana Fever guard then was introduced to the crowd, which gave her a standing ovation.
McDonald spent most of the second quarter with Cindy Brunson and Joan Bonvicini on the ESPN+ broadcast. Another video played during halftime featuring several of McDonald’s former UA teammates, including Cate Reese and Sam Thomas, Indiana coach Stephanie White and Fever forward Aliyah Boston.
McDonald was given a bouquet of flowers and a commemorative basketball. She then addressed the crowd.
Aari McDonald returned to McKale Center on Friday night for “Aari McDonald Night” and addresses the crowd during half time on Nov. 19, 2025. Arizona won 87-76.
“Thank you for having me back,” she said. “This means a lot. I’ll try not to get emotional, but just walking back into McKale, just thinking about all the memories and moments that I created, that shaped me as a player and a person …
“Playing at U of A, it taught me how to lead, how to compete, how to believe in myself when no one else does.
“To you fans, thank you so much. We would not be here without you guys. Keep coming out. You guys show up day in, day out. You support us, win or lose. Just keep protecting this court and making McKale the hardest arena to play at.
“Bear Down. Love you guys.”
McDonald stayed after the game to sign autographs and take pictures with fans.
Rim shots
– UA guard Sumayah Sugapong had 11 points, five assists and four steals. Sugapong, who spent her first two seasons at UC San Diego, reached 1,000 career points with a layup in the fourth quarter.
Arizona guard Molly Ladwig (5) is defended by Northern Arizona guard Audrey Taylor (11) in the first half at McKale Center on Nov. 19, 2025.
– Noelani Cornfield also had 11 points. Cornfield and Sugapong each had four fouls and three turnovers.
– Freshman guard Molly Ladwig had her best game to date, notching career highs in points (seven) and assists (three) while matching her career best in rebounds (four). “Molly’s great,” Burke said. “She is so coachable. She is so competitive. She gets straight A’s. She welcomes criticism and feedback and discipline. She’s a great teammate. She’s always in the gym. She’s a dream. Everybody needs multiple Molly Ladwigs on their team.”
– Arizona outscored NAU 58-26 in the paint but was outrebounded, 33-24.
Up next
Who: Arizona (4-0) vs. Northern Colorado (4-1)*
When: 6 p.m. Tuesday
Where: McKale Center
Watch: ESPN+
Listen: 1400-AM
(*—UNC’s record entering Saturday)
Photos: Arizona women’s basketball defeats NAU and honors Aari McDonald
Arizona women’s basketball vs. NAU
Former Arizona Wildcat Aari McDonald comes back to McKale Center for Aari McDonald Night in Tucson, Ariz. on November 19, 2025.
Arizona women’s basketball vs. NAU
Arizona guard Molly Ladwig (5) is defended by Northern Arizona guard Audrey Taylor (11) in the first half at McKale Center on Nov. 19, 2025.
Arizona women’s basketball vs. NAU
Arizona Wildcats guard Noelani Cornfield (4) performs a little dance after scoring a basket and drawing a foul in the second half during a game against NAU at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on November 19, 2025. Arizona Wildcats guard Mickayla Perdue (0), Arizona Wildcats guard Sumayah Sugapong (3) and Arizona Wildcats forward Nora Francois (13) laugh along. Arizona won 87-76.
Arizona women’s basketball vs. NAU
Arizona Wildcats forward Daniah Trammell (33) maneuvers past Northern Arizona Lumberjacks forward Layla Davis (7) to attempt a shot in the first half during a game at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on November 19, 2025.
Arizona women’s basketball vs. NAU
Arizona Wildcats guard Mickayla Perdue (0) passes the ball over Northern Arizona Lumberjacks guard Audrey Taylor (11) in the first half during a game at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on November 19, 2025.
Arizona women’s basketball vs. NAU
Arizona Wildcats forward Daniah Trammell (33) is defended by Northern Arizona Lumberjacks forward Layla Davis (7) in the first half during a game at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on November 19, 2025.
Arizona women’s basketball vs. NAU
Arizona Wildcats guard Molly Ladwig (5) and Arizona Wildcats forward Daniah Trammell (33) defend Northern Arizona Lumberjacks forward Layla Davis (7) in the first half during a game at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on November 19, 2025.
Arizona women’s basketball vs. NAU
Arizona Wildcats guard Tanyuel Welch (11) makes a drive towards the basket as Northern Arizona Lumberjacks guard Simone Morris (35) defends in the first half during a game at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on November 19, 2025.
Arizona women’s basketball vs. NAU
Arizona guard Tanyuel Welch (11) and Northern Arizona guard Naomi White (25) grab at the ball as Arizona Wildcats head coach Becky Burke makes a jump ball gesture towards the referees in the first half on Nov. 19, 2025.
Arizona women’s basketball vs. NAU
Arizona Wildcats guard Mickayla Perdue (0) is defended by Northern Arizona Lumberjacks guard Audrey Taylor (11) in the first half during a game at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on November 19, 2025.
Arizona women’s basketball vs. NAU
Arizona Wildcats guard Tanyuel Welch (11), Northern Arizona Lumberjacks guard Madison Watts (3), Northern Arizona Lumberjacks forward Emma Dasovich (0) and Arizona Wildcats forward Daniah Trammell (33) reach for a rebound in the first half during a game at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on November 19, 2025.
Arizona women’s basketball vs. NAU
Aari McDonald returned to McKale Center on Friday night for “Aari McDonald Night” and addresses the crowd during half time on Nov. 19, 2025. Arizona won 87-76.
Arizona women’s basketball vs. NAU
Arizona women’s basketball head coach Becky Burke talks with UA guard Tanyuel Welch (11) in the second half at McKale Center on Nov. 19, 2025. Arizona won 87-76.
Arizona women’s basketball vs. NAU
Arizona Wildcats forward Nora Francois (13) gets her hand on the ball as Northern Arizona Lumberjacks guard Audrey Taylor (11) takes a shot in the second half during a game at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on November 19, 2025. Arizona won 87-76.
Arizona women’s basketball vs. NAU
Arizona Wildcats guard Mickayla Perdue (0) is all smiles after hitting a three and drawing a foul in the second half during a game at McKale Center on Nov. 19, 2025. Arizona won 87-76.
Arizona women’s basketball vs. NAU
Arizona Wildcats forward Blessing Adebanjo (14) breaks through the NAU defense to try for a basket in the second half during a game at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on November 19, 2025. Arizona won 87-76.
Contact sports reporter/columnist Michael Lev at mlev@tucson.com. On X (Twitter): @michaeljlev. On Bluesky: @michaeljlev.bsky.social
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