West Texas A&M Upsets Arizona Women’s Basketball, 60-57
The West Texas A&M Buffaloes defeated the Arizona Wildcats 60-57 yesterday in Tucson, marking a surprising season-opening loss for the Wildcats and raising questions about their early-season form.
The Division II Buffaloes led for the majority of the game, building an 18-point advantage despite a late fourth-quarter rally from Arizona. Head coach Becky Burke acknowledged the disappointing result, stating, “Obviously not the result that we wanted or that that we’re proud of, or that is acceptable to us, but obviously needed, I think, in a lot of different ways.” The Buffs controlled the boards, outrebounding the Wildcats 45-37, a key factor in their victory. This loss comes as Arizona looks to build on its recent success in the Pac-12 Conference.
Arizona struggled with rebounding and foul trouble, with starters Sumayah Sugapong and Achol Magot fouling out, and Daniah Trammell picking up four fouls. Despite shooting 41.7 percent in the second quarter, the Wildcats couldn’t overcome their early deficit. Sugapong led Arizona with 12 points, while Lani Cornfield added a team-high 14 points. Burke highlighted the positive contributions of freshmen Daniah Trammell and Mireia Jurado, noting Trammell’s effective shooting and Jurado’s calm presence on the court. The NCAA Women’s Basketball landscape is increasingly competitive, and early-season tests like this can reveal areas for improvement.
Burke emphasized the need for improvement in toughness and discipline, taking responsibility for preparing her team. She plans to use the game film to solidify lineups and identify effective player combinations. The Wildcats will now focus on addressing these issues before their next game.
