TUCSON — Under the bright lights of McKale Center, the Becky Burke era officially tipped off, and it started with a win.
The Arizona Wildcats women's basketball team edged out UC Riverside, 62-59, in a gritty season opener that set the tone for what's to come.
For Burke, who made her Arizona head coaching debut, the moment was less about nerves and more about excitement.
Arizona battled through early turnovers and a slow first hald, trailing by two at the break. But the Wildcats came alive in the third quarter, led by graduate guard Mickey Perdue, who poured in 17 points, including three from deep.
Her confidence sparked a surge that flipped the game's momentum and brought the McKale crowsd to it's feet.
Freshman Daniah Trammell made an immediate impression in her college debut, scoring 13 points, while graduate guard Noelani Cornfield added 10 points and a team-high eight assists, proving she's the steadying hand in Arizona's new-look backcourt.
On the defensive end, the Wildcats' energy defined the night. Arizona forced 23 turnovers, converting them to 18 points on the other end. Graduate forward Nora Francois anchored the paint with three steals and two blocks, helping Arizona hold off UC Riverside down the stretch.
It wasn't always pretty, and Burke spoke about the many things the team still needs to improve heading into Sunday's matchup against UC Irvine.
"We really know how to make it interesting," Burke joked after the game. "So I need to correct and fix some things down the stretch, and make sure we don't make it quite as interesting as we did. But at the end of the day, they found a way to win."
Despite the tough battle, the Becky Burke era is officially underway, and it is already off to a winning start.
