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Discover Deep Transformational Life Coaching in Tucson, AZ
Living the human experience is a beautiful, complex journey. It's filled with peaks and valleys of pleasure and pain, both physical and emotional. It seems so simple when we're children, but things change as we grow: we begin to form our own opinions, develop romantic relationships, build a career, and work our way through life. With age comes maturity and personal development, but all too often, we grow older without learning how to manage and accept our emotions, thoughts, and relationships. This causes us to get stuck, and for some, they then stay stuck - trapped in a vicious cycle of self-doubt, judgement and negativity.
Sound familiar? If so, ask yourself if you are suffering from any of the following:
- Unresolved childhood trauma
- Grief, loss, and betrayals in life that you can't get past
- Harmful patterns that keep you stuck in a rut, with no hope of moving forward
- Anxiety about your personal or work life
- Anger, insecurity, and stress that gets the best of you
- Codependency and people pleasing-problems that leave you emotionally bankrupt
- Family or romantic relationship issues that you can't handle or resolve
- Negative thoughts and self-criticizing problems equating to "I'm not good enough" and "I can't succeed."
- Overthinking and racing thoughts that distract you during the day and keep you up at night
- Lack of motivation or purpose in your life
- Low self-worth, self-love, and lack of personal development
If you're struggling because you aren't sure what to do next or how to change your life for the better, know that you aren't alone. Millions of people just like you aren't where they want to be in life. Fortunately, your personal growth life coach in Tucson, AZ, is here to help you reimagine, refocus, and rebuild your life for the better.
Life Coach Services
- Discover Deep Transformational Life Coaching in Tucson, AZ
- We All Suffer at Times. Now, Let's Do Something About It
- The Christy Maxey Difference
- Men's Personal Development Growth Coaching in Tucson, AZ
- Women's Personal Development Growth Coaching in Tucson, AZ
- EMDR Therapy in Tucson, AZ
- Break Out of Your Cage and Be Proud of Your True Self
Services Area


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We All Suffer at Times. Now, Lets Do Something About It
If you're reading this page, chances are you're not exactly happy with how your life is going. And that's okay. You're in a safe place.
Finding the right person to speak with about the personal growth issues in your life is challenging. Some life coaches in Tucson only see you as a transaction - a means to make money and provide unhelpful, mediocre services. Christy Maxey is the anthesis of uneducated, fly-by-night life coaches. She has worked with thousands of people just like you and has built a reputation of helping people as their life coach in Tucson and throughout Arizona, as well as with clients all over the world.
As a former therapist, Christy uses an effective system of evidenced-based concepts, tools, and exercises like trauma-informed coaching, inner child healing and EMDR to uncover true self-worth. Christy's signature system, the Maxx Method, helps develop emotional intelligence and provides life-long skills that will help guide you in relationships with yourself and others.
Remember: you are not broken YOU ARE NOT BROKEN. There is nothing wrong with you. And, it doesn't have to take years of therapy to get the results you are hoping for


The Maxx Method Difference
Many people use go to therapy but see few results. They've tried reading books, listening to podcasts, and maybe even hired a life coach. But at the end of the day, they're still struggling with root issues that cause stress, anxiety, and feelings of helplessness.
Christy Maxey has developed The Maxx Method, an evidenced-based path to Personal Development, Healing and Emotional Intelligence. When you work with Christy Maxey as your life coach, you will spend your time together getting to the root cause of your problems. You'll answer questions like:
- How are you holding yourself back?
- What limiting beliefs do you have?
- What are you resisting?
- How are self-doubt and judgment keeping you stuck?
- How is your past STILL affecting you now?
- Where is your anxiety coming from?
Often, we don't know the answers to these questions without help. Unfortunately, many therapists and life coaches in Tucson, AZ lack focus. They encourage you to talk about your day, week, and month. They get a general sense of what is bothering you, but before any real work is done, your therapy session is over. In the end, you see few results and you're left reeling with more anxiety and stress than before.
Clients choose Christy Maxey as their personal development life coach because she gets right to the issues without wasting your time. She pulls on her vast experience to heal men and women of all ages, using traditional techniques from psychology and psychotherapy combined with results-oriented coaching. Christy always emphasizes honesty, compassion, and accountability, so you get real benefits and real efficiency with her coaching.
If you're ready to be re-introduced to your authentic self, your journey starts here.
Men's Personal Development Growth Coaching in Tucson, AZ
Men in today's society often fight against strong feelings of stress, anger, and self-defeating patterns that keep them stuck in a rut. Unfortunately, many men are socialized to ignore their feelings and inner experiences. As a men's therapist and life coach for more than 20 years, Christy Maxey has the techniques and experience to break down the barriers keeping men from living the life they want.
Men deserve compassion, but they also deserve high expectations and positive confrontation when necessary. Unlike some life coaches in Tucson, Christy's approach doesn't allow men to hide behind insecurity and grandiosity. Male clients choose Christy because she pushes them to live to their true potential without wasting time.

Coaching Men with Relationship Issues
Relationships don't always come easily and we are not taught how to have healthy, secure relationships. Challenges can be hard to overcome without help. If any of the following problems sound familiar, life coaching with Christy Maxey could be the solution:
- Difficult Relating to Partner
- Repeating Negative Patterns in Relationships
- Feelings of Loneliness
- Feeling Misunderstood

Coaching Men with Stress
Stress is the leading root cause of disease. Although men are taught to "just deal with it," that's not the best answer. With Christy Maxey as your life coach, you can address issues with:
- No Appreciation for Hard Work
- Pleasing Everyone Except Yourself
- Exhaustion without Physical Activity
- Feelings of Unhappiness and Lack of Motivation

Coaching Men with Anger
It's no wonder that men suffer from aggression and anger when we tell them to turn off their emotions. Life coaching can help you overcome:
- Aggressive Behavior
- Outbursts of Anger
- Career Issues
- Relationship Issues
- Verbal Aggression and Abuse
If you're a man open to working through your problems to better yourself, there's good news. Christy Maxey's proven, efficient life coaching system can help you be the father, husband, friend, and self that you truly want to be. With the right tools and guidance, you can live life with less anger and stress. And with the right tools, you can focus on finding your voice without resorting to aggression.
Women's Personal Development Growth Coaching in Tucson, AZ
Women are beautiful, unique individuals. But many seem to suffer from the same universal theme - an inner critic that hinders true growth and sabotages them from a fulfilling, happy life.
As a therapist, Christy Maxey spent much of her time working directly with women just like you. Christy combines an incredible depth of knowledge and guidance with life coaching energy, uncovering your true potential as a woman, free of dysfunction.
Unfortunately, no matter what women do as mothers and employees, many believe that they're never good enough. They feel like they're not worthy, not lovable, and not strong.
If you feel like you're unworthy of success and happiness, it's time for a change. It's time to look in the mirror and take care of yourself, not someone else.
If you're ready to reclaim the life you deserve, your journey to success starts with women's life coaching in Tucson. Here are just a few areas that Christy Maxey helps women break free of the chains that keep them down:


Coaching Women Suffering from Pleasing & Codependency
Many women today do everything for everybody else but don't take time to heal or explore personal development. Personal development growth coaching from Christy Maxey can help you address these common issues:
- Self-Medicating to Cover Up Feelings of Inadequacy
- Feeling like You've Lost Yourself
- People Taking Advantage of Your Kindness
- Over-Providing for Others

Coaching Women with Unpleasant Emotions
Many women are unsure of how to untangle the mess of emotions they go through. Life coaching in Tucson can help you manage your emotions and find the clarity and love you need in your life. Does this sound like you?
- Feelings of Shame and Guilt
- Issues with Your Career or Job
- Unhappiness with Others' Behaviors
- Bouts of Sobbing That Lead to Anxiety and Depression

Coaching Women with Self-Confidence Issues
Though every life is valuable, society triggers many women to de-value themselves as they grow older. One of the core components of Christy's life coaching is to help women value who they are. Self-confidence can help by:
- Highlighting Positive Attributes Over Shortcomings
- Finding Solutions to Confidence Issues
- Teaching You How to Love Yourself, Flaws and All
- Giving You the Tools to Assert Yourself Without Guilt
If you're a woman and you're ready for change, we've got great news. Women's coaching with Christy is all about change and focus. It's active and experiential coaching that will keep you engaged and accountable to yourself. The result? A life bursting with happiness, fulfillment, and joy.
EMDR Coaching in Tucson, AZ
EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing, is a powerful technique used to heal people from distressing and disturbing life experiences. EMDR Coaching with Christy Maxey allows the mind to heal from psychological trauma much quicker than traditional therapy methods.
When we go through traumatic experiences, we often associate those events with negative beliefs and emotions like feelings of shame, anger, and inadequacy. EMDR helps the mind reprocess the life-changing event, allowing the client to heal and live a life they love.
Is EMDR Right for You?
Many people are reluctant to try EMDR because of poor results from previous attempts. Christy Maxey's EMDR Coaching includes guided visualization and inner child healing for a more robust approach. This tactic is part of Christy's Maxx Method - a life-changing framework for personal development.
What is the Maxx Method?
You may have received help from a therapist or life coach in Tucson, AZ, in the past, only to fall back into bad habits and self-destruction. If that sounds like you, chances are you never addressed the underlying cause of your problems. You cut the weed but never removed the root.
The Maxx Method is a six-part holistic system of evidenced-based tools, exercises, and concepts, developed to help you achieve maximized personal development.
EMDR and the Maxx Method are not only used for extreme traumas. They can be very helpful for common memories and events that foster feelings of low self-esteem and powerlessness, too. These methods were developed to help manage unpleasant emotions, show you how to find deep love, and heal old wounds that keep you stuck.
EMDR and the Maxx Method could be right for you if you have experienced:
- Social Anxiety
- Loss, Betrayal, and Grief
- Negative Core Beliefs
- Hurt, Anger, and Sadness
- Overthinking
- Low Self-Esteem
- Lack of Confidence

Break Out of Your Comfort Zone and Be Proud of Your True Self
The world is changing. People are finally learning how to manage their own human experiences. But we can't do it alone. Christy Maxey is here to guide you on the path to a positive, guilt-free life. If you're ready to look inward, find peace, and develop the skills to love your true self, you're in the right place. After all, you've been suffering long enough.
When you work with Christy, you'll be on a fast track to the truth - no beating around the bush or wasting time. Christy's methods are gentle but firm, compassionate yet driven. You will learn, you will transform, and you will be happy because it's you who did the work. It's time to face your fears head-on, so you can't play the victim card anymore. You're capable of great relationships, healthy self-confidence, and of doing something with your life. If you're sick and tired of being stuck, this is your chance to get out of that rut.
Ready to learn to value yourself and live the life that you deserve? Contact Christy Maxey today for your free 15-minute consultation.

Free Consultation
Latest News in Tucson, AZ
LIV Golf tees off in Southern Arizona
Jack Cooperhttps://www.kold.com/2023/03/17/liv-golf-tees-off-southern-arizona/
TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) - LIV Golf made it’s way to The Gallery Golf Club in Marana for it’s inaugural tournament in Southern Arizona. It’s the new professional tour that started last year to rival the PGA tournament.With controversy surrounding the tournament, people who attended said they loved the first day of the tournament.“I think it’s fun.. it’s great, it’s like a big party or a carnival with the music and games and people yelling and cheering,” spectator Dennis Headley sai...
TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) - LIV Golf made it’s way to The Gallery Golf Club in Marana for it’s inaugural tournament in Southern Arizona. It’s the new professional tour that started last year to rival the PGA tournament.
With controversy surrounding the tournament, people who attended said they loved the first day of the tournament.
“I think it’s fun.. it’s great, it’s like a big party or a carnival with the music and games and people yelling and cheering,” spectator Dennis Headley said.
The tour came under fire when a Saudi investment firm paid millions of dollars to some of the world’s best golfers to defect from the PGA. LIV Golf now rivals the PGA with a new take on golf but that didn’t push people away.
“The atmosphere, the environment, the music, the crowd, it’s gonna be an awesome day,” spectator Derrick Lopez said.
There was pickleball, a chipping challenge and music for people to enjoy.
“I love it so far, it’s super welcoming, the staff is great, I think as far as the setup of this golf course, you have the music in the background, there’s a lot of cool activities in the front,” spectator Rich Pineda said.
On the course, professionals like Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka and even Phil Mickelson drew big crowds.
“You come here and you just want to see how good they are in person and have fun,” spectator Erik Alvarez said.
Some say this is the best thing to grow the game of golf in a while.
“I just started golfing last year, so it’s actually really cool to see how the sport has grown overall,” Pineda said. “I thought it was just an old guys sport but what they’re doing out here is actually pretty cool.”
The day kicked off with Navy Seals parachuting onto the 18th fairway.
“Oh my golly that was just worth the price of admission just seeing the frogmen,” spectator Chicken Headley said.
Round two starts Saturday at 10:15 a.m. but the fan village gets going at 8 a.m. and there are still tickets available.
Copyright 2023 13 News. All rights reserved.
NCAA Tournament round of 32 preview: No. 2-seed Maryland women’s basketball vs. No. 7-seed Arizona
AndrewChodeshttps://www.testudotimes.com/2023/3/18/23644329/ncaa-tournament-round-of-32-preview-no-2-seed-maryland-womens-basketball-terps-vs-no-7-seed-arizona
No. 2-seed Maryland women’s basketball cruised to its 18th consecutive opening-round victory under head coach Brenda Frese Friday, taking down No. 15-seed Holy Cross, 91-63.The Terps never let Holy Cross crawl within 20 points after the opening quarter, holding the Crusaders to a 35% clip from the field Friday afternoon.Next up is a round of 32 matchup against No. 7-seed Arizona, Frese’s alma mater. The Wildcats took down No. 10-seed West Virginia, 75-62, prior to Maryland’s game Friday.“How ironi...
No. 2-seed Maryland women’s basketball cruised to its 18th consecutive opening-round victory under head coach Brenda Frese Friday, taking down No. 15-seed Holy Cross, 91-63.
The Terps never let Holy Cross crawl within 20 points after the opening quarter, holding the Crusaders to a 35% clip from the field Friday afternoon.
Next up is a round of 32 matchup against No. 7-seed Arizona, Frese’s alma mater. The Wildcats took down No. 10-seed West Virginia, 75-62, prior to Maryland’s game Friday.
“How ironic, first of all, to get them all the way here in College Park, but [Arizona head coach] Adia Barnes and her staff, they’ll have them ready. They’re a great, great team,” Frese said of the Wildcats.
Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m. Sunday, live on ESPN from the XFINITY Center.
Head coach Adia Barnes took over as head coach ahead of the 2016-17 season, and she has done a remarkable job making her alma mater one of the premier teams in the nation. The Wildcats have rattled off five straight 20-win seasons, which includes making the national championship game in 2021, where it lost by one point to Stanford.
Barnes has once again led the ‘Cats to another successful regular season, defeating five ranked opponents and finishing fifth in an ultra-competitive Pac-12 conference.
Arizona will look to avenge last year’s defeat in the round of 32, when it got blown out on its home court by fifth-seeded North Carolina.
Cate Reese, fifth-year forward, 6-foot-2, No. 25 — Reese has been one of Arizona’s best players — perhaps its best — since joining the squad as a five-star recruit in the 2018-19 season. She was instrumental during the Wildcats’ run to the 2021 title game, earning All-Pac-12 honors in that season. Reese was named an All-American honorable mention last season, and has followed that up with another solid campaign, averaging close to 13 points and six boards per game. The four-time All-Pac-12 selection looks to lead her team to another deep tournament run.
Shaina Pellington, fifth-year guard, 5-foot-8, No. 1 — Like Reese, Pellington was a member of the 2021 squad that lost to Stanford. The Ontario, Canada native is the most experienced player on the team, playing two successful seasons at Oklahoma before transferring to the Wildcats. She also represented Canada at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Pellington leads Arizona in scoring this season with 13.3 points per game, including a 35-point performance in an 82-72 upset win against then-No. 4 Utah.
Esmery Martinez, senior forward, 6-foot-2, No. 12 — The West Virginia transfer’s transition into the Pac-12 was seamless, cementing herself a starting role at the five spot for the Wildcats. The frontcourt of her and Reese has given smaller teams trouble this season, and she’s been a revelation on the defensive end. She’s started each game this season, averaging just under two rebounds shy of a double-double. She leads the team in rebounds and steals.
Championship pedigree. The Wildcats’ starting lineup is maybe the most experienced in the nation, with three seniors and two fifth-year players. Four players from their 2021 national runner-up squad are on the current roster. Arizona has had five-straight 20-win seasons, establishing itself as a formidable contender under Barnes.
Free throws. Despite having an above-average offense that ranks third in the conference at over 74 points per game, the Wildcats have struggled immensely from the free-throw line this season. They’re shooting free throws at a 68.6% clip, by far the worst in the Pac-12. Pennington, who has the most attempts from the charity stripe on the team, has made just over 60% of her attempts.
1. Can the Terps advance to their third straight Sweet 16? Maryland has beaten its last two round of 32 opponents by a combined 60 points, easily advancing to the Sweet 16. Seventh-seeded Arizona provides a unique challenge as a team that has advanced deep into the tournament in recent years, but the Terps have the advantage of playing at the XFINITY Center, where they look to win their 11th straight game there.
2. Maryland has struggled in the round of 32 against Pac-12 teams. The Terps have advanced to the Sweet 16 in eight of the past 10 seasons. Those two absences came courtesy of second-round losses to Pac-12 teams. They fell to UCLA in 2019, 89-85, and to a Kelsey Plum-led Washington team in 2016, 74-65.
3. Miller’s head-to-head matchup with Reese. Diamond Miller and Cate Reese are two of the best paint players in the tournament, and each have been doing it at the same school for their entire career. Reese tore it up against West Virginia in round one, scoring 25 points on 10-for-19 shooting. She’ll likely have the assignment of Miller defensively, with the latter looking to get her into foul trouble early.
NCAA Women’s Tournament: Maryland expert gives the lowdown on the Terrapins, Arizona’s 2nd round opponent
K Dosshttps://www.azdesertswarm.com/basketball/2023/3/18/23646631/arizona-womens-basketball-tournament-maryland-terrapins-expert
No. 7 seed Arizona will face the second-seeded Maryland Terrapins in the second round of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. MST on ESPN.The odds on DraftKings currently favor Maryland by eight points. The O/U is set at 146.As for how the teams matchup, we reached out to our sister site Testudo Ti...
No. 7 seed Arizona will face the second-seeded Maryland Terrapins in the second round of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. MST on ESPN.
The odds on DraftKings currently favor Maryland by eight points. The O/U is set at 146.
As for how the teams matchup, we reached out to our sister site Testudo Times to get the lowdown on the Terps. Damon Brooks, Jr. gives his answers to our questions about Arizona alumna Brenda Frese’s team.
Q: Maryland only lost two games at home this season. Against South Carolina, it’s obvious what happened, but what was the key to Nebraska’s win in College Park?
A: Maryland’s loss to Nebraska was sorta of a wake up call because it was there first Big Ten loss of the year. I believe the Terps struggled to defend the three point line evidenced by Nebraska’s 12-of-25 showing. Furthermore, Maryland struggled to contain the dribble penetration of Nebraska guard Jaz Shelley (29 points). Nebraska had four players in double figures and 21 total assists, which kept Maryland off balance, as the ball moved swiftly around the floor. The game was the driving force in Maryland embarking on a six game winning streak with a notable victory over then No. 6 UConn at home.
Q: In its opening round win, Arizona was able to get what it wanted inside both by the guards and the posts, which has usually been the winning formula for the Wildcats. How good has Maryland been at shutting down the paint this season and how do you think they can make that happen against Arizona?
A: Arizona did an excellent job with establishing forward Cate Reese (25 points) on the interior, which opened the floor for driving lanes for guard Shaina Pellington’s 18 point performance. It is no secret that this year’s Maryland team lacks adequate size, so they have utilized creative game plans to defend post players. Despite their size disadvantage, Maryland has been relatively solid with their interior defense. The Terps can cause havoc versus Arizona by making quick rotations on entry passes and defending without fouling. Maryland gets into trouble when they pick up cheap fouls and don’t communicate effectively on defense. It will be a challenge to deal with Reese’s presence, but I’m intrigued to see how they limit her effectiveness.
Q: In her post-game press conference, Brenda Frese said that the Pac-12 has great defensive teams and the Big 10 has great offensive teams. Maryland has been one of the best offensive teams in the country for years, but how is Maryland on the defensive end? What are the Terps’ biggest selling points on defense and are the 24 turnovers they forced against Holy Cross an anomaly?
A: Maryland is a defense that looks to force a bunch of turnovers that would ignite its transition offense. The Terps have exceptional length on the perimeter with six foot two guard Shyanne Sellers and six-foot guard Abby Meyers. Any five that head coach Brenda Frese trots onto the court typically plays with active hands and outstanding defensive activity. Like I’ve previously mentioned, the Terps are consistently looking to turn defense into offense, as they have several quick athletes with unique skill sets. In their game versus Holy Cross, Maryland started the game with an emphasis to set the tone on defense. They allowed four first quarter points along with 24 forced turnovers. Maryland forces 19.5 turnovers per game, so it’s safe to conclude that they’re an elite defensive team. While 24 is a little bit of a stretch in the NCAA Tournament, it wouldn’t surprise me if they enjoyed continued success in the turnover category.
Q: Diamond Miller is great at 19.5 ppg and 6.5 rpg, but if there’s one other player who has to play well—whether on offense, defense or the boards—to get this win, who is that and why?
A: I think it’s Maryland sophomore guard Shyanne Sellers. She’s made a significant leap this season, increasing her point total from 7.7 to 13.8. When Sellers arrived in College Park a year ago, her defensive abilities was arguably the best in the Big Ten. Sellers has outstanding defensive instincts and exceptional lateral movement, so she’s able to harass defenders for the entire 40 minutes. But Sellers has shined with more ball handling responsibilities, as she’s decisive in scoring or finding teammates for scoring opportunities. The sophomore guard has scored in double figures 25 times and has proven to make plays in the clutch. Sellers drilled a game-winning three versus Purdue earlier in the season paving the way for a solid second season with the Terps.
Q: How do you think the game will go and do you have a score prediction?
A: I think the game will be very competitive from the onset. Two experienced teams. Two talented coaches in Brenda Frese and Adia Barnes. I think Diamond Miller will look to put on a show in what’s expected as her last game at XFINITY Center in College Park. With a spot in the Sweet 16 on the line, I think Maryland creates separation in the third, eventually cruising to a 79-68 victory.
Maryland to Face Arizona in NCAA Round of 32 Sunday
University of Maryland Athleticshttps://umterps.com/news/2023/3/18/womens-basketball-maryland-to-fac-arizona-in-ncaa-round-of-32-sunday.aspx
#2-Seed Maryland (26-6)vs.#7-Seed Arizona (22-9)NCAA Tournament First Round March 19, 2023 5:30 PM ET XFINITY Center (College Park, MD) ESPN Live Stats Game Note...
#2-Seed Maryland (26-6)
vs.
#7-Seed Arizona (22-9)
NCAA Tournament First Round March 19, 2023 5:30 PM ET XFINITY Center (College Park, MD) ESPN Live Stats Game Notes
COLLEGE PARK, MD -- The Maryland women's basketball team (26-6) will take on No. 7-seeded Arizona (22-9) Sunday in the NCAA Round of 32 at the XFINITY Center. The Terps and the Wildcats will tip off at 5:30 p.m. and Sunday's game will be televised on ESPN. For tickets, click here. The top four seeds in the bracket in Greenville 1 Region are No. 1 South Carolina, No. 2 Maryland, No. 3 Notre Dame and No. 4 UCLA.
Parking
Parking will be open to the public in lots 4b, 6 (Terrapin Trail Garage), 9b, 11b all day on Sunday, March 19. Click here for a campus parking map. Please note:
Clear Bag Policy
Fans will only be able to carry the following style and size bag into XFINITY Center, all of which are subject to search.
Click here to view the full clear bag policy.
Download Your Tickets
For easy access into XFINITY Center, we advise downloading your tickets to your digital wallet prior to arriving on campus. Click the link below to access your digital tickets via your My Account page. Your tickets will only be accessible via mobile smartphone – they will not display on a computer.
For step by step instructions on how to download your tickets or to view the Mobile Ticket FAQ please click here.
2022-23 STORYLINES
What's UP
NCAA tournament history
frese file
Maryland in the b1g
terps in the polls
Click here for this week's game notes.
Arizona women open March Madness with win over West Virginia
ByAPhttps://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/recap/_/gameId/401527971
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- — When Shaina Pellington left the game with four fouls early in the third quarter, Arizona didn't miss a beat.In fact, freshman Kailyn Gilbert helped the Wildcats pull away.Cate Reese scored 25 points and Esmery Martinez had a double-double against her former team, leading seventh-seeded Arizona to a 75-62 victory over 10th-seeded West Virginia in the women's NCAA Tournament on Friday. The Wildcats went ...
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- — When Shaina Pellington left the game with four fouls early in the third quarter, Arizona didn't miss a beat.
In fact, freshman Kailyn Gilbert helped the Wildcats pull away.
Cate Reese scored 25 points and Esmery Martinez had a double-double against her former team, leading seventh-seeded Arizona to a 75-62 victory over 10th-seeded West Virginia in the women's NCAA Tournament on Friday. The Wildcats went on a 16-3 run in the second half with Pellington on the bench.
“To be honest, I did not know how to take it at first, because I thought I wasn’t even going to go back in,” Gilbert said. “But then I was like, ‘You know what? I work hard every day. I’m in the gym. These are the moments I work for and I feel like I’m made for.’ I was just going to go in and have energy.”
Gilbert scored five points in 14:05, the longest outing for the 5-foot-8 guard since Jan. 29.
The Wildcats (22-9) started fast and never trailed, and will next play second-seeded Maryland. Arizona entered the tournament on a three-game losing streak, but had a couple weeks off before this matchup.
The Wildcats seemed refreshed early on, shooting 72% from the field in the first quarter. West Virginia was holding opponents to 61 points per game this season, but Arizona looked ready to breeze past that after just one quarter and a 28-17 lead.
“Anything we tried to get into from a defensive standpoint, we really had a hard time slowing them down,” West Virginia coach Dawn Plitzuweit said.
The Mountaineers (19-12) eventually settled in. It was a seven-point game at halftime, and Arizona's lead was down to three early in the third. Pellington picked up her third and fourth fouls a few seconds apart in the third, but after two free throws by West Virginia made it 42-39, Arizona eventually pulled away again.
It was 61-51 after a foul-filled third quarter, and then the Wildcats scored the first seven points of the fourth. It was 68-57 when Pellington finally returned; she finished with 18 points.
Martinez, who played three seasons at West Virginia before transferring to Arizona, had 13 points and 12 rebounds.
“I knew she was a little bit more nervous today because I think she really had the itch to do well. I knew something was going on because she was talking to the doctor to get some Pepto or something because of her stomach, so that told me nerves right away," Wildcats coach Adia Barnes said. “I’m proud of her today because the difficult thing for Esmery all year has been staying out of foul trouble, not going for blocks, and she had one foul.”
JJ Quinerly led West Virginia with 19 points.
BIG PICTURE
West Virginia: Plitzuweit guided South Dakota to the Sweet 16 last year, but a run like that didn't materialize with the Mountaineers. They were playing catch-up from the start.
Arizona: The Wildcats were in the national title game two seasons ago, so a No. 7 seed isn't exactly what they had in mind, but they were able to impose their will offensively for long enough to win comfortably in this one.
AVOIDING MISTAKES
West Virginia had only seven turnovers but was undone by 31% shooting.
“I’m proud of our young ladies because we battled back. In a lot of ways, we took care of the basketball against one of the best teams in the country at turning opponents over," Plitzuweit said. “We got a lot of really good looks. Unfortunately for us, we are not a team that shoots it at an incredibly high percentage.”
AT THE LINE
Almost half the scoring in the third quarter came on free throws. West Virginia went 10 of 14 and Arizona was 8 for 8.
UP NEXT
Arizona: Lost at home in the second round last year to North Carolina. Now the Wildcats will be playing a road game against Maryland.
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Follow Noah Trister at https://twitter.com/noahtrister
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AP March Madness coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://twitter.com/AP--Top25
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