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ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ improves to 6-1, while Grambling State dropped to 2-4.

Swann scored 15 of her 17 points in the fourth quarter, starting with back-to-back 3-pointers. She went 4 of 5 from the field in that 10 minute span and made 5 of 6 free throws.

Swann said it was all her teammates “feeding the hot hand.� She also finished with six rebounds and two steals.

Jada Williams started the game after she sat out Wednesday’s loss at NAU recovering from a concussion suffered in practice when her head hit Paulina Paris’ nose, which is why Paris is playing with a face mask.

Williams played like her usual self, creating shots for herself, not giving her opponents space to do much of anything. She finished with 13 points and picked four steals. She also drew a pair of charges and eight total fouls.

Paris and Breya Cunningham scored 10 points apiecem with both a few rebounds short of a double-double. Cunningham had eight rebounds, while Paris had seven.

The game started to slow down for Sahnya Jah in the fourth quarter as she scored six points in eight minutes and was the other Wildcat in double figures with 11 points. On back-to-back possessions, she scored inside – one on a layup after Montaya Dew drove and dished and the second on a turnaround jumper.

With the lack of intensity from the start and some sloppy play, the Wildcats allowed the Tigers to take a 36-35 lead into the half. Grambling State was aggressive and fast. The Wildcats let the Tigers set the tempo, which sped up the game and forced quick shots and at times telegraphed passes.

After some adjustments in the locker room from ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ coach Adia Barnes, the Wildcats came out raring to go at the start of the third quarter.

With a full court press, Williams stole the ball and went coast-to-coast scoring on a layup to give ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ a 41-38 lead at the 7:38 mark. Williams forced a travel and drew a charge as the defense sparked an 8-0 run.

The run was interrupted as Paris was called for an intentional foul. She was trapped near the baseline by a few Tigers and called a timeout. One defender fell after the timeout and after a lengthy review and discussion by the officials, the Tigers were rewarded with two free throws and the ball.

“I think every time anybody gets a little scrappy with our teammates, that motivates us to play even harder,� Cunningham said.

While Grambling State pulled within two points, the Wildcats turned the heat up and took a 10-point lead into the fourth quarter and never looked back.

Both teams scored 25 points off the other’s turnovers. UA finished with 27, while Grambling State had 22.

The Wildcats held the Tigers to 31% shooting.

She said it

“I talked about our toughness (in the locker room at halftime) because they were out muscling us, out hustling us and just like physical. And I talked about the speed and where they were making us play. They did a great job of dictating what we do. They sped us up. And then what did that force us to do? Try to rush in transition. Take these beam passes and quick shots, and then they run.

“The other thing I talked about was you have to pop back a little bit. When we're going to pick up, pressing doesn't mean going and reaching and giving a five on four early in the soft clock. That's not the disciplined defense. You can make them work to catch it, and then you contain them. You don't stay so tight to where they're going to beat you every time, because then we're in rotation and our post person fouls. It's showing this young team, having them understand.� – Barnes on her halftime adjustments

Stuffing the stat sheet

• Skylar Jones: 8 points, 2 assists, 4 steals
• Dew: 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block

Injury watch

Isis Beh left the game with the UA trainer, Bart Jameson, attending to her. Barnes said she thought someone’s arm hit Beh in the face.

“Her lips were bleeding, her teeth were bleeding and I think she felt a little bit woozy for a second, but she's not in concussion protocol,� Barnes said. “I think you are scared when see blood coming out of your mouth. But she's OK, thank goodness.�

By the numbers

6: Cunningham had six blocked shots

27: The Wildcats had 18 of their 27 turnovers in the first half

9: ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ only had 9 assists on 26 made baskets