Aari McDonald returned to McKale Center on Friday night, and Arizona did what it usually does when she’s in the building.
The Wildcats won.
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 defeated NAU 87-76 while also honoring its greatest player on “Aari McDonald Night.”
Mickayla Perdue had a team-high 27 points, including a 3-pointer in front of the broadcast table while McDonald was being interviewed during the second quarter.
Sumayah Sugapong and Noelani Cornfield had 11 points apiece. Tanyuel Welch added 10. Sugapong also notched team highs in assists (five) and steals (four).
NAU star Naomi White had a game-high 28 points despite dealing with foul trouble and playing only 29 minutes.
Despite its three tallest players not suiting up — Achol Magot, Montaya Dew and Freddie Wallace — Arizona had a 58-26 advantage in points in the paint. However, the Wildcats were outrebounded, 33-24.
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Arizona improved to 4-0 under first-year coach Becky Burke. The Wildcats host Northern Colorado on Tuesday.
Contact sports reporter/columnist Michael Lev at mlev@tucson.com. On X (Twitter): @michaeljlev. On Bluesky: @michaeljlev.bsky.social
Michael Lev
Sports Reporter/Columnist
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