TUCSON, Ariz. (Interstat) — The Arizona Wildcats used a dominant second-quarter surge to pull away from the Grambling Lady Tigers and secure an 85-64 victory in a non-conference women’s basketball game Sunday at McKale Center.

Arizona remained undefeated on the young season, improving to 3-0, while Grambling’s record fell to 1-4.

The game began as a back-and-forth affair, with Grambling’s aggressive play yielding an early lead. The Lady Tigers connected on three-pointers and capitalized on Arizona turnovers to build a 22-13 advantage by the end of the first quarter. Monica Marsh was instrumental in the early going for Grambling, scoring 16 points in the contest.

The momentum shifted decisively in the second period. Arizona tightened its defense and began to exploit its significant advantage in the paint. The Wildcats outscored Grambling 25-11 in the quarter, turning a nine-point deficit into a 38-33 halftime lead. The run was fueled by balanced scoring and increased defensive pressure that disrupted Grambling’s offensive rhythm.

Arizona continued to extend its lead after halftime, matching its second-quarter output with another 25 points in the third. The Wildcats’ interior presence was overwhelming, finishing the game with a 54-24 advantage in points in the paint. They also converted 21 points off 18 Grambling turnovers.

The Wildcats’ offense was efficient, shooting 31 for 59 from the field for a 52.5 percent clip. While they attempted only 11 three-pointers, making three, they consistently found high-percentage shots near the basket. Defensively, Arizona’s length caused problems, as the team recorded four blocks and five steals.

Grambling struggled with its offensive efficiency throughout the game. The Lady Tigers shot 21 for 60 from the floor, a 35 percent rate, and committed 16 turnovers. They found some success from beyond the arc, making 9 of 22 three-point attempts, but were unable to sustain their early scoring pace against Arizona’s defensive adjustments.

Arizona’s victory was a collective effort, with six players scoring at least seven points. Tanyuel Welch led the way with 12 points and eight rebounds. Daniah Trammell and Mickayla Perdue each added 15 points, while Sumayah Sugapong contributed 13. Facilitator Lani Cornfield directed the offense effectively, dishing out 10 assists.

For Grambling, aside from Marsh’s 16 points, Douthsine Prien added nine points.

The announced attendance at McKale Center was 5,465.

Arizona’s next game is at home against Northern Arizona on Friday. Grambling continues its challenging road stretch with a game at DePaul on Friday.