​TUCSON, AZ – NOVEMBER 08: Arizona Wildcats forward Breanna Williams (40) reaches for a rebound during the third quarter of a basketball game between the Iona Gaels and the University of Arizona Wildcats on November 08, 2026 at McKale Center at ALKEME Arena in Tucson, AZ. (Photo by Christopher Hook/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Arizona head coach Becky Burke played all 11 of her available players in the home opener. Seven scored at least seven points, giving the Wildcats a comfortable but closer-than-expected 74-61 victory over the Iona Gaels on Sunday afternoon.“I just think we’ve played down to our opponents here at home,” Burke said. “I told them all week. We did not have a great week of practice. I did not like their approach this week. I told them this is like the quintessential trap game, right? You beat Stanford, everyone’s telling you how good you are, and then you have an Iona that comes in here, and you have UCLA looming in the background, right? It’s your typical game where you can let up, you can let loose, and you can either make it messy like we did today, or you could potentially lose.”Burke’s displeasure with the Wildcats’ play was obvious during the game. She called a timeout with Arizona leading 28-18 in the second quarter. The team had just allowed Iona’s Claudia Fiel to take the ball to the rim unbothered on a fast break despite multiple Wildcats being back on defense.“Credit to Iona,” Burke said. “I think that’s going to be a really good basketball team this year. I really do. I think they’re going to have a lot of success in their league, and I’m just grateful for the challenge and the fight they gave us because we’re going to learn a lot from it.”The win was secured in the second quarter when Arizona outscored Iona 23-13. In the other three quarters, the Gaels either stayed within three points or outright won the period. They cut into a 20-point Wildcat lead in the fourth quarter by outscoring Arizona 19-17.“We had a chance to put them away multiple times, and we didn’t do that,” Burke said. “Which I know they’re not feeling great about. Neither am I. But like I said in the long term, we’re gonna take a win. A win is a win. We’re 2-0 right now. We feel great. We have to have a better week of practice. We have to have a better prep for UCLA, and they know that.”Arizona had three players get into double figures, led by reserve forward Breanna Williams. Williams was the top scorer and rebounder for the Wildcats with 12 points and seven rebounds in just over 18.5 minutes of play.“I don’t try and overthink it,” Williams said. “You know, I just try and go in there and work hard, try and grab some boards, try and get to the free throw line, draw fouls, and try and make free throws. But I don’t really overthink it. I just go in there, try and give energy, and try and be that presence on defense.”The Wildcats’ other two double-dig