Wildcats only too happy to get win on the line.

Byline: Chris Hansen The Register-Guard

It was like deja vu, Arizona coach Joan Bonvicini said of Thursday's game against Oregon.

With only a handful of seconds left to play and the game on the line, Wildcats forward Natalie Jones went to the free-throw line to seal the victory.

And just like in last season's 71-66 Arizona victory, Jones came through, going 4-for-4 from the line as the Wildcats beat the Ducks 70-66 at McArthur Court.

"Knocking down those free throws is what won us this ball game," said Bonvicini, whose team, at 7-1 in the Pac-10 and 15-4 overall, is off to the best start in school history.

The Arizona victory came despite having its top two players in foul trouble throughout the second half.

Center Shawntinice Polk played only 23 minutes and was held to seven points and eight rebounds. She played the final 12:53 of the game with four fouls. And point guard Dee-Dee Wheeler fouled out with 39 seconds left, though not before scoring a game-high 22 points.

Still, with Wheeler on the bench and the game undecided, someone else had to step up. That player turned out to be Jones, who went 6-for-6 from the line overall, 1-for-6 from the field and finished with eight points and six rebounds.

Her free throws also capped Arizona's rally from a 65-59 deficit with less than three minutes to play, as the Wildcats held the Ducks to one point in the final 4:38. Meanwhile, Arizona got baskets from Shannon Hobson, Wheeler and Polk to go up 66-65 with 44 seconds left.

Oregon, forced to foul, sent Jones to the free-throw line twice in the final 16 seconds and the sophomore put the game away.

"I'm really glad it was me (at the line)," Jones said. "Last year, I probably wished it was someone else. Free throws are all mental. We shoot 100 a day. It's about being disciplined. No one is guarding you at the free-throw line. It's the easiest shot you'll ever make."

Don't tell that to Oregon. While Jones was swishing her shots through the net, the Ducks were in a 4-for-12 funk from the foul line in the second half.

"That basket can get really small," Bonvicini said. "If you're used to winning, you can find a way to win, and when you struggle, you question yourself."

There was no question in Jones' mind.

"You just step up, do your routine, breathe, then shoot the ball," Jones said. "If you put the ball in my hand and I get fouled, I promise you I'll make the free throw."