Even though Seton's girls basketball team defeated 4A Desert Sky Region foe Saguaro 69-50 when the teams played in mid-December, the play of the top-ranked Sentinels' that evening wasn't up to snuff for coach Karen Self.

Self dug into the motivation bag some Wednesday and was rewarded with one of her team's top performances of the season in a 79-39 victory over the the #4 Sabercats at Seton

"I thought we played awful the first time, Self said. "This was a statement game for us in the rankings. We watched a lot of film. The girls did some of that on their own time, too. It came down to knowing what flavor gum they chewed."

The performance and effort was true to Self's take. Seton (17-3 overall, 6-0 region and 13-0 power-ranking games) wasted no time jumping out front - an 11-0 lead  at the 5:30 mark of the first period. The main focus was defending Saguaro senior guard Amayah Kirkman, who has helped Saguaro (15-6, 4-2 and 11-3) rise to a top-tier 4A team this season after moving in from Washington state.

Kirkman has averaged 20 points a game and tallied 18 in the first meeting. It was clear she was going to have to work hard for everything she got this night. Seton sophomore guard Sasha Daniel got the defensive assignment and was up to the task. Kirkman finished with five points and made her only field goal with 30 seconds left in the third quarter.

"We let 12 get going last time and we ended up playing to them and matching baskets," Self said. "Sasha did a great job. I was thrilled with how she played and how our team responded."

Seton led by 28 at the half, 29 after three quarters and induced a running clock with a 30-point lead with seven minutes left.

The Sentinels spread their offensivel production around. Reserve wing Annemarie Trojanovich tossed in 18 points - with a hot hand of 11 points (3 threes) in the final four minutes. Lexi McNabb led the five regulars with 17 points, Bella Giovanni and Daniel scored 11 points each followed by Amanda Barcello (9) and LeeLee Willis (8). 

Saguaro senior post Eve Rennie found the most success on the offensive end scoring 11 points.  Senior Tranety Perkins, who has been a 1-2 punch with Kirkman all season and scored 20 points last time, finished with nine points.