TicketsNov. 19, 2005
CINCINNATI, Ohio - The University of Cincinnati women's basketball team posted its most convincing win in nearly two years, topping St. Francis (Pa.), 74-39, at Fifth Third Arena on Saturday in the Bearcats' season-opener.
The 35-point margin was the largest since an 81-43 win over Evansville on Dec. 3, 2003.
"Our kids really worked extremely hard, especially in the first half," said head coach Laurie Pirtle. "We ran our offense with a lot of cohesiveness and unity."
Freshman Shelly Bellman led UC (1-0) with 15 points and six rebounds and fellow frosh Michelle Jones scored 10 points. Anne Stephens added nine points and Emy Ogide scored eight. Treasure Humphries, playing the point in place of the injured Micah Harvey, recorded eight points, four assists and four of UC's 18 steals.
SFU's Beth Halter led all scorers with 20 points, making 7-of-7 shots from the field and 6-of-8 free throws. The rest of the Red Flash (0-3) shot 5-of-33 from the field and missed all six of their three-point attempts.
The Bearcats shot 42 percent from the field and outscored SFU, 48-16, in the paint and held a 49 to 20 rebounding edge. They are next in action on Wednesday, Nov. 23 when they host East Tennessee State at 6 p.m.
UC started slow on offense, making only two shots in the first five minutes as Halter carried SFU to an 8-4 lead with three baskets. After that, however, it was all UC. The Red Flash scored only two points over the next 10 minutes and eight in the entire rest of the half.
The Bearcat defensive effort spurred on the offense, leading to a 26-2 run. Jones had all eight of her first-half points in this stretch and Humphries had six points and a pair of steals.
Anne Stephens scored five-straight points in the final two minutes as UC took a 39-16 lead into the half. The Bearcats recorded nine steals in the opening stanza, forcing 12 turnovers and holding SFU to 31 percent shooting.
UC shot 44 percent for the half and held a 26 to 13 lead in rebounding. Thirty of the Bearcats' 39 points were scored in the paint. Jones led the way with eight points, while Jill Stephens has six points and a game-high five rebounds. Humphries posted six points, four assists and three steals. Bellman also scored six points to go with four rebounds, two assists and two steals.
Halter led all scorers at the break with 10 points on 5-of-5 shooting. The rest of the team made just 3-of-21 shots. Whitney Robinson had a team-high four rebounds.
The Bearcats kept up the defensive intensity in the second half as the Red Flash did not score a field goal in the first nine minutes as the UC lead grew to 61-20. Bellman scored nine points in the 22-4 run.
The rest of the half resulted in just four more field goals for SFU, but 11 free throws.