TicketsNov. 2, 2005
CINCINNATI, Ohio - Freshman Shelly Bellman and junior Treasure Humphries each posted double-doubles as the University of Cincinnati topped the OGBR Legends, 72-65, in exhibition women's basketball action on Wednesday night in Fifth Third Arena.
Bellman was one of three freshmen to score in double-figures, posting 21 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and two steals. Humphries added 13 points and 10 rebounds, while Jill Stephens had 11 points and eight rebounds, and Michelle Jones scored 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting.
"We got great looks at a lot of kids in different spots," said 20th-year head coach Laurie Pirtle. "I think this game will help us in determining where we can play kids to give them the best chance to succeed."
2002 UC graduate Valerie King led the Legends, a group of former college players, with 20 points, making four three-pointers. Former Bearcat Jolinda Miller and Kelly Adams added eight each.
The Bearcats held a 50 to 26 advantage on the boards, but committed 30 turnovers.
UC started two freshmen, Stephens and Bellman, and played with as many as five on the court. Bellman made an immediate impact, scoring twice and adding two assists on UC's first four baskets.
The Legends used the three-pointer to stay in the game. King and Miller each made one, and with UC ahead, 10-8, Larecha Jones made back-to-back triples to push OGBR to a 14-10 lead five minutes in.
UC then scored the next seven points, as Bellman fed Jill Stephens and Humphries scored twice to key a 7-0 run to produce a 17-14 lead at the 11:43 mark.
A three-point play by Jones gave the Bearcats their biggest lead at 20-16 before the Legends went on an 8-2 run. Jones made another three and former Bearcat Laura Wilder added a trey of her own as OGBR pulled back ahead, 25-24, with 4:27 to go in the half.
The teams then traded the lead back and forth, with UC taking a 33-32 lead into the lockerroom.
Bellman led UC in the first half with eight points, five rebounds and four assists, while adding a block and a steal. Humphries recorded six points and five rebounds. The Bearcats committed 16 turnovers and forced 14.
King led OGBR with eight points, while Wilder added seven and Jones scored six. The Legends shot just 37 percent from the field, but made seven-of-14 three-pointers. UC had a 22-16 advantage on the boards and outscored OGBR, 18-6, in the paint.
UC never relinquished the lead in the second half as Humphries scored twice and Jill Stephens added a put back as the Bearcats scored the first six points of the second half.
OGBR closed within two at 41-39 with 16:13 to go, but Jones scored six points in an 8-3 run to push the lead back to 49-42.
The Legends closed within one point on three-straight possessions, but the Bearcats responded each time. Jill Stephens scored the first and last bucket in a 7-2 stretch to go ahead 61-55 with 6:52 left.
Bellman drained one of only two Bearcat three-pointers and Jones added a three-point play to give UC its biggest lead, 69-58, with 4:21 to go.
"We tried a lot of different things," added Pirtle. "What we wanted to get out of this was to find out what we needed to work on. They gave us a lot of different looks so I think this game will serve us very well in the future."
The Bearcats play their final exhibition when they host Findlay on Thursday, Nov. 10 at 7 p.m.