TicketsJan. 21, 2006
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - An 18-0 run in the first half propelled Cincinnati to a 59-43 win over Syracuse on Saturday afternoon at the Carrier Dome. The Bearcats never trailed as they improved to 12-5 on the year and 2-4 in the BIG EAST.
With the game tied at 7-7 after six minutes, UC held SU (7-11, 0-7) without a score for eight minutes, as the Orange missed all eight of their shots and were pressured into five turnovers. Karen Twehues scored nine of her 10 points in the run, making a pair of three-pointers and scoring a traditional three-point play.
All three of UC's three-pointers came in this run, which resulted in a 25-7 score with 6:10 left in the half. SU recovered a bit, closing to 31-16 at the half.
The Orange used a 7-0 run in the second half to close to 12 and the margin was down to 11 at 43-32 with 11:29 left. The Bearcats allowed SU no closer, putting together a 13-0 run, with seven points coming from the line, to take their largest lead, 58-34, with 5:11 left. UC scored only one more point in the game, but SU only closed to 59-43 by the end.
Treasure Humphries led UC with 12 points and added four steals, while Anne Stephens had nine points and career-highs of 13 rebounds and five blocks. The Bearcats held a 45 to 36 edge on the boards and committed just 15 turnovers while forcing 20.
UC shot just .373 for the game and 3-of-13 from behind the arc, but held the Orange to a .269 shooting percentage and .333 from three. The Bearcats' zone defense, which they played for most of the game, held SU center Vaida Sipaviciute, to just two points, 16 below her average.
"We have a young team," said head coach Laurie Pirtle, "and we talk a lot about when we focus on one end of the floor the other end tends to go down. We focused a lot on defense for this game."
Jenny Eckhart led SU with 15 points and Brittany Smith had nine points and 11 rebounds.
The Bearcats are next in action at home when they host Georgetown on Wednesday, Jan. 25 at 7 p.m. in Fifth Third Arena.