TicketsNov. 5, 2006
Game Notes
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SETTING THE SCENE: The University of Cincinnati women's basketball team closes out the preseason portion of its 2006-07 schedule with an exhibition contest against the OBGR All-Stars on Monday, Nov. 6. Tipoff at Fifth Third Arena will be 7 p.m. The Bearcats are coming off an impressive 103-77 win over DT3 Friday in their first exhibition contest which saw six UC players score in double figures. UC exhibited its potency in 3-point shooting, drilling 15-of-26 attempts for 58 percent. The hot-handed Bearcats will work on other aspects of their game against the experienced OBGR All-Stars, with the UC season-opener coming up Thursday, Nov. 10 at Youngstown State.
OBGR RUNDOWN: The young Bearcats squad, which started four underclassmen against DT3, takes on a bevy of experienced players Monday against OBGR. The Ohio Legends bring experience and depth. Two players have had stints in the WNBA - Courtney Coleman and Larecha Jones. The game is homecoming for Coleman, a native of Cincinnati, and Amber Stcoks-Whitford, who played for the Bearcats from 1996-99. UC will also have to contend with the 2006 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Kimberly Wilburn (Ohio State '06). Wilburn and Erica Glover (Akron '00) combined for eight steals in a 70-41 loss to Purdue Friday. In addition to experience OBGR has height - five players are 6-foot or taller.
DETAILS OF THE DT3 GAME: UC erupted for a 61-36 halftime lead over DT3 en route to a 103-77 exhibition win on Friday, Nov. 3 at Fifth Third Arena. Six Bearcats scored in double figures in the rout. The Bearcats drilled 15 treys, including 11 in the first half, exceeding the single game record of 12 set against Houston on March 5, 2004. The Bearcats shot a sizzling 11-of-18 (61 percent) from behind the arc in the first half.
· Eight different UC players hit from long distance in the game.
· Senior guard Treasure Humphries shined in the exhibition opener, leading the Bearcats with 20 points, eight rebounds and five assists.
· True freshman Carla Jacobs started at point guard and if she starts against Youngstown in the season opener will be the first UC freshman starting point guard since Jolinda Lewis who earned the job during the 1995-96 season. Jacobs finished with 13 points, four rebounds and a team-high seven assists.
· The last time UC scored in triple figures was Nov.25, 2003 when the Bearcats knocked off Charleston Southern 105-60.
ON THE BRINK OF MILESTONES: Head coach Laurie Pirtle enters the 2006-07 season five wins shy of 300 victories at UC. She needs 22 to reach the 400-win milestone as she enters her 25th season of her career. The winningest UC women's basketball coach has won eight coach of the year honors during her tenure.
36th SEASON OF UC WOMEN'S HOOPS: The 2006-07 season marks Cincinnati's 36th year of varsity competition. Pirtle is the sixth coach to be at the helm of the program. The 2005-06 squad gave UC its 500th victory on Dec. 3, 2005 during the fifth game of the season, an 82-48 win over Eastern Illinois. UC's all-time record is 513-450. Under Coach Pirtle the Bearcats are 295-287 and have made postseason appearances in eight of the last nine years.
UC IN THE BIG EAST: Cincinnati enters its second season as a member of the expanded BIG EAST Conference. In the preseason polls of the league's coaches the Bearcats were picked to finish 12th among the 16 teams. The Bearcats have compiled a record of 71-77 against the current BIG EAST membership. Last year UC finished 11th in the regular season race with a 7-9 ledger and earned a berth to the BIG EAST Championships.
NUMBERS GAME: The 2006-07 UC squad is so versatile, head coach Laurie Pirtle has counted 121 different combinations in which she can utilize her depth.
SURVEY OF SCORINGAND STARTS: The Bearcats return 78 percent of their scoring from last season, including the three leaders - senior Treasure Humphries (12.8 ppg) and sophomores Shelly Bellman (10.9) and Michelle Jones (9.1). Humphries and Bellman started every game last season, while Jones played in all 29 games and started 17. Sophomores Jill Stephens (13), Kahla Roudebush (6) and Angel Morgan (3) combined for 22 starts last year.
5/3 ARENA ADVANTAGE: Cincinnati enters its 17th season in Fifth Third Arena at Shoemaker Center with a 164-86 record and a .656 winning percentage since its opening in 1989-90, and a 116-32 mark in the past nine years.
HUMPHRIES HONORS: In 2006, Treasure Humphries became the first Bearcat women's basketball player to earn All-BIG EAST honors when she was named to the all-conference second team. A total of 22 Bearcats have earned all-conference recognition during the Pirtle era.
ABOUT THE BEARCATS:
Senior Treasure Humphries has led the Bearcats in steals her junior and freshman year. She was a second team All-BIG EAST performer last season. Humphries has all the threats to dominate at point guard or on the wing.
Senior Karen Twehues provides a strong outside threat for the Bearcats. The veteran also speaks four different languages.
Junior Emy Ogide has been named the most improved player during practice. She did not start playing basketball until her sophomore year of high school. The athletic post player can govern the paint and open up the perimeter.
The five sophomores, Shelly Bellman, Michelle Jones, Angel Morgan, Kahla Roudebush and Jill Stephens, tabbed the "Fab Five" were a top 10 recruiting class. They learned plenty about Division I basketball last season with 68 starts between them.
The freshman class of Carla Jacobs, Natasha Graboski and Stephanie Stevens is also a highly touted group. Jacobs (D-III) and Stevens (D-I) were both honored as Ohio High School Basketball Players of the Year. Graboski earned second team all-state honors.
LOOKING AHEAD: The Bearcats will open the 2006-07 season on the road against Youngstown State University Friday, Nov. 10 at 7:05 p.m. UC will hold its home opener at Fifth Third Arena on Tuesday, Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. against Arkansas Pine-Bluff.
TICKET UPDATE: Season tickets may be purchased by phone (513-556-CATS) or online via UC's athletic web site: GoBEARCATS.com, as well as in person at the Athletic Ticket Office at the Richard Lindner Center. Ticket office hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.