TicketsNov. 10, 2006
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - The Cincinnati women's basketball team opened the 2006-07 season with an 85-78 win over Youngstown State on the road at the Beeghly Center on Friday night - the earliest season opener in UC history. The Bearcats kept their perfect record intact against Youngstown State, bringing their series mark to 4-0 against the Penguins. Senior Treasure Humphries and sophomore Shelly Bellman paced UC with 17 points.
Sophomore Angel Morgan and junior Emy Ogide scored UC's first 11 points, sparking the Bearcats to a 17-8 run to start the game. YSU bounded back to close out the half with a 45-38 lead.
UC came out with a sense of urgency and looked much sharper after the half. The Bearcats regained the lead, 46-45, on a Morgan jumper less than two minutes into the second period. The Bearcats defense stepped it up and held YSU scoreless for the first three minutes of the half en route to a 33-11 run.
"It was a team effort," said UC head coach Laurie Pirtle. "I'm happy with how we guarded in the second half. This road win was really important. It's tough to win on the road and this is a good start for us."
Cincinnati capitalized on turnovers in the second half, scoring 21 points off Penguin miscues. The Bearcats also dominated the low post, scoring 44 points in the paint. Michelle Jones put away 11 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for the second double-double of her career.
Notes of Interest:
Humphries, playing in front of a group of fans and family from her hometown of Canton, Ohio, dished out 8 assists to go along with her 17 points and five rebounds.
Senior Karen Twehues scored 13 points, including 3-of-6 from three-point range.
It's been more than 20 years since the two teams clashed - the last time they played was an 84-74 Bearcats win at UC's Armory Fieldhouse on Feb. 8, 1983.
The Bearcats play their home opener Tuesday, Nov. 14 against Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Fifth Third Arena at 7 p.m.