TicketsNov. 28, 2006
CINCINNATI - It wasn't a game for the ages, but the win was. The Bearcats stumbled through the first half, but responded with an amazing second period, vaulting UC to a 74-57 win over Murray State on Tuesday at Fifth Third Arena. The win improves the Bearcats to 5-0 and gave head coach Laurie Pirtle her 300th win at Cincinnati.
"I accept this honor on behalf of all the players and coaches I have worked with," said Pirtle. "I appreciate all the players I have had the honor of coaching. We were focused on winning this game, not on No. 300, but it is a great honor for this program.
"Dawn Hoosier is what this 300th win is all about," she added. "She has been a manager, a player, a coach and now is associate head coach. She is what this program is all about."
The Bearcats delivered the decisive win, but it was neck-and-neck throughout the first half. UC led throughout, except at the 2:48 mark when Murray State's Paige Guffey sank a 3-pointer to give the Lady Racers a 25-24 lead, their only one of the period. The Bearcats grabbed the lead right back on a Shelly Bellman trey. The Lady Racers tied the game at 27-all with 17 seconds left in the half. UC's Treasure Humphries drove the lane and finished a jumper with 3 seconds on the clock, giving the Bearcats a 29-27 lead at the half. UC committed 11 turnovers and only held a two-rebound edge, 21-19, over the Racers. The Bearcats were averaging a +12.0 rebounding margin prior to this contest.
"We came out a little anxious," said Bellman. "Coach (Pirtle) told us at halftime to keep the energy we had but be more focused."
A totally different Bearcats team emerged from the locker room at halftime. The Racers tied the game, 31-31, early in the second period. Emy Ogide scored on UC's next possession and the Bearcats never looked back, amassing as much as a 20-point lead. The difference in the second half was all rebounding. The Bearcats out rebounded MSU, 29-8 in the second half and outscored the Lady Racers 22-3 on second chance points.
Karen Twehues pulled in back-to-back offensive rebounds and banked in a lay up to give the Bearcats a 49-41 lead halfway through the second stanza.
Humphries sank a fall-away jumper at the shot clock horn with 52.7 to give UC a 72-54 lead.
Sophomore Angel Morgan, who played the entire 40 minutes, scored a career-high 18 points, more than doubling her previous best of eight points - which she scored in the opener against Youngstown State and again versus Arkansas-Pine Bluff. She also had five rebounds and two assists. Despite the performance, Morgan praised her teammates and said there is still room for improvement.
"I felt good tonight," Morgan said. "Our whole goal was to play team defense. We can't dwell on this game. We have to move on and keep improving."
Morgan started in place of the injured Carla Jacobs. It was her second start this season and fifth of her career.
"When you have someone go down with an injury you hope someone steps up," said Pirtle. "Angel, flat out, stepped up."
Morgan wasn't the only guard putting in extra duty. Bellman played 38 minutes and Humphries played 37. Both Bellman and Humphries distributed the ball well and tallied seven assists each. Humphries added seven assists and a career-high nine rebounds.
"You have to give a lot of credit to those guards," said Pirtle. "They all played the entire second half."
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Sophomore Shelly Bellman nearly had a double-double in the first half alone. She poured in 11 points and grabbed nine boards in 18 minutes. She picked it up early in the second half and finished with 13 points and 13 rebounds, one shy of her boarding career-high.
Senior Treasure Humphries had a career-high nine rebounds.
Sophomore Angel Morgan played the entire game without a substitute, scoring a career-high 18 points
The Bearcats held MSU's leading scorer, Joi Scott, to one bucket in the first half, and six points and three rebounds for the entire contest. The senior had averaged 20.3 ppg and 10.3 rpg coming into the contest.
For the fifth consecutive game UC has had at least three players score in double figures: Angel Morgan (18), Treasure Humphries (15), and Shelly Bellman (13). And it's the third time at least four have scored in double figures. Jill Stephens added 10 points.
The Bearcats will head north to Evanston, Ill. to compete in the Mildred and Roger L. White Invitational - hosted by Northwestern - on Dec. 1 and 2. Cincinnati opens the tournament against Northern Illinois on Friday, Dec. 1 at 7 p.m.