TicketsNov. 30, 2006
Game Notes
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SETTING THE SCENE: The Bearcats have very little time to celebrate Coach Laurie Pirtle's 300th win at Cincinnati -- a 74-57 victory over Murray State Tuesday night. UC will battle Northern Illinois at 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 1 in the opening round of the Mildred and Roger L. White Invitational hosted by Northwestern. The Bearcats have reason but little time to celebrate their 5-0 start with just two days to prepare for the two-day tournament. Northern Illinois is 3-2 and coming off a 73-46 win over Chicago State. The Huskies have a loss following each win this season.Princeton (2-3) and Northwestern (5-1) are the other teams in the tournament.
UC LAST TIME OUT: Sophomore Angel Morgan had a lights-out game, playing the entire 40 minutes and scoring a career-high 18 points, vaulting UC to a 74-57 win over Murray State on Tuesday at Fifth Third Arena. The win improved the Bearcats to 5-0 and gave head Coach Laurie Pirtle her 300th win at Cincinnati.
The Bearcats delivered the decisive win, but it was neck-and-neck throughout the first half. UC's Treasure Humphries drove the lane and finished a jumper with three seconds on the clock, giving the Bearcats a 29-27 lead at the half. UC committed 11 turnovers and held only a two-rebound edge, 21-19, over the Racers. The Bearcats were averaging a +12.0 rebounding margin prior to this contest. A totally different Bearcats team emerged from the locker room at halftime. The Bearcats amassed a 20-point lead in the waning seconds of the game. 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.
w 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. She played 38 minutes and added 7 assists.
w Senior Treasure Humphries had a career-high nine rebounds to go along with 15 points and 7 assists in 37 minutes of work.
w Sophomore Angel Morgan played the entire game without a substitute, scoring a career-high 18 points-- more than doubling her previous high of 8 points.
w 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.
w 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. Five different Bearcats have led the team in scoring in the five games this season.
A LOOK AT NORTHERN ILLINOIS: Northern Illinois has won its last two home games -- including a 73-46 victory over Chicago State -- but have not won consecutive games yet this season. The Huskies' other wins came against Illinois State (97-69) and Illinois (69-63). NIU missed a 3-point field goal in the final seconds, allowing No. 19 DePaul to escape with a 71-68 win.
w The series between Cincinnati and Northern Illinois is tied at one win each. The Bearcats won the last outing, 80-56, at home in 1987, during UC head coach Laurie Pirtle's first season. The year before, in 1986, NIU earned a 75-59 win at their place.
w The Huskies play in the Mid-American Conference and were picked to finish fourth -- of six teams -- in the preseason coaches' poll. The Bearcats have experienced success against MAC teams, compiling an overall record of 75-43 (.636 winning percentage).
w The Bearcats face their second consecutive 20+ ppg scorer. NIU's Stephanie Raymond is averaging 21.6 ppg.
LOOKING AHEAD: Following the Mildred and Roger L. White Invitational this weekend the Bearcats will have the week off to take final exams. UC will host Alabama State Sunday, Dec. 10 at 1 p.m. at UC Clermont.