TicketsDec. 10, 2006
BATAVIA, Ohio - The Bearcats more than doubled their first-half output with a 62-point outburst in the second stanza, breaking away for a 92-53 victory over visiting Alabama State at the Cougar Dome on Sunday. In a home game away from home - the Bearcats played at UC Clermont College due to 's Autumn Commencement - (7-1) took a half to get its bearings, but once the Bearcats started feeling at home, they brought the house down.
UC led just 30-27 after 20 minutes, tying a season-low for points scored in the first half. The Bearcats led by as much as six points with 9:36 remaining in the game on a Shelly Bellman lay up to make it 18-12. led for all but nine seconds of the game, with ASU gaining its only lead on two Assunta Fulgham free throws, making it 25-24 with 2:50 to go. Emy Ogide put UC ahead for good on a jumper in the paint with 2:41 and a 26-25 UC lead showing on the scoreboard.
"I'm glad our finals are over with," said UC head coach Laurie Pirtle. "We were a little stagnant and not playing like ourselves in the first half. "
The pesky Lady Hornets (3-3) got within two, early in the first half, but UC dominated the rest of the way.
The Bearcats did not hit a 3-point field goal the entire first half (0-for-4). Shelly Bellman hit UC's first trey at the 16:35 mark of the second stanza, opening the flood gates. The sophomore scored nine consecutive points for UC, sandwiching the triple between two 3-point plays the hard way, the hoop and the harm. The Bearcats led by nine with 16:12 to play.
"We really regrouped in the second half," said Pirtle. "This team is still young but they are growing up. We found a way to light a fire under them going into the second half. Our captain's leadership is huge for us."
While in the first half, the ball wasn't bouncing UC's way, the Bearcats could do no wrong in the second. They shot 22-of-34 from the field for 65 percent, bringing their game percentage to a season-high 55 percent. Everyone got in on the action, as all 11 Bearcats got in the scoring column. For the eighth consecutive game, three Bearcats scored in double figures. Bellman led the way with 22 points on 9-of-13 shooting. Michelle Jones scored a season-high 15 points, along with eight rebounds. Treasure Humphries tacked on 15 points and seven assists. Freshman Natasha Graboski was UC's fourth leading scorer with a season- and career-high seven points.
"We're a team of improvement. The whole bench improved and this gives everyone a lot more positives going into the game," said Pirtle. "We're getting there and this is a step in the right direction. When we go to , though, we can't have a half like the first one."
The UC defense held ASU to 12 points midway into the second half and used a 17-2 run to put some distance between them. , a team that has dominated the boards all season with a +12 margin, did not disappoint, out rebounding the Lady Hornets, 43-22. They also dominated the paint, outscoring the Hornets, 42-18 in the lane.
The Bearcats open BIG EAST play on Thursday, Dec. 14 at 7 p.m. at No. 16 Louisville, marking the earliest conference opener in UC's history.