TicketsJan. 13, 2007
Game Notes
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UC vs. No. 24 DePaul
Date: Sunday, Jan. 14, 2007
Time: 5:30 p.m. EST
Site: Fifth Third Arena (13,176)
Tickets: GoBEARCATS.com or
1-877-CATS-TIX
Live Stats: GoBEARCATS.com
TV: ESPNU -- Play by Play: Dave Weekley
Analyst: Brooke Weisbrod.
Radio: CATSVision (Tommy Gelehrter).
Series: DePaul leads, 19-11.
Last Meeting: DePaul 68, UC 53 (2/8/06).
SETTING THE SCENE: The hopes that the friendly confines of Fifth Third Arena will continue to be an ally when it hosts No. 24 DePaul on Sunday, Jan. 14 in a 5:30 p.m. contest that will be televised nationally by ESPNU. The Bearcats, 10-5 overall, are unbeaten in their previous eight home games, which includes a 77-55 BIG EAST win over . On the road, UC is 0-3 in BIG EAST play following Wednesday's 81-70 setback at Notre Dame. Both teams will be trying to snap two-game losing skids. DePaul, 11-5, is 1-2 in league action following a 74-63 loss to on Jan. 9.
STORY LINES:
w Four of the Bearcats starters are averaging double figures--Shelly Bellman (13.8), Treasure Humphries (12.7) and Michelle Jones (11.4) and Karen Twehues (10.2).
w UC and DePaul have one common opponent this season -- . The Bearcats dropped an 81-73 decision on Dec. 1, their first loss of the season, while the Blue Demons defeated the Huskies, 71-68, on Nov. 25.
w The Bearcats will be seeking their first win over a Top 25 opponent in six seasons when they host No. 24 DePaul. Four of UC's five losses this season were to foes either ranked in the Top 25 (No. 16 Louisville, No. 23 Arkansas) or teams receiving votes in the national polls when UC played them. No. 24/24 DePaul is the third ranked opponent of the year for the Bearcats. UC is 6-44 all-time against ranked teams. The Bearcats' last win over a Top 25 team was a 75-59 victory over No. 19 Xavier on Dec. 12, 2000.
w The Bearcats have three players in the top 15 of the BIG EAST assist/turnover ratio list. Freshman Carla Jacobs is second in the BIG EAST with a ratio of 2.19. Treasure Humphries (12th at 1.48) and Shelly Bellman (15th at 1.12).
w UC's Treasure Humphries is third in the BIG EAST with 4.53 assists per game, helping the Bearcats to 18.2 a game, ranking them second in the conference.
UC LAST TIME OUT: could not overcome a season-high 25 turnovers in falling to Notre Dame, 81-70, in BIG EAST women's basketball action at the . Senior Treasure Humphries led the Bearcats with 15 points and Shelly Bellman posted a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. UC fell to 10-5 overall and 1-3 in the BIG EAST with the loss. Bellman added seven assists to her double-double, posting a near triple-double for the second time in five games. Karen Twehues made four of UC's 10 3-pointers in scoring 14 points and Carla Jacobs added 13. UC's 25 turnovers led to 31 UND points. The Bearcats were outscored at the free throw line 18 to 4. Tulyah Gaines led the Irish with 27 points, making 11 of 12 free throws. Charel Allen added 19.
w The loss marked the first time UC has lost back-to-back games this season.
w Treasure Humphries dished out two assists, extending her streak of games with at least one assist to 58.
w The Bearcats out rebounded the Irish, 33-32, marking the 13th time in 15 games UC has accomplished that feat this season.
BEARCATS DATA
DOUBLING DOWN:
w Karen Twehues scored her first career double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds against Alabama A&M (12/18/06). She blocked two shots, a career-high. She added her second career double-double with 10 points and a career-high 12 rebounds against USF (1/6/07).
w Michelle Jones recorded a double-double in the season-opener against (11/10/06). She scored 11 points and nabbed 10 rebounds for her second career double-double.
w Shelly Bellman has five career double-doubles, including four this season, most recently vs. Notre Dame (1/10/07) when she had 13 points, 10 rebounds and added seven assists. She had 14 points and 11 rebounds against St. Francis (11/22/06); 13 points and 13 rebounds against (11/28/06); and 17 points and 11 rebounds against Tennessee Tech (12/21/06). She also had seven assists, on the verge of getting UC's first triple-double since Jane Anne Preston in 1992.
BEARCATS ATTACK THE BOARDS:
w The Bearcats have won the battle of the boards in 13 of their 15 games this season. Only Top 25-ranked and have beaten UC in that category. owns a +10.0 rebounding margin this season, third in the BIG EAST. The UC single-season record is a +6.7 margin.
STEALS AND DEALS:
w Senior Treasure Humphries, who led the team in steals both her freshman and junior seasons, is pacing the team in thefts with 35. She has had multiple steals in 13 of 15 games this season.
w Humphries has had three or more assists in 13 of the Bearcats' 15 games. She is third in the BIG EAST with 4.53 per game. She had two assists against Notre Dame (1/10/07), extending her streak of games with at least one assist to 58. The Bearcats are averaging 18.2 assists per game, second in the BIG EAST.
DOUBLE OR NOTHING:
w Shelly Bellman is UC's leading scorer (13.8) and rebounder (7.1). She averaged 19.5 ppg and 5.5 rpg and was named to the all-tournament team of the Mildred and Roger L. White Invitational (12/1-2/06), hosted by Northwestern.
w Bellman has scored in double figures in all but one game this season and in 29 of 44 career contests.
w The Bearcats have had at least three players score in double figures in every game except for one this season (only two vs. USF). The Bearcats have had five players score in double figures in four games this season; Cincinnati's 83-51 win over St. Francis (Pa.) (11/22/06), UC's 86-70 win over Tennessee Tech (12/21/06), a 94-82 loss to No. 23 Arkansas, and UC's BIG EAST home opening win over Georgetown, 77-55 (1/3/07).
"A" FOR ACCURACY:
w Sophomore Michelle Jones is shooting a team-high 55 percent from the field, fifth in the BIG EAST. She has converted on 70 of 127 attempts. She had career highs of 10 field goals made (10-of-13)and 24 points against Tennessee Tech. She was also a perfect 4-of-4 from the free throw line.
GETTING FLOOR TIME:
w Shelly Bellman leads the squad in playing time, seeing the floor 31.5 minutes a game.
w Sophomore Angel Morgan is second on the team in average minutes played with 28.9. She played the entire 40 minutes and scored a career-high 18 points, vaulting UC to a 74-57 win over (11/28/06). The win gave head coach Laurie Pirtle her 300th at .
3-POINT THREAT:
w Senior Karen Twehues is third all-time at UC in career 3-point field goals with170. She leads the Bearcats in 3-point field goal percentage at 42 percent, fifth in the BIG EAST.
MOST IMPROVED:
w Junior Emy Ogide is averaging 6.1 points a game this season, above her career average coming into the season of 2.2 points. She had a career game in UC's 65-60 win over (11/16/06). The 6-2 junior forward came off the bench to score a game- and career-high 18 points, doubling her previous best of nine points set last year against on Feb. 21, 2006.
RECORD SHATTERED:
w UC broke a team record for 3-point field goals in a game in an 89-65 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Nov. 14. UC finished with 13 treys, including 10 in the first half.
INJURED BEARCAT:
w Sophomore Kahla Roudebush will miss the remainder of the season after undergoing shoulder surgery.
STREAKING:
w The Bearcats extended their home-opener winning streak to 11 with the win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
STIFLING "D":
w has held eight of its 15 opponents to 65 points or less and is averaging 65.3 points allowed this season. The Bearcats held St. Francis () to 51 points, a season low.
EARLY BIRDS:
w The Bearcats had their earliest season opener in school history, playing at on Nov. 10.
STARTING FRESH:
w With the start against YSU, Carla Jacobs became one of nine true freshmen Division I point guards in the nation who started in their teams' women's basketball season openers.
LOOKING AHEAD: The Bearcats close out the non-conference portion of their schedule with the Skyline Chili Women's Crosstown Shootout, presented by Fifth Third Bank, on Wednesday, Jan. 17 when they take on rival Xavier. Tip off is 7 p.m.