TicketsJan. 27, 2007
CINCINNATI - Cincinnati battled to a close first half with No. 17/18 Marquette Saturday at Fifth Third Arena, but the Golden Eagles (19-2, 7-1 BIG EAST) closed out the second stanza with a splash to win the conference contest, 76-59. Carla Jacobs scored a career-high 17 points and Michelle Jones had a game-high seven rebounds in the loss for UC (12-8, 3-5 BIG EAST).
The Bearcats trailed just 33-26 at the half and the score was nip and tuck as neither team could build more than a three-point lead 15 minutes into the contest. The first half featured nine lead changes and two ties. Both squads shot 38 percent, but the Golden Eagles had more opportunity to score, shooting 12-for-31, while UC converted 8-of-21 from the field. The Bearcats had more turnovers (12) and fouls (9) than they had field goals made in the first stanza.
UC hit the first basket of the game on a Jill Stephens' long-range jumper. The Bearcats and Marquette traded baskets until the Golden Eagles established a five-point lead with 5:11 remaining in the half. Marquette equaled its largest lead of the half on a Krystal Ellis trey, making the score, 27-20, with 2:13 to play. The Bearcats replied with back-to-back 3-pointers by freshmen Stephanie Stevens and Carla Jacobs. Stevens hit her first collegiate 3-point field goal with 1:53 to play and Jacobs drilled a trey at the 1:15 mark to pull the Bearcats within three, 29-26. MU used a 4-0 run to close out the half.
The Bearcats whittled the score down to three, 41-38, when Treasure Humphries sank a fade-away jumper with 12:53 to play. The Golden Eagles used an 11-0 run to pull away, 52-38. MU went up by as much as 19 in the closing minutes of the game.
Marquette shot 49 percent from the field in the second half, compared to UC's 35 percent. The Bearcats struggled with 21 turnovers, while MU committed just 11. In addition to her career-high 17 points, Jacobs had four rebounds, two assists and two steals. Jones added 10 points and a season-high three assists. Angel Morgan added nine points, five rebounds and three assists for UC.
The Bearcats host No. 5/7 Connecticut on Tuesday, Jan. 30 with a 7 p.m. tip off.