TicketsFeb. 23, 2008
SYRACUSE, N.Y.-- Kahla Roudebush (Noblesville, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern) scored a team-high 17 points but the University of Cincinnati (11-15, 2-12) gave up 28 points off of turnovers, losing at No. 22/24 Syracuse University (20-6, 8-5), 66-56, in a BIG EAST contest on Saturday at the Carrier Dome.
"I thought we shot the ball well early and we have got better offensively," said head coach J. Kelley Hall. "We are giving ourselves a chance to win and have come a long way, but a downfall for us always has been points off of turnovers. Today it was 28-2. I don't know if it's been that bad all year."
Cincinnati burst out to a 10-3 lead in the first five minutes as Jill Stephens (Mineral Wells, W.Va./Parkersburg South) and Roudebush each hit from downtown. Syracuse added pressure with a full court press briefly, but Roudebush was on fire, connecting on three straight 3-pointers to help the Bearcats maintain a nine point advantage, 23-14, with 10:45 to play in the first half. Roudebush made her first four attempts from long range. Syracuse chipped away at UC's lead with a 4-0 run by Fantasia Goodwin. The Orange pulled within three but the Bearcats hit another trey and added a bucket to regain a 28-22 lead. Syracuse capitalized on UC's turnovers and tied the game at 31 with 2:50 to go. A free throw by Erica Morrow gave the Orange their first lead of the half, 32-31 with 1:09 remaining, but Stephens put UC up with an old-fashioned 3-point play, giving the Bearcats a 34-31 advantage going into the locker room.
Roudebush led UC with 15 points in the first half on 4-of-5 shooting from long range, and Stephens collected her ninth double-double of the season in the first half, scoring 10 points and grabbing 10 rebounds.
Syracuse opened the half with a 6-2 run before UC called a timeout, down 38-36 with 17:44 remaining. Nicole Michael connected on a 3-pointer to give the Orange a 41-36 advantage with 17:05 to go. The momentum began to swing for Syracuse, which kicked up its defense and took a 43-38 lead with 16:13 to play. UC scored its first basket from the floor at the 13:03 mark of the second half and got back-to-back baskets and a free throw by Carla Jacobs (Cleveland, Ohio/Regina) to put UC within four, 47-43, with 11:26 to play. Cincinnati got within one possession with a layup by Roudebush, 47-45, but a free throw by Goodwin and a 3-pointer by Morrow put the Orange up, 51-47, with 8:25 remaining. Two free throws by Jacobs got the Bearcats back within two, but another 3-pointer by Morrow at the 6:20 mark of the final stanza sparked a 12-0 run that gave the Orange enough of a cushion for the win.
Stephens finished the game with 10 points and 14 rebounds while Jacobs and Tenishia Benson (Akron, Ohio/Archbishop Hoban) each added 11 points for Cincinnati.
The Bearcats have a bye week before returning to Fifth Third Arena on Saturday, March 1 to take on St. John's University in a BIG EAST game on Senior Day at 2 p.m. UC's seniors, Kristi Brogan and Emy Ogide, will be recognized for their contributions as a Bearcat prior to the game.