TicketsMarch 1, 2008
CINCINNATI -- Tenishia Benson (Akron, Ohio/Archbishop Hoban) scored 18 points for the University of Cincinnati (11-16, 2-13) but St. John's University (15-13/6-9) scored 16 points off of turnovers and edged out the Bearcats, 49-47, in UC's final regular season home game at Fifth Third Arena on Saturday.
"It's frustrating to go out this way," said head coach J. Kelley Hall. "It's the same old broken record for us, points off of turnovers. It was a hard fought game and give St. John's credit, they are a good defensive team. But we can't defend points off of turnovers and that was the critical point of this game."
Cincinnati outrebounded St. John's, 45-34, and the Red Storm shot 33.3 percent from the floor, but the Bearcats gave up 16 points off of turnovers and connected on only two 3-pointers as a team. Benson was the only player to score in double figures for UC.
St. John's took an early 8-4 lead. The Bearcats took their first lead, 10-9, with 11:36 to play when Jill Stephens (Mineral Wells, W.Va./Parkersburg South) hit a layup. With 8:33 to play, a jumper by Carla Jacobs (Cleveland, Ohio/Regina) gave UC a 14-13 advantage. The two teams traded baskets until UC landed six unanswered points to gain a 5-point lead, 20-15, with 5:04 remaining in the first stanza. The Red Storm ended the half on a 5-3 run but Cincinnati went into the locker room with a 23-20 half time lead.
UC opened the second half on a 5-2 run to regain its 5-point lead, 28-23, with 16:52 to go. The Red Storm added full court pressure and forced two turnovers, taking a 32-30 lead off a Kelly McManmon 3-pointer with 14:06 left in the game. Jacobs responded with a 3-pointer and the two teams traded baskets over the final 13 minutes. With the score tied at 47 and 33 seconds remaining on the clock, St. John's senior guard Kia Wright stole the ball and was fouled with 10 seconds to go. Wright hit both attempts at the charity stripe to give the Red Storm the 49-47 victory.
Monique McLean finished the game with a team-high 10 points and eight rebounds for St. John's.
Cincinnati hits the road to take play its final regular season game on Monday, March 3 at Providence in BIG EAST action at 7 p.m.