TicketsJan. 3, 2009
CINCINNATI - Kahla Roudebush (Noblesville, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern) scored 19 points and Jill Stephens (Mineral Wells, W.Va./Parkersburg South) tallied 15 and eight rebounds to lead the Bearcats to a 61-54 win against Villanova on Saturday (Jan. 3) afternoon at Fifth Third Arena in the BIG EAST opener for both teams.
UC (11-3, 1-0) won its BIG EAST opener for the first time since joining the league for the 2005-06 season.
Roudebush, who scored over 20 points in each of her last two contests, was one point short after connecting on 7-of-14 from the floor and 4-of-4 from the free throw line.
UC fell behind 2-0 and 4-2 early, but took a 6-4 lead on a Stephens layup with just under 14 minutes to play in the first half and never trailed again.
The Bearcats used 52 percent shooting (14-27) to take a 34-23 lead into halftime. Stephens had 11 points and Roudebush tallied 10 in the first stanza.
UC opened its biggest lead of the game on a Stephens jumper early in the second half, going up 38-23.
The Bearcats sustained a double-digit lead until the final minute of the game when the outcome had been decided.
Laura Kerz, a preseason all-BIG EAST honorable mention selection, scored 22 points for Villanova, which shot just 35 percent from the floor and made only 8-of-29 three-point attempts. Siobhan O'Connor chipped in 15 points for the visitors.
The Bearcats connected on 19-of-22 free throws, including 4-of-4 in the last minute to hold the lead. UC outrebounded Villanova, 33-27, and turned the ball over just six times, while committing just nine personal fouls.
Angel Morgan (Springfield, Ohio/Springfield North) added nine points and six rebounds for the Bearcats, winners of three straight.
UC will travel to Morgantown for a date with West Virginia on Wednesday, Jan. 7, at 8 p.m.