TicketsJan. 7, 2009
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Kahla Roudebush (Noblesville, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern) scored 24 points and Jill Stephens (Mineral Wells, W.Va./Parkersburg South), playing in her home state for the last time as a collegian, posted her first double-double of the season to lead the University of Cincinnati women's basketball team to a 61-55 win at West Virginia on Wednesday (Jan. 7) night at the WVU Coliseum.
Stephens scored 12 points and added 10 rebounds and Angel Morgan (Springfield, Ohio/Springfield North) grabbed 11 defensive rebounds for the Bearcats (12-3, 2-0 BIG EAST), who are 2-0 in conference play for the first time since 2002-03.
UC held West Virginia (10-4, 0-2) to 31 percent shooting and just 6-of-30 from behind the three-point line. The Bearcats outscored the Mountaineers, 39-24 over the final 21 minutes of the game.
West Virginia opened up a nine-point lead midway through the first half, 18-9, with 13:00 to play. UC closed to within a basket, 23-21, on a Michelle Jones layup with 7:12 to go.
WVU scored the next eight points to take a 31-21 lead with 2:37 left in the stanza.
A Shelly Bellman three cut the lead to 31-24 with 56 seconds to play in the half and a pair of Roudebush free throws pulled UC to within 31-26 at the half.
Sarah Miles led the Mountaineers with 12 points in the first half. Roudebush had eight in the first stanza for the Bearcats, while Sanders scored seven.
A Roudebush jumper tied the game at 33 with 17:20 to go. Roudebush hit two free throws to give UC a 41-40 lead, its first lead since 3-2 at 18:37 of the first half. A Roudebush jumper capped 8-0 run, giving UC a 45-40 lead with 8:56 to go. The Bearcats never trailed again.
Liz Repella scored 19 points and added 13 rebounds to lead the Mountaineers.
UC returns to Fifth Third Arena to kick off a three-game homestand against Syracuse on Saturday, Jan. 10. Tipoff between the Bearcats and Orange is set for 7:30 p.m.