TicketsFeb. 3, 2009
CINCINNATI - Jill Stephens (Mineral Wells, W.Va./Parkersburg South) scored a career-high 30 points, but the University of Cincinnati women's basketball team dropped an 82-71 double-overtime decision against Providence on Tuesday night (Feb. 3) in Fifth Third Arena.
Stephens became the first Bearcat to score 30 in a game since Valerie King dropped in 46 points against Charleston Southern on Nov. 25, 2003. The senior forward finished the game with 10 rebounds for her second double-double of the season.
Stephens scored the first five points of the game for the Bearcats (13-8, 3-5 BIG EAST) before a Shelly Bellman (Ottawa, Ohio/Ottawa-Glandorf) three-pointer drew UC even at 8-8 with 15:41 to play in the first half.
Providence (9-13, 3-6 BIG EAST) used a 9-3 run over the last 5:25 of the first half to take a 36-29 lead at the break.
The Bearcats opened the second half with an 11-2 spurt to regain the lead at 40-38 with 16:38 to play.
UC built a seven point lead with 2:39 to play on a Shanasa Sanders (Jacksonville, Fla./Ribault Senior) three, but Providence went on a 7-0 run to close out the game and had a chance to win in regulation. Cincinnati native Catherine Bove missed a jumper with four seconds to play and sent the game into overtime tied at 63.
The teams scored just five points each in the first overtime and the score was locked at 68. Providence again had a chance to win with the last possession, and had apparently done just that when Emily Cournoyer put in a short jumper on an out-of-bounds play with 0.5 seconds to play. The officials reviewed the play and waived off the basket, giving the Bearcats new life and
The second overtime period was all Providence, as the Friars hit 3-of-5 from the floor and 7-of-7 from the free throw line in outscoring the Bearcats, 14-3, and earning their third conference win of the season.
Hometown girl Bove led the Friars with 23 points, including 6-of-6 from three-point range. Chelsea Marandola added 19 points and Mi-Khida Hankins and Cournoyer put in 13 and 10 points, respectively, for the visitors.
The Friars knocked down 10-of-22 three-point attempts.
Kahla Roudebush (Noblesville, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern), UC's leading scorer, didn't tally until the 9:08 mark of the second half and finished with 11 points, five shy of her season average. She was joined in double figures by Bellman with 10.
Angel Morgan (Springfield, Ohio/Springfield North) scored five points and added a game-high 12 rebounds and six assists. The Bearcats outrebounded Providence, 49-34.
After a 3-1 start in league play, the Bearcats have dropped four straight. UC heads to St. John's for a Sunday afternoon tipoff in Madison Square Garden against the Red Storm. Tip time is set for 4 p.m.