TicketsNov. 21, 2009
CINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati women's basketball team withstood a second-half comeback to defeat Detroit, 65-58, on Saturday (Nov. 21) afternoon in Fifth Third Arena.
Three Bearcats scored in double figures, led by Carla Jacobs (Cleveland, Ohio/Regina) and Shareese Ulis (Toledo, Ohio/Trinity Valley C.C.), who tallied 15 points apiece.
"That was a battle. Although we were able to get off to a good start during the first half, they were able to cut the lead to one in the second," said head coach Jamelle Elliott. "We hung in there, though, and we were able to get some defensive stops and we didn't quit, and that's what is important."
The Bearcats jumped out to a quick 8-2 lead on the strength of a pair of Jacobs jumpers and two Michelle Jones (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mt. Notre Dame) buckets. But Detroit countered with a 9-0 run to take an 11-8 lead on a Yar Shayok three and led 15-10 with 11:32 to play in the half.
Cincinnati took a 23-20 lead on a Ulis three pointer with just over five minutes to play in the half and closed the stanza on 13-4 run to take a nine point lead into halftime.
UC built its lead to as much as 17 after back-to-back threes from Kahla Roudebush (Noblesville, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern) five minutes into the second half.
Detroit embarked on a 16-2 run, highlighted by four threes, to pull within 51-50 at the 5:49 mark. The Bearcats worked the ball back inside to Jones and Daress McClung (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North), who combined for eight points down the stretch to push UC's lead to 60-52 with just over a minute to play.
Ulis and Jacobs combined to connect on 5-of-6 free throws to close out the victory.
Jones finished with 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting and eight rebounds in a career-high 36 minutes. Ulis added three rebounds and six assists and McClung again was strong off the bench with five points, seven rebounds, two assists, a block, and two steals.
Roudebush moved into sole possession of 17th place on the all-time UC scoring list, passing Jane Phend and Sue Koch. She now has 1,078 career points.
The Bearcats will head to Anchorage, Alaska, for the 2009 Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout. UC will take on Western Carolina on Tuesday, Nov. 24 at midnight Eastern followed by a matchup with either Coastal Carolina or host Alaska Anchorage on Wendesday, Nov. 25.