Bearcats Welcome Detroit to Fifth Third Arena

Nov. 21, 2009

Game Notes | Listen Live |

BEARCATS HIT THE ROAD TO BATTLE INDIANA
The University of Cincinnati women's basketball team returns to Fifth Third Arena to take on Detroit on Saturday, Nov. 21, at 2 p.m. The Bearcats and Titans will meet for the second straight season after battling in the 2008-09 season opener, won by Cincinnati, 66-59, in Fifth Third Arena.

THE SERIES
Cincinnati holds a 6-2 advantage in the all-time series with Detroit. The Bearcats opened the 2008-09 season against the Titans in Fifth Third Arena, winning 66-59 on Nov. 14. UC has won three straight and four of five against Detroit.

THE COACH
Jamelle Elliott enters her first season as a head coach, taking over the Cincinnati program after 12 years as an assistant coach at Connecticut, her alma mater. She was a six-time national champion with the Huskies, including helping UConn to its first championship as a student-athlete in 1995. One of the most accomplished players in the distinguished history of the Connecticut program, Elliott finished her career ranked No. 2 among UConn's all-time rebounding leaders (1,054), No. 5 in BIG EAST career rebounding (558), and No. 11 in UConn career scoring (1,387).

• Senior guard Kahla Roudebush is moving up on the UC career scoring and three-pointer charts. She is now 18th in scoring (1,070) and fourth in threes made (149). She is three points away from moving into 17th in scoring.
• UC forced 20 turnovers at Indiana, the most since causing 21 against Eastern Illinois on Nov. 30, 2008.
• Against Furman, UC posted 47 points in the first half, its highest scoring first half since since pouring in 51 vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Nov. 14, 2006.
• All 10 Bearcats scored against Furman. Junior college transfer Shareese Ulis and freshmen Elese Daniel, Daress McClung, and Bryonna Snow each saw their first Division I collegiate action.
• UC's 39 point margin of victory against Furman was the largest since a 39 point win vs. McNeese St. on Nov. 21, 2007.
• UC's 85 points vs. Furman were the most in season opener since scoring 85 at Youngstown St. on Nov. 10, 2006.
• UC finished the 2008-09 season with a 14-17 overall mark and a 3-13 BIG EAST record.
• UC won its first BIG EAST Tournament game, topping Marquette, 60-54 in overtime in the first round last season. UC was just the second No. 16 seed to win in a postseason tournament (men's or women's). No. 16 Harvard upset No. 1 seed Stanford in the 1998 Women's NCAA Tournament.

LAST TIME OUT

• A furious second-half comeback fell just short as the University of Cincinnati women's basketball team dropped a 64-57 decision at Indiana on Nov. 18 at Assembly Hall.
• Shareese Ulis led all scorers with 20 points on 8-of-14 shooting and freshman Daress McClung scored 12 points and added eight rebounds for the Bearcats (1-1).
• What was an 11 point lead with nine minutes to play was whittled down to two after a McClung steal and breakaway layup. IU closed the game with an 8-0 run.
• Hope Elam led Indiana (3-0) with 15 points and Jamie Braun posted a double-double with 12 points and a game-high 10 rebounds.

BIG EAST HONORS

• Senior Kahla Roudebush was named to the preseason all-BIG EAST team prior to the 2009-10 season.
• Following the 2008-09 season, Roudebush earned second-team all-BIG EAST honors and Shanasa Sanders was named to the league's all-Freshman team. Jill Stephens was named the BIG EAST Scholar Athlete of the Year for 2008-09.

ROUDEBUSH CRASHING RECORD BOOKS

• Senior sharpshooter Kahla Roudebush has made her mark on the UC record books during her career with her scoring and three-point shooting.
• Roudebush is second in school history in career three-point precentage, fourth in three-pointers, and fifth in three-point attempts.
• She also ranks in the Top 10 in career free throw percentage.
• Roudebush became the 23rd player in school history to score 1,000 career points and is currently 18th on the school's scoring list.
• She has put her name in the single season record books in each of the last two seasons. She is in the Top 10 in minutes played (1,095, 2008-09), three-point field goals (70, 2008-09; 66, 2007-08), three-point field goal attempts (177, 2008-09), three-point field goal percentage (.398, 2007-08; .395, 2008-09).
• Last season, Roudebush averaged 38.5 minutes per contest, which led the BIG EAST and ranked No. 8 in the nation.
• Roudebush missed the bulk of the 2006-07 season after shoulder and knee injuries.

A STRONG START

• UC's win against Furman was its biggest win since early in the 2007-08 season, a 39-point victory against McNeese State.
• The 85 points marked the most in a season opener since the 2006-07 season when the Bearcats topped Youngstown State 85-78.
• The Bearcats got contributions from all 10 players in uniform and recorded assists on 20 of 29 made baskets (69%).

A STRONG START, PART II

• Four newcomers saw action in the season opener, led by junior college transfer Shareese Ulis, who earned the start at point guard.
• Ulis shot 6-of-12 from the floor and knocked down 3-of-6 threes for 17 points. She also added three assists.
• True freshman Daress McClung grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds in 20 minutes off the bench. She also blocked four shots and scored six points.

MICHELLE IN THE POST

• The Bearcats' lone experienced post player, Michelle Jones looks to thrive under the tutelage of Elliott, who coached seven all-Americans while an assistant at Connecticut.
• Jones scored 13 points in the season opener against Furman, shooting 5-of-7 from the floor and grabbed six rebounds, four on the offensive end.
• She has more career offensive rebounds than defensive, and is nearing the 500 rebound plateau.

FRESH(MAN) CONTRIBUTIONS

• Freshman Daress McClung has provided a spark off of Jamelle Elliott's bench in the first two contests.
• She grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds in the opener against Furman and scored 12 points with eight rebounds at Indiana.
• She has also accumulated five blocks, two steals, and three assists, with just two turnovers.

LITTLE BIT OF OLD, LITTLE BIT OF NEW

• The Bearcats return just two starters from a season ago, but welcome back Carla Jacobs, a starter in her freshman and sophomore seasons before missing the 2008-09 campaign.
• Five newcomers join the Bearcats this season. Vanderbilt transfer Chanel Chisholm will sit out the 2009-10 season due to NCAA transfer guidelines. Junior college transfer Shareese Ulis is joined by freshmen Elese Daniel, Daress McClung, and Bryonna Snow to form Jamelle Elliott's first class.

BEARCATS PICKED 16TH IN BIG EAST

• Cincinnati was picked by the league's coaches to finish 16th in the BIG EAST in 2009-10.