TicketsDec. 13, 2009
CINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati women's basketball team dropped its third straight contest, 65-48, against Butler on Sunday (Dec. 13) evening in Fifth Third Arena.
The Bearcats (4-5) shot just 32.3 percent from the floor and committed 18 turnovers. Butler (6-3) shot 45.3 percent, including 59.3 percent in the second half to win its fourth straight.
Michelle Jones (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mt. Notre Dame) scored a season-high 17 points and posted her first double-double since Jan. 17, 2007 with a season-best 12 rebounds.
The Bearcats opened the game by scoring the first 13 points and taking a 15-point lead, 20-5, with 8:10 to play in the first half. UC led by 12, 30-18, at the 2:38 mark, but six straight points for the Bulldogs cut the lead to six, 30-24, at the half.
UC pushed its lead back to 11 by scoring the first five points out of the break, 35-24. A 17-2 run over the next four minutes gave Butler a 41-37 lead with 14:35 to play. Daress McClung (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North) hit a three to cut the lead to 41-40, but Butler outscored the Bearcats, 25-8, the rest of the way. UC was outscored, 41-18, in the second half.
Brittany Bowen scored a career-high 25 points for the Bulldogs and Melanie Thornton posted a double-double with 14 points and a game-high 13 rebounds.
The Bearcats got seven points, seven rebounds, and three assists from Carla Jacobs (Cleveland, Ohio/Regina). Shareese Ulis (Toledo, Ohio/Trinity Valley C.C.) scored seven points with four rebounds and a game-high five assists.
UC scored less than 50 points for the third time in the last five games.
UC will return to the floor to take on Eastern Kentucky on Friday, Dec. 18, at 7 p.m. in Fifth Third Arena.