TicketsDec. 21, 2009
CINCINNATI - Kahla Roudebush (Noblesville, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern) scored a season-high 22 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead the University of Cincinnati women's basketball team to a 62-50 win against Valparaiso on Monday (Dec. 21) night in Fifth Third Arena. The Bearcats (6-5) have won two straight.
Carla Jacobs (Cleveland, Ohio/Regina) scored a season-best 17 points, including a career-high 9-of-10 from the free throw line. Michelle Jones (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mount Notre Dame) was the third Bearcat in double figures with 11 points and nine rebounds.
In a back-and-forth first half, the Bearcats turned it over 10 times and allowed seven three-pointers by the Crusaders (3-6). UC shot 61 percent from the floor, but Ashley Varner had 16 first-half points on 4-of-5 shooting from three-point range. A three from Raegen Moore at the first half buzzer pulled Valpo even at 31.
The Bearcats went 10 minutes early in the second half without a field goal, but thanks to a strong defensive effort and cold shooting from Valparaiso - which went nine minutes without a bucket - UC kept it close.
A triple from Roudebush at the 8:50 mark snapped the field goal drought and pulled UC to within a point at 41-40. Roudebush hit back-to-back threes on the next two possessions to push the Bearcats lead to 46-41 and a pair of Jacobs free throws capped an 11-0 run and gave UC a 48-41 lead with 5:36 to play.
Valparaiso got as close as four - 52-46 with 2:28 to play - but the Bearcats hit 14 straight free throws down the stretch to produce the final margin.
Roudebush, who came into the game shooting .324 from the floor and .283 from the three-point line, connected on 5-of-9 from the floor, 4-of-5 from long range, and 8-of-8 from the charity stripe. She moved into a tie for 16th place on the school's scoring list with K.B. Sharp at 1,164.
Shareese Ulis (Toledo, Ohio/Trinity Valley C.C.) scored just four points, but dished out a career-high eight assists as the Bearcats picked up assists on 13-of-16 made baskets.
UC won the rebounding battle, 41-23, and outscored the Crusaders, 31-19, in the second half. The game featured 16 lead changes and seven ties.
Cincinnati is next in action on Tuesday, Dec. 29, at 7 p.m. when it welcomes Wright State to Fifth Third Arena.