Loading

Bearcats Return From Holiday Break, Host Wright State

Bearcats Return From Holiday Break, Host Wright StateBearcats Return From Holiday Break, Host Wright State

Dec. 25, 2009

Game Notes | Listen Live | |

THE GAME
The Bearcats return from Holiday break to take on local rival Wright State in the final non-conference game of the season on Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2009. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. in Fifth Third Arena as UC looks to extend a two-game winning streak.

THE SERIES
Cincinnati leads the series with Wright State, 15-3, and has won the last four meetings between the two teams. WSU won three straight in the rivalry between 1993-95, but the Bearcats won each of the other 15 meetings. Last season, the Bearcats knocked off the Raiders, 56-41, on Dec. 16, 2008, in Fairborn.

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 tied for 16th in scoring (1,164) and fourth in threes made (164).
  • Senior forward Michelle Jones also approaching and passing milestones this season. She reached the 500 career rebound plateau against Valparaiso and has 862 career points.
  • The Bearcats have outrebounded opponents, 37.5-31.9 this season.
  • UC shot 24-of-27 from the free throw line against Valparaiso, the most made free throws since knocking down 24-of-35 against USF on Jan. 15, 2006.
  • The Bearcats allowed just 13 points in the second half against Dartmouth, the fewest an opponent has scored in a half since Savannah State tallied 13 in the first on Nov. 29, 2008.
  • UC forced 24 turnovers against Dartmouth, the most since causing 24 at Georgetown on Jan. 23, 2007.
  • The Bearcats were runners up at the 2009 Great Alaska Shootout, falling to host Alaska Anchorage in the final.
  • Kahla Roudebush and Carla Jacobs were named to the Great Alaska Shootout all-tournament team.
  • 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.

LAST TIME OUT

  • Kahla Roudebush 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 Dec. 21 in Fifth Third Arena. The Bearcats (6-5) have won two straight.
  • Carla Jacobs scored a season-best 17 points, including a career-high 9-of-10 from the free throw line. Michelle Jones was the third Bearcat in double figures with 11 points and nine rebounds.
  • 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 scored just four points, but dished out a career-high eight assists as the Bearcats picked up assists on 13-of-16 made baskets. After turning the ball over 69 times in the last three games, Cincinnati committed just 13 turnovers, while causing 22.
  • 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.

BIG EAST HONORS

  • Senior Kahla Roudebush was named to the preseason all-BIG EAST team prior to the 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 tied for 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 tied for 16th on the school's scoring list.
  • She has scored in double figures in 54 of her last 69 games and has 19 career 20-point games. She was held under 10 points in back-to-back games (at Indiana, vs. Detroit) for the first time in 62 games, spanning three seasons.
  • Roudebush 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. She averages 33 minutes this year.
  • Roudebush missed the bulk of the 2006-07 season after shoulder and knee injuries.

DEFENSE A STRENGTH

  • The Bearcats are allowing opponents just 55.2 points per game.
  • UC is holding opponents to a .376 shooting clip from the floor and is +5.5 in rebounding.
  • The Bearcats have held five opponents to 50 points or less and Xavier's 69 points are the most that UC has allowed this season.

MINUTE EATERS

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.

HERE'S LOOKING AT ULIS

  • Junior college transfer Shareese Ulis has proven to be a big addition for the Bearcats as she is second on the team in scoring at 11.2 points per game.
  • Ulis scored 17 in the season opener against Furman and followed with a game-high 20 at Indiana.
  • Ulis is shooting .415 from the floor and .808 from the free throw stripe. She leads the squad in assists with 38.

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 passed the 500 career rebound plateau against Valparaiso and is nearing 900 career points.
  • Jones posted her fifth career double-double and her first since Jan. 17, 2007, with 17 points and 12 rebounds against Butler.
  • 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.
  • Jones took over the late stages of the game against Detroit and totaled 14 points and eight rebounds, her third straight double-figure scoring output.
  • She is averaging 9.4 points, 7.2 rebounds per game, while shooting at a .551 clip from the floor.

FRESH(MAN) CONTRIBUTIONS

  • Freshman Daress McClung earned her first career start against Kentucky on Dec. 4, scoring nine points with seven rebounds.
  • She grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds in the opener against Furman, scored 12 points with eight rebounds at Indiana, and tallied five points and seven boards vs. Detroit.
  • She blocked a shot in each of UC's first four games.
  • She has accumulated nine blocks, 15 steals, and 17 assists, while shooting .462 (30-of-65) from the floor.

REBOUNDS A KEY

  • UC is 5-2 this season when outrebounding its opponent.
  • Conversely, the Bearcats are 1-2 when being outrebounded by opponents.
  • UC is averaging 37.5 boards per game and holding opponents to just 31.9 per game, a 5.5 per game margin.
  • The Bearcats owned the glass at the Great Alaska Shootout, winning the rebounding battle by a combined 81-61 count.

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.