Women's Basketball Takes Season Opener, 55-40, over Southwest Baptist

Nov. 12, 2010

Box Score

CINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati women's basketball team dominated Southwest Baptist University on the glass, 45-27, and senior guard Shareese Ulis poured in 13 of her game-high 15 points in the first half as the Cincinnati Bearcats went on to a 55-40 victory over the Southwest Baptist Bearcats in Fifth Third Arena on Friday Nov. 12.

Ulis got the Bearcats off to the early lead over Southwest Baptist connecting on a pair of 3-pointers to put Cincinnati up, 6-0. After Southwest pulled within three points with a 3-pointer of their own, UC went on a 10-0 run over the next 3:40 to run out to a 16-3 lead with 8:55 left in the opening period.

During the run senior guard Shelly Bellman knocked down a jumper and a pair of free throws for her first points as a Bearcat since Feb. 28, 2009 when she suffered a season ending injury. Bellmen also missed the entire season last year with a knee injury. Bellman finished with seven points, three rebounds and an assist.

Southwest Baptist cut into Cincinnati's back to nine two minutes later, but UC finished out the first half on a 10-5 run to lead 28-12 at the intermission. UC doubled up SBU, 25-13, on the glass in the first half and outshot the SBU Bearcats 35.5 percent to 21.7 percent.

In the second half, the Southwest Baptist began taking care of the ball, cutting down their turnovers from 11 in the first half to just six in the second. The fewer turnovers put pressure on UC to make more shots and Cincinnati did just that hitting on 11-of-22 shots in the second half. Junior Chanel Chisholm, who did not score in the first half, gave UC a veteran lift, leading the way with seven second-half points.

Cincinnati out rebounded Southwest Baptist, 45-27, in the game thanks to five UC player posting six or more rebounds, led by Bjonee Reaves' eight defensive boards. She also added three points and a game-high four assists.

Freshman Tiffany Turner had an impressive collegiate debut for UC, scoring seven points on 4-of-5 shooting and grabbed seven boards.

Cincinnati has one day to prepare for its next game as it takes on North Florida, Sunday, Nov. 14 at 2 p.m. in Fifth Third Arena.