Bearcats Welcome Longtime Rival Louisville in BIG EAST Opener

Dec. 15, 2010

Game Notes | |

THE GAME
The University of Cincinnati women's basketball team opens BIG EAST Conference play on Wednesday, Dec. 15, when it hosts longtime rival Louisville at 7 p.m. in Fifth Third Arena.

THE SERIES
Louisville leads the all-time series, 35-27. The Bearcats snapped a six-game losing streak against the Cardinals with a 74-68 overtime win in Freedom Hall last season, UC's first win at Louisville since a 73-66 double overtime victory on Feb. 16, 2003.

THE COACH
Jamelle Elliott enters her second 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).

• Cincinnati started the season 5-0 for the first time since the 2006-07 season before falling at Dayton on Dec. 2.
• The Bearcats have outrebounded their first seven opponents by a +6.1 rebound per game margin.
• Cincinnati finished the 2009-10 season with a 12-18 overall record and a 4-12 mark in BIG EAST play.
• UC won a first-round game in the BIG EAST Championship for the second straight season, knocking off USF, 63-51, last season.
• Head coach Jamelle Elliott, the only BIG EAST head women's basketball coach to also play in the league, enters her second season on the Bearcats bench.
• Elliott spent 12 seasons as an assistant at Connecticut following a four-year playing career for the Huskies, where she won a combined six national championships as a player and coach.
• Senior guard Shareese Ulis is UC's leading scorer, averaging 15.7 points per game.
• Former BIG EAST all-Rookie Team member Shelly Bellman, who missed the 2009-10 season due to injury, has been granted a sixth year of eligibility.
• UC welcomes six newcomers, inlcuding ESPN Top 100 recruit Kayla Cook and Michigan transfer Dayeesha Hollins. Hollins will sit out the 2010-11 season due to NCAA transfer guidelines.
• Vanderbilt transfer Chanel Chisholm will be eligible this season after she sat out the 2009-10 season due to transfer guidelines.
• UC returns just 27 percent of its minutes played from 2009-10 as well as 28 percent of its scoring, 29 percent of its rebounding, and 38 percent of its assists.