TicketsFeb. 7, 2011
By Garrett Sabelhaus
GoBEARCATS.com
Being a junior on the University of Cincinnati women's basketball team is a rarity. There are only two.
Bjonee Reaves is one of those juniors after transferring to Cincinnati following a junior college career at Neosho County Community College in 2009-10 and Yavapai College the year prior.
Coming into her own as a Bearcat is still a work in progress for Reaves. But she is a scorer and is finding her way especially now in the home stretch of her first season at UC.
Head coach Jamelle Elliott tries to get her third-leading scorer to embrace her scoring ability.
"She really imparts in me to be a scorer," Reaves said. "Be more of a scorer, be more of a contributor to the team. She felt as though, early in the year, I wasn't really looking to score."
She was right. Through the first 10 games of the season Reaves took more than eight shots in a game just one time; a 4-of-13 shooting day against Xavier, totaling 10 points.
In the 11 games since, Reaves has taken at least eight shots in eight of those games including 22-point performances against both Hofstra and Pittsburgh.
But even Reaves knows consistency is a big issue with her game. She's had a 1-for-13 shooting game along with a 1-of-8, an 0-for-7 and a 3-of-10.
"I feel like one game I'm on and the next game I'm off," Reaves said.
She combats that with extra work in the gym with assistant coach LaRita Wilcher.
"Trying to get as many shots up as I can and not just standing there shooting but coming off the dribble, coming off screens trying to just get better," she said. "As a shooter they tell you just keep shooting so that's what I continue to do."
She credits her success to her older brother, Chris, who plays basketball overseas in China. The two Skype and talk on the phone daily about life and basketball and he's quick to offer his thoughts on her game.
"Everything I know I've learned from him," she said. "He's always been there for me. He's my biggest supporter, yet my biggest critic at the same time."
Reaves is confident her consistency will continue to improve and admits it takes time after transferring from junior college to life in the BIG EAST.
She's ready for the home stretch of her first season at UC and is looking forward to being a senior leader for next year's squad.
"I think I'm getting it," Reaves said. "It's definitely a bigger stage then playing in Juco coming over into the BIG EAST. I definitely think I'm ready for the challenge and I'm excited, too. With another year under my belt, I'm looking forward to leading the team next year."