TicketsFeb. 28, 2011
Coach Elliott postgame press conference
CINCINNATI - Senior Shareese Ulis scored 20 points and led a three-point barrage that swept Cincinnati to a 65-62 victory over No. 20 Marquette on Senior Night (Feb. 28), snapping the Bearcats' 13-game losing streak.
Cincinnati (9-19, 2-14 BIG EAST) kept a small lead most of the way behind Ulis, who hit on a career-high 6-of-12 from behind the arc. The Bearcats, winless since beating South Florida on Jan. 5, were 13-of-29 overall from three-point range, the highest output since knocking down 13 against West Virginia on Feb. 19, 2008.
Senior Shelly Bellman's three from the corner put Cincinnati ahead to stay 63-62 with 1:25 left. Ulis had a steal, and Bellman was fouled and made both free throws with 21 seconds left for the final margin.
Marquette (22-7, 10-6) had two shots to tie it. Tatiyiana McMorris had a three blocked by Ulis 11 seconds left, but Marquette got the rebound and passed it back out to McMorris, who missed again with 1 second left.
Bellman, a sixth-year senior playing for the first time since injuring her shoulder in the opening minutes against Syracuse on Feb. 22, scored 12 points with a team-high eight rebounds and a career-high eight assists.
The win marked the first over a ranked opponent for second-year head coach Jamelle Elliott. The Bearcats had been 0-13 against ranked foes entering the game.
UC shot 44 percent from the floor and turned the ball over just nine times.
Bjonee Reaves totaled 12 points on 4-of-7 shooting from three-point range.
McMorris led Marquette with 18 points, while Angel Robinson (16) and Paige Fiedorowicz (12) were also in double-figures.
The Bearcats will head to Hartford, Conn., for the 2011 BIG EAST Championship on Friday, March 4. UC, seeded 15th, will take on 10th-seeded West Virginia at 6 p.m. in the XL Center.