TicketsDec. 29, 2011
BLACKSBURG, Va. - The University of Cincinnati women's basketball team (9-5) won the Hilton Garden Inn Hokie Classic after it defeated High Point, 62-40, in the championship game on Thursday, Dec. 29 at Cassell Coliseum. After coming for only one point in the first half, Dayeesha Hollins (Cincinnati, Ohio/Winton Woods/Michigan) and Bjonee Reaves (San Bernardino, Calif./Cajon/Neosho Valley (Kan.)) led Cincinnati with 14 points each.
The Panthers' 40 points were the second lowest points the Bearcats have allowed this season. It allowed just 22 points against South Dakota State on Nov. 24.
Both teams got off to a slow start, as High Point led 8-4 midway through the first half. The Bearcats were held scoreless for six minutes until Jeanise Randolph (Calumet City, Ill./Thornton Fractional North) made a bucket coming out of the second media timeout at 11:38, which sparked an 8-0 scoring run to give UC the 12-8 lead with 9:45 remaining. A layup by Alyesha Lovett (Newark, N.J./Malcolm X Shabazz) put Cincinnati up, 17-12, at the 7:37 mark, but the Bearcats couldn't make another basket until there were 44 seconds left on the clock.
Cincinnati and High Point went into the break tied, 20-20.
After a quiet first half, Hollins scored the first four points in UC's 11-4 run to start the half. As the Panthers struggled with turnovers, Cincinnati kept rolling - going on a 14-4 run and building the lead to as much as 22, 57-35, with 6:38 left. Reaves accounted for four 3-pointers as the Bearcats finished up down the stretch to make the final score 62-40.
High Point shot just 25 percent (14-55), while Cincinnati shot 44 percent (24-54) from the field. The Panthers were led by Lindsay Puckett with 13 points.
The Bearcats return home to continue its BIG EAST schedule when it hosts USF on Tuesday, Jan. 3 at 7 p.m. at Fifth Third Arena.