TicketsFeb. 7, 2012
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The University of Cincinnati women's basketball team (12-12, 3-8 BIG EAST) defeated Providence (12-12, 4-7), 60-56, on Tuesday evening at Alumni Hall. It marked the first time that UC has won three-straight BIG EAST road games, while also tying the most wins under head coach Jamelle Elliott.
"We talked a little before the game about our efforts the last three or four games," Elliott said. "Winning at Syracuse and at Marquette and giving a top-15 team a run for their money on our home court, the common denominator is that we've been playing as a team. The person I'm most happy for is Chanel Chisholm. For a senior who works as hard as she does to come in here and have 17 points, nine rebounds, I couldn't be happier for her."
Four players scored in double figures for the Bearcats, including Chanel Chisholm (Long Island, N.Y./North Babylon/Vanderbilt), who finished with a game-high 17 points and nine rebounds. It marked her first double-digit scoring output since Jan. 3, 2012 against USF.
Bjonee Reaves (San Bernardino, Calif./Cajon) scored 13 points, while Tiffany Turner (Marlton, N.J./Marlton) and Dayeesha Hollins (Cincinnati, Ohio/Winton Woods/Michigan) had 11.
With the Bearcats up, 55-53, Turner made the front-end of one-and-one, but after missing the second shot, Kayla Cook (South Webster, Ohio/South Webster) grabbed the rebound and Elliott called a quick timeout. Following the regroup, UC drew the foul and Reaves connected on both shots from the stripe to make it 58-53 with 17 seconds remaining. PC's Lola Wells drained one from behind the arc to keep the Friars in it with 11 ticks left, but Reaves sunk two more from the free throw line to seal the victory.
UC and Providence tied it up four times in the first five minutes before the Friars pulled ahead, 19-13, with 6:31 left in the half. The Bearcats executed after back-to-back steals by Hollins and Chisholm and knotted it up once more, 19-19, with less than four minutes remaining.
The Friars held the slim 26-25 advantage at halftime.
Cincinnati made the first two buckets of the second half, but PC kept it a close one until a 3-pointer by Hollins gave UC its largest lead, 47-36, with 9:35 remaining. Providence began to inch closer and closer to UC, coming within two of the Bearcats twice, but it wasn't enough.
PC was led by Alicia Cropper with 14 points and Rachel Barnes with 10 rebounds.
The Bearcats host Pittsburgh for its Play4Kay game on Saturday, Feb. 11 at 2 p.m. Fans are encouraged to wear pink in support of breast cancer awareness.