TicketsJan. 22, 2013
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CINCINNATI — The University of Cincinnati women's basketball team dropped a 51-45 decision to DePaul University in a Tuesday night BIG EAST Conference game at Fifth Third Arena.
Junior guard Dayeesha Hollins led the Bearcats in points (14) and assists (3), while junior forward Jeanise Randolph recorded her first double-double of the season after scoring 10 points and tying her career high with 13 rebounds.
Depaul (15-5, 4-2 BIG EAST), which is receiving votes in the Jan. 22 USA Today Coaches Poll, was led by sophomore guard Brittany Hrynko, who totaled a game-high 19 points. Senior forward Katherine Harry was a presence inside for the Blue Demons after grabbing 16 rebounds and scoring six points with two blocks.
After falling behind by 11 points early in the second half, Cincinnati (8-10, 0-5 BIG EAST) outscored DePaul 17-5 over an 8:53 span to take a 33-32 lead at the 7:38 mark. Hollins accounted for seven points during the run.
Cincinnati responded to a five-point DePaul outburst by producing a 7-2 run to tie the score at 40-40 with 3:52 left in the game.
A banked in 3-pointer from Hrynko broke up the tie and led to a five-point lead, 45-40, for the Blue Demons with 2:14 left in the game.
UC cut the lead to one possession when Randolph stole the ball from Harry underneath DePaul's basket and quickly netted a layup for a 45-42 DU lead with 1:02 left. However, the Blue Demons closed out the game by sinking all six of their free-throw attempts in the game's final minute.
Led by Randolph, the Bearcats out-rebounded the Blue Demons 48-44. The 48 boards were the most for UC in a non-overtime game this season.
DePaul led Cincinnati 19-14 at halftime after the two teams combined to shoot 14-for-63 (22.2 percent) from the field in the game's first 20 minutes. The 19 points were the fewest the Blue Demons have scored in any half this season.
UC overcame 6-of-38 (15.7 percent) first-half shooting to stay within five points by outrebounding DePaul 29-19, which included 15 offensive boards that led to nine second-chance points.
Hrynko carried the Blue Demons in the first half with 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting, while Cincinnati was led by Hollins and freshman guard Alexis Durley, who tallied four points apiece.
Following a Hollins jumper that made the score 4-3 DePaul, the Blue Demons outscored UC 13-6 over a span of 9:08 to take its largest lead of the first half at 17-9 with 4:11 left in the first half.
Cincinnati closed the gap by outscoring DU 5-2 over the final 3:24 of the first half. The run was capped by a 3-point play by sophomore guard Alyesha Lovett, who finished with eight points.
The Bearcats resume action 8 p.m. Saturday when they welcome No. 3/2 Connecticut to Fifth Third Arena for a BIG EAST matchup.