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CINCINNATI - Makenzie Cann (Lawrenceburg, Ky./Anderson County) put together a career day, totaling 23 points and hitting six three's as the University of Cincinnati women's basketball program earned a 76-66 win over UCF in the first round of the American Championship Friday afternoon in Uncasville, Conn.
// SHORT STORY
Cincinnati raced out to a 25-point lead in the first half against the Knights but relied on Cann's three-point shooting in the second half to hold off a surging UCF team.
Jasmine Whitfield (Crestwood, Ky./South Oldham) paced the Bearcats during a hot-shooting first half with 14 points while Cann hit five of her six three's and scored 20 of her career-best 23 points in the second half.
Cincinnati outscored UCF 43-24 in the first half thanks to hitting 10-of-25 shots including 5-of-11 three-point shots. Cincinnati recorded five steals in the first half, with Bianca Quisenberry (Springfield, Ohio/Tecumseh) earning three.
// KEY PLAYERS
Cincinnati
#5 Makenzie Cann: 23 points | 6-of-9 3PT FG | 1 block
#23 Jasmine Whitfield: 18 points | 5-of-11 3PT FG | 6 rebounds
#22 Bianca Quisenberry: 9 points | 4 rebounds | 3 steals
UCF
#22 Aliyah Gregory: 19 points | 9-14 FG | 2 assists
#23 Zykira Lewis: 12 points | 3 steals | 2 assists
#2 Andrea Hines: 11 points | 5 rebounds | 4 assists | 2 steals
// KEY RUNS
- The Bearcats took a 19-10 lead at the 12:07 mark of the first half thanks to a 7-0 spurt that included a three and a jumper from Jasmine Whitfield. UCF committed two turnovers to help the run.
- The Bearcats really found their rhythm on the offensive end during a two minute and 23 second spurt that gave them a 21-point (35-14) lead. Jasmine Whitfield hit a three to start the run before Bianca Quisenberry went coast-to-coast with a steal. Quisenberry picked UCF's pocket on the next possession and hit Cann on the wing for three to force a UCF timeout.
- UC took their largest lead of the game following a 6-0 spurt made the lead 41-16 with 4:26 left in the half. Chelsea Jamison and Jasmine Whitfield each hit a pair of free throws to extend the lead.
- UCF stormed back to start the second half, going on a 10-2 run to cut the lead to 49-36 with 13:42 left in the game.
- After UCF cut the lead down to nine points, Cann took over for the Bearcats, hitting a pair of three's less than a minute apart to push the UC lead back to 65-48 with 6:51 to play.
// TEAM NOTES:
- Starters: Owens (G), Quisenberry (G), Whitfield (G), Hill (F), Jamison (F)
- UC's 76 points are the most for the Bearcats this season in a regulation game. UC tallied 76 points against Houston during a double-overtime win. Their previous high in a regulation game this season was 73 against Arkansas Pine-Bluff on Nov. 15.
- UC's 10 three-point field goals against the Knights tie a season-high, previously set against UT-Martin on Nov. 19.
- The Bearcats' 22 free throws made are the most makes from the charity stripe this season, topping the 20 UC had against Houston on Jan. 31. The 29 attempts are tied for the second-most this season.
// INDIVIDUAL NOTES:
- Makenzie Cann recorded her third-straight game with double-digit points, draining a career-best 23 points against the Knights. She now has nine double-digit scoring efforts this season. It was also her first 20-point plus game of her career.
- Cann buried a career-best six three's in the contest against UCF, shooting 6-of-9 from behind the three-point line. Five of her three's came in the second half.
- Jasmine Whitfield finished with double-digits for the 14th time this season and the first time since Feb. 14 at UCF (15), hitting 5-of-11 shots and totaling 18 points. She had 14 at the break.
- Chelsea Jamison pulled down double-digit rebounds for the fifth time this season and the second straight game with a team-high 10 against UCF.
- Bianca Quisenberry totaled nine points in the contest, her ninth game this season with eight or more points.
- Ana Owens' five assists are the most for the freshman since the second game of the season when she dished out six at UT-Martin.
// UP NEXT:
The Bearcats advance to face No. 1 UConn in the quarterfinals of the American Championship. UC will face off with the Huskies in the second game of tomorrow's scheduled action at 2 p.m. The contest will be televised on ESPN3.