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CINCINNATI - Behind its largest offensive output in eight seasons, the University of Cincinnati women's basketball team raced past the Saint Francis (Pa.) Red Flash, 93-86, on Saturday afternoon inside Fifth Third Arena.
// THE SHORT STORY
As was expected going into this season, the Bearcats pushed the tempo throughout the game. UC was led by sophomore point guard Ana Owens (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North) who posted her second-career double-double with career highs of 25 points, 12 rebounds, and eight assists.
The game was back and forth for much of the way with eight ties and 13 lead changes. Following a tightly-contested first 20 minutes of play, SFU took a 39-38 lead into halftime. UC was able to pull ahead by as many as eight points in the third quarter before the Red Flash manufactured a run to take a 63-61 advantage into the fourth. As the final period wore down, the Bearcats began to exert their will on their opponent; gaining a lead by as many as 12 points, 86-74, with 1:46 to go. In the end, UC's torrid pace was too much as the Bearcats moved to 1-0 on the season.
// KEY PLAYERS
CINCINNATI
Ana Owens: 25 points | 12 rebounds | 8 assists
Alyesha Lovett: 19 points | 5 rebounds | 4 assists
Jasmine Whitfield: 17 points | 5 rebounds | 2 assists
Bianca Quisenberry: 11 points | 7 rebounds | 4 steals
SAINT FRANCIS (PA.)
Madison Johnson: 18 points
Jessica Kovatch: 16 points | 2 assists
Samiah Bethel: 15 points | 4 rebounds | 3 assists
Katie Reese: 11 points | 7 assists | 3 rebounds
// KEY RUNS
- After an even first period, the Red Flash surged ahead to a 29-24 lead, but UC answered with a 6-0 run to take a 30-29 lead with 6:50 to go in the half.
- Following going into halftime facing a 39-38 deficit, the Bearcats began the third quarter with a 15-6 run to take its then largest lead of the game, 53-45, with 6:58 to go in the period.
- The Red Flash responded with an 18-8 burst to take a 63-61 advantage into the fourth quarter.
- In the final period, UC quickly took back the lead with back-to-back baskets as the two teams traded points during the first three minutes.
- SFU cut its deficit to two points, 69-67, with 7:18 to go, but the Bearcats answered with an 11-5 surge over the next two minutes to take control of the game.
- UC gained its largest lead of the game, 86-74, on a Bianca Quisenberry (Springfield, Ohio/Tecumseh) lay-in with 1:46 remaining.
// TEAM NOTES
- Saturday's 93 points is the most UC has scored in eight years after notching a 96-69 victory over Valparaiso on Nov. 16, 2007.
- The Bearcats dominated in the painted area with 60 points and also turned 22 SFU turnovers into 27 points.
- UC translated 20 offensive rebounds into 16 second-chance points and got out on the fast break for 20 points.
- Shooting the ball from the field at a 44 percent (37-of-84) clip for the game, the Bearcats got especially hot in the second half with 23-of-45 (51.1%) makes.
// INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- Owens posted her fifth-career 20-plus point game with a game-high 25. Owen's Saturday point total ties a career-high which she set against Houston on Jan. 31, 2015. The point guard also did not turn the ball over in her 33 minutes of play.
- Alyesha Lovett (Newark, N.J./Malcolm X Shabazz) notched her 24th-career double-digit scoring performance with 19 points.
- Jasmine Whitfield (Crestwood, Ky./South Oldham) recorded her 19th-career game with double-figure scoring with 17 points.
- In addition to her 11 points, Quisenberry earned a career-high tying four steals.
- Shelbi Chandler (Indianapolis, Ind./Pike) tied a career-best with seven points, as well as four rebounds.
- Brianna Moore (Locust Grove, Ga./Luella) scored a career-high eight points on 4-of-5 shooting.
// UP NEXT
UC will continue its three-game homestand to start the season when it welcomes the Northern Kentucky Norse to Fifth Third Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 18, for a 7 p.m. tipoff. Admission is complimentary. The game will be streamed live online on Bearcats TV.
// EXPERIENCE UC
This season, the Bearcats will be participating in the University's "Experience UC" initiative which offers complimentary, free of charge admission to home games. The initiative is geared toward inviting the community to campus to see firsthand the great things about and surrounding the University. Groups interested in attending games in 2015-16 should contact Assistant Athletic Director for Marketing and Branding Luke Willman (513-556-1081; luke.willman@uc.edu) for more information.