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CINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati women's basketball team gutted out a hard-fought, 71-68, victory over the Northern Kentucky Norse on Wednesday evening inside Fifth Third Arena.
// THE SHORT STORY
In a tightly-contested matchup with their area rival, the Bearcats made enough plays down the stretch for the win. For the second time in as many games, UC went into halftime with a slim deficit, 32-30, but once again played a solid second half to turn it around. Clinging to a two-point lead, 70-68, with 16 seconds left to play, junior Brandey Tarver (Chicago, Ill./Bogan Computer Technical) swatted a huge block on a corner three attempt by the Norse's sharpshooter Christine Roush. After a UC free-throw conversion on the other end, a game-tying three point try by NKU's Shar'Rae Davis rimmed out as the Bearcats held on for the victory.
// KEY PLAYERS
CINCINNATI
Jasmine Whitfield: 18 points | 7 rebounds
Ana Owens: 14 points | 7 rebounds
Alyesha Lovett: 14 points |4 assists
Bianca Quisenberry: 11 points | 5 rebounds
NORTHERN KENTUCKY
Christine Roush: 19 points | 5 rebounds
Rebecca Lyttle: 15 points | 18 rebounds
Rianna Gayheart: 13 points | 2 assists
Molly Glick: 11 points | 5 rebounds
// KEY RUNS
- The Norse scored the opening basket of the game, but UC responded with a 15-0 run during the first five minutes. In the burst, the Bearcats buried three three-pointers including one each from Alyesha Lovett (Newark, N.J./Malcolm X Shabazz), Bianca Quisenberry (Springfield, Ohio/Tecumseh), and Jasmine Whitfield (Crestwood, Ky./South Oldham).
- NKU responded with a 14-6 surge over the final five minutes of the first quarter including a fast break jumper at the buzzer from Rianna Gayheart to bring the score to 21-16 at the end of one.
- UC pulled ahead 24-16 with 7:15 remaining in the first half, but the Norse answered with a 9-0 run over the next five minutes to take a 25-24 lead. The two teams traded baskets over the next few minutes before NKU's Christine Roush nailed a trifecta with 30 seconds left in the half to bring the score to 32-30 Norse going into the break.
- Twice during the third quarter, the Bearcats built up a five-point advantage, but had the Norse respond each time. Leading 47-42 with 4:33 remaining in the period, NKU went on a 5-0 run to even things up. UC answered with a 6-1 surge to lead 53-48 with 56 seconds remaining in the quarter. The Bearcats took a 53-50 advantage into the final period.
- The two teams traded baskets during the opening five minutes of the fourth quarter before UC went on a 6-0 run to pull ahead by five, 63-58, with 4:40 to go. The Norse battled back to tie, 68-68, with 1:59 remaining, but a jumper by Quisenberry with 1:29 left and subsequent defensive stops allowed the Bearcats to come away victorious, 71-68.
// TEAM NOTES
- Wednesday's win marks the first time UC has started the season 2-0 since 2011 when it began the year 6-0.
- The Bearcats shot the ball at 47.5 percent for the game including a solid 51.6 percent (16-of-31) in the second half.
- UC held a sizeable advantage in the paint with 36 points compared to NKU's 22.
- Cincinnati scored 19 points off of 17 Norse turnovers.
- The fast-paced Bearcats got out on the fast break for eight points.
// INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- Whitfield recorded her 20th-career game with double-figure scoring with a team-high 18 points.
- Lovett notched her 25th-career double-digit scoring performance with 14 points.
- Ana Owens (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North) posted her 20th-career game with double-figure scoring with 14 points.
- Quisenberry scored in double digits for the 11th time in her career with 11 points.
- Nikira Goings (Marietta, Ga./Osborne) totaled four points and two steals in 12 minutes.
- Freshman guard Maya Benham (Douglasville, Ga./Osborne) made her first game appearance of the season.
// UP NEXT
UC will end its three-game homestand to start the season when it welcomes the Bowling Green Falcons to Fifth Third Arena on Saturday, Nov. 21, for a 2 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.