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ATHENS, Ga. - The University of Cincinnati women's basketball team dropped a 60-42 decision to the Georgia Lady Bulldogs on Wednesday afternoon inside Stegeman Coliseum.
// THE SHORT STORY
In a solid defensive effort, the Bearcats (4-7) held the Lady Bulldogs (11-1) 10 points under their season scoring average, but couldn't muster up enough offense as they fell, 60-42. After falling behind by five to start the game, UC collected itself and battled UGA to a 14-12 score after one. The Bearcats really struggled to find the bottom of the net in the second quarter, scoring a near season-quarter-low four point as the Lady Bulldogs went into halftime with a 28-16 advantage. In the third quarter, UGA surged ahead with a 9-3 run to pull by 18 and UC was unable to recover. The Lady Bulldogs led by as many as 22 in the fourth period, but Cincinnati was able to cut its deficit to 17 with under a minute to play. Ultimately, UC was unable to score enough points to complement its stellar defensive showing.
// KEY PLAYERS
CINCINNATI
Jasmine Whitfield: 8 points | 5 rebounds | 3 assists
Alyesha Lovett: 6 points | 7 rebounds | 2 steals
Shelbi Chandler: 6 points | 5 rebounds
GEORGIA
Shacobia Barbee: 12 points | 6 rebounds
Mackenzie Engram: 11 points | 6 rebounds
Tiaria Griffin: 8 points | 8 rebounds
// KEY RUNS
- UGA began the game with a quick 5-0 burst before senior forward Shelbi Chandler (Indianapolis, Ind./Pike) added the Bearcats' first points with a lay-in with 7:29 to go in the opening period. After trailing by as many as six points, the Bearcats outscored the Lady Bulldogs 6-2 over the first quarter's final six minutes to trail only 14-12 at the end of one.
- UC surrendered a 9-0 run by UGA to start the second quarter before senior guard Jasmine Whitfield (Crestwood, Ky./South Oldham) scored a basket in the paint to break to the streak. In total, the Lady Bulldogs outscored the Bearcats 14-4 as UC went into halftime facing a 28-16 deficit.
- The Bearcats once again fell victim to a UGA surge to begin a period in the third. The Lady Bulldogs put together a 9-3 run to separate from UC by a then game-high 18 points, 37-19, with 6:16 remaining in the period and later made the score 45-25, Georgia, at the end of three.
- In the final four minutes of the game, UC got contributions off of the bench from freshman guards from the state of Georgia, Maya Benham (Douglasville, Ga./Osborne) and Nikira Goings (Marietta, Ga./Osborne), with a pair of three-pointers from each and a jumper by Goings to help close the gap to 60-42 at the final horn.
// TEAM NOTES
- For the ninth time this season, the Bearcats totaled 20 or more points in the paint with 20 on the day.
- UC forced UGA into 14 turnovers and got nine points off of these Lady Bulldogs miscues.
- Cincinnati corralled 13 offensive rebounds and cashed these boards in for 10 points.
- The Bearcats got 12 points from their bench and shot 11-of-15 from the free-throw line.
- UC shot the ball at a season-low 24.1 percent (14-of-58) from the field.
// INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- Whitfield led the team in scoring for the sixth time this season and 15th time of her career with a team-best eight points. The senior also added five rebounds and also Bearcats-high three assists.
- Redshirt senior guard Alyesha Lovett (Newark, N.J./Malcolm X Shabazz) led UC with seven rebounds. Wednesday's rebound total marks the fifth time this season and 15th time of her career the senior has led the team in boards.
- Chandler knocked down a season and career-high-tying four free throws. The senior was 4-of-6 from the line on the day.
- Freshman forward Chelsea Warren (Red Oak, Texas/Red Oak) recorded a season-best two assists.
// UP NEXT
UC will begin American Athletic Conference play when it welcomes the UConn Huskies to Fifth Third Arena on Wednesday, Dec. 30, at 7 p.m. Admission will be complimentary as part of the University's season-long "Experience UC" initiative. Fans are encouraged to wear black. The game will be broadcasted live on ESPN3 and will air regionally on SportsNet New York (SNY). In addition, an audio stream will be available on Bearcats TV.