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CINCINNATI - University of Cincinnati sophomore point guard Ana Owens (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North) scored a career-best 35 points in a 105-76 loss to the No. 10 Ohio State Buckeyes on Sunday afternoon inside Fifth Third Arena.
// THE SHORT STORY
The Bearcats opened the game energized, pulling ahead 12-6 through the first four minutes of the game, and took only a 20-18 deficit into the second quarter. UC cut into its deficit to trail by only one point, 29-28, with six minutes to go in the first half and ultimately trailed 45-38 at the break. Despite 22 second-half points from Owens, Cincinnati was outscored 60-38 in the third and fourth quarters as the Buckeyes pulled away for a 105-76 victory.
// KEY PLAYERS
CINCINNATI
Ana Owens: 35 points | 2 assists
Jasmine Whitfield: 18 points | 6 rebounds
Bianca Quisenberry: 10 points | 10 rebounds | 5 assists
OHIO STATE
Shayla Cooper: 18 points | 3 rebounds
Kelsey Mitchell: 16 points | 5 assists
Ameryst Alston: 16 points | 9 assists | 5 rebounds
// KEY RUNS
- UC jumped out to a 12-6 lead during the game's opening five minutes. Owens led the surge with a pair of three pointers, while junior guard Bianca Quisenberry (Springfield, Ohio, Tecumseh) added another triple.
- Leading the Buckeyes 12-6 with 6:02 to go in the opening quarter, OSU responded with a 14-6 run over the duration of the period to take a 20-18 lead into the second quarter.
- In the second quarter, the Buckeyes increased its lead to as many as six points on two separate occasions, but UC answered. A senior guard Jasmine Whitfield (Crestwood, Ky./South Oldham) three-pointer brought the Bearcats to within three, 24-21, with 8:41 left in the period, while a Quisenberry and-one conversion closed the gap to 29-28 with six minutes left in the period.
- Facing its then largest deficit of the game, 37-28, with 3:22 to go before halftime, UC manufactured an 8-3 surge to pull within 40-36 with 1:37 left in the half. OSU ended the second quarter with a 5-2 run to take a 45-38 lead into halftime.
- During the opening three-and-a-half minutes of the third quarter, the Buckeyes outscored the Bearcats 14-7 to create their then largest lead of the game, 59-45. Over the duration of the quarter, UC surrendered 19 points, while scoring 13 of its own, to go into the final period trailing, 78-58.
- In the final quarter, the Bearcats saw their deficit grow throughout as OSU came away with a 105-76 victory.
// TEAM NOTES
- Cincinnati buried a season-best 11 three pointers (11-of-29).
- For the sixth time this season, UC totaled 20 or more points in the paint with 24.
- The Bearcats grabbed a season-high-tying 21 offensive rebounds which converted into 21 second-chance points.
- Cincinnati forced the Buckeyes into eight turnovers and cashed in with 13 points off of these miscues.
- UC dished out 12 assists on 26 made field goals.
- Sunday was the team's largest home attendance for a game this season with 1,767 fans.
// INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- Owens' career-high 35 points marks the first time a Bearcat has scored 30-plus points in a game since Feb. 3, 2009 when Jill Stephens scored 30 against Providence. Sunday was also the fifth time this season the sophomore led UC in scoring and 19th time of her career. The Indianapolis native's previous career-best was 25 points.
- Quisenberry recorded her second-career double-double - first this season -- with 10 points and 10 rebounds. This performance marks the junior's fourth double-digit scoring performance of the season - 13th of her career - and the third time she has grabbed double-figure rebounds in her career - first of the season. It is also the third double-double this season for any UC player.
- Whitfield turned in her sixth double-digit scoring performance of the season and 24th of her career with 18 points. The senior was 4-of-11 from three-point range.
- Freshman guard Nikira Goings (Marietta, Ga./Osborne) scored a season-best-tying seven points, while also grabbing three rebounds.
// UP NEXT
UC will face the Xavier Musketeers in the 2015 edition of the Crosstown Shootout on Sunday, Dec. 13, at 5 p.m. inside the Cintas Center.