Bearcats Fall Short at East Carolina

Jan. 20, 2016

Final Stats

GREENVILLE, N.C. - The University of Cincinnati women's basketball team fell just short of claiming its third road league victory this month as it dropped a 63-60 decision to the East Carolina Pirates on Wednesday evening inside Minges Coliseum.

// THE SHORT STORY
Clinging to a three-point lead with just over three minutes left to play, the Bearcats (6-12, 2-5 The American) fell victim to a 6-0 run by the Pirates (9-10, 3-4 The American) over the duration of the game as ECU came away victorious at home, 63-60. UC ended the opening quarter strong, taking a 14-11 advantage into the second period. The Bearcats were then able to hold on to their lead and take a 31-30 lead into halftime. Cincinnati again ended a quarter strong as it reduced a five-point deficit to two, 49-47, heading into the final quarter. In the fourth, the two teams battled back and forth for much of the way until a late ECU surge sealed the Bearcats' fate.

// KEY PLAYERS
CINCINNATI
Ana Owens: 21 points | 4 rebounds | 4 assists
Jasmine Whitfield: 17 points | 3 rebounds | 2 steals
Alyesha Lovett: 12 points | 14 rebounds | 2 steals

EAST CAROLINA
I'Tiana Taylor: 24 points | 19 rebounds
Marina Laramie: 15 points | 7 rebounds
Jada Payne: 8 points | 8 rebounds | 5 assists

// KEY RUNS
- The opening quarter was back and forth with the two teams trading baskets before sophomore guard Ana Owens (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North) nailed a three-pointer with 23 seconds to go in the period to give the Bearcats a 14-11 advantage at the end of one.
- UC began the second quarter with a 5-0 burst to take its largest lead of the game, 19-11. ECU quickly responded with an 11-3 surge to tie the game and took back the lead on a lay-in at the 5:20 mark, 24-22. With the Bearcats trailing 30-27 with 22 seconds left in the second quarter, senior forward Shelbi Chandler (Indianapolis, Ind./Pike) added a paint bucket and subsequent free-throw conversions from Owens in a one-and-one situation sent UC into halftime with a 31-30 advantage.
- The third quarter was closely-contested with the Pirates holding a four-point lead in the quarter, but the Bearcats responded to flip the script to lead by three points with 4:03 to go in the period. UC held a 44-43 advantage, but saw ECU go on a 6-0 run to take a 49-44 lead with 1:11 left in the quarter. Owens drained a trifecta with under a minute to play in the third period to close the gap to 49-47 going into the final stanza.
- In an ultra-competitive final period featuring four ties and three lead changes, UC was able to pull ahead by three, 60-57, on and-one conversion from freshman forward Chelsea Warren (Red Oak, Texas/Red Oak) with 3:14 to go. The home team then responded to score the final six points of the game to claim victory.

// TEAM NOTES
- The Bearcats forced the Pirates into 17 turnovers and converted these miscues into 23 points.
- UC led at halftime for the fifth time this season with a 31-30 advantage on Wednesday. The Bearcats are 3-2 this season when leading at the half.
- Cincinnati knocked down nine three-pointers for the game including five in the first half. UC's season high for a game is 11 against Ohio State on Dec. 6.
- The Bearcats limited the American Athletic Conference's second leading scorer, senior guard Jada Payne, 12.6 points under her season average with eight points.
- UC assisted on 13 of its 18 made field goals.

// INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- Owens scored 20-plus points for the fourth time this season and the eighth time of her career with a team-best 21. Wednesday also marks the eighth time this season and the 22nd time of her career she has led the Bearcats in scoring. The guard was also a career-best 12-of-12 from the free throw line.
- Lovett recorded the second double-double of the season and of her career with 12 points and a career-high 14 rebounds. The redshirt senior led the Bearcats in rebounds for the eighth time this season and the 18th time of her career with her 14.
- Senior guardJasmine Whitfield (Crestwood, Ky./South Oldham) posted her 13th of the season and 31st of her career double-figure scoring performance with 17 points.

// UP NEXT
UC will have a week-long break before returning to Fifth Third Arena to face the SMU Mustangs on Wednesday, Jan. 27, at 7 p.m. The game will be streamed live on Bearcats TV, while live stats can be accessed on . Admission will be complimentary as part of the University's season-long "Experience UC" initiative.