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CINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati women's basketball team suffered a 64-47 setback to the Memphis Tigers on Thursday evening inside Fifth Third Arena.
// THE SHORT STORY
Despite 19 points, seven rebounds, and three assists from lead guard Ana Owens (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North), the Bearcats (5-9, 1-2 The American) could not get enough of their offense going to counter the relatively-efficient Tigers (9-6, 3-1 The American). After trailing by nine, 38-29, at halftime, a 13-4 Memphis run to start the second half made UC's comeback attempt more problematic. Cincinnati made the game interesting to start the fourth quarter with a quick 6-0 burst, but a subsequent Tigers surge thwarted any UC rally as the Bearcats fell, 64-47.
// KEY PLAYERS
CINCINNATI
Ana Owens: 19 points | 7 rebounds | 3 assists
Jasmine Whitfield: 9 points | 3 rebounds | 2 steals
MEMPHIS
Asianna Fuqua-Bey: 14 points | 4 rebounds | 2 steals
Cheyenne Creighton: 13 points | 5 rebounds
Loysha Morris: 11 points | 4 rebounds
// KEY RUNS
- Memphis jumped out to a 7-0 lead before Owens snapped the streak with a three-pointer at the 6:47 mark of the first quarter. The Bearcats had repeated chances at the rim, but were unable to convert and trailed 11-3 through the opening five-and-a-half minutes of the game.
- UC responded to this shortfall with a quick 5-0 run to close the gap to 11-8. The Bearcats narrowed their deficit to 13-12 on a lay-in by Owens with 2:11 left in the opening period, but then allowed a 4-0 burst by Memphis as the Tigers led 17-12 after one.
- The Tigers scored the first six points of the second quarter en route to an 8-1 run to pull ahead by a then-game-high 12 points, 25-13, with 7:23 to go before halftime.
- Trailing by 13 points with 3:22 to go in the second quarter, UC manufactured a 9-2 run over the next minute and a half to cut its deficit to six, 31-25. Memphis then responded with a 7-4 surge to take a 38-29 advantage into the break.
- The Tigers pieced together a 13-4 run over the opening five minutes of the third period to pull ahead by a then-game-high 18 points, 51-33. In total, the Bearcats were outscored 17-9 in the quarter and faced a 55-38 deficit going into the final stanza.
- Refusing to go away lightly at home, UC scored the first six points of final period to cut its deficit to 11 points, 55-44, with 8:16 remaining. Memphis then countered with 6-0 run over the next four minutes to take control of the game.
// TEAM NOTES
- The Bearcats scored 20 or more points in the paint for the 11th time this season with 24 on the night.
- UC got more than 10 points from its bench for the seventh-consecutive game with 16 for the contest.
- Shooting 31 percent (19-of-61) from the field, the Bearcats only got to the free-throw line six times with just two conversions. Memphis was 0-for-2 from the charity stripe for the game.
- UC turned the Tigers over 16 times, but only capitalized on these miscues with nine points.
// INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- Owens scored in double-figures for the 11th time this season and the 29th time of her career with 19 points. The guard also pulled down a team-best seven rebounds. Thursday's rebound total marks the third time this season and seventh time of her career Owens has led the team in boards.
- Freshman forward Chelsea Warren (Red Oak, Texas/Red Oak) turned in a solid four points, four rebounds, and a steal in 20 minutes of play off of the bench.
// UP NEXT
UC will hit the road again for American Athletic Conference action when it travels to Philadelphia to take on the Temple Owls on Sunday, Jan. 10, at 2 p.m. inside McGonigle Hall. The game will air live on ESPN3. In addition, an audio broadcast of the game will be available on Bearcats TV, while live stats can be accessed here.