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CINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati women's basketball team dropped a 77-55 decision to the East Carolina Pirates on Wednesday evening inside Fifth Third Arena.
// THE SHORT STORY
Looking to avenge a narrow 63-60 loss at East Carolina (11-17, 5-11 The American) a little over a month ago, UC (8-19, 4-12 The American) battled neck and neck in the first quarter before the Pirates outscored the Bearcats by nine in the second quarter to take a 35-25 lead into halftime. Out of the break, Cincinnati fell behind by 14 early, but battled back to trail by only 10 with 2:32 left in the period. ECU answered with a 9-2 run to end the third period to take control of the game heading into the final quarter. In the fourth, UC never got closer than 15 points as the visitors came away victorious, 77-55.
// KEY PLAYERS
CINCINNATI
Ana Owens: 17 points | 4 rebounds | 3 assists
Jasmine Whitfield: 12 points | 3 steals | 2 assists
Alyesha Lovett: 10 points |5 rebounds | 2 steals
EAST CAROLINA
Marina Laramie: 31 points | 11 rebounds
Jada Payne: 22 points | 6 rebounds | 4 assists
I'Tiana Taylor: 13 points | 11 rebounds | 4 assists
// KEY RUNS
- The two teams played a tightly-contested first quarter with the Bearcats trailing 14-11 at the first media timeout of the game at the 1:22 mark. UC added a basket with 48 seconds to go in the period to trail only 14-13 heading into the second quarter.
- ECU began the second quarter with a 7-2 run, but UC countered with a 4-0 burst to bring the score to 21-19. The Pirates answered, though, with a 7-1 surge to pull ahead by a then game-high eight points with 4:57 remaining before halftime. The Bearcats were edged over the duration period, 7-5, as ECU took a 35-25 advantage into the break.
- UC fell victim to an 8-5 Pirates' run to begin the third quarter as it got behind by a then game-high 14 points, 43-29, with 7:45 left in the period. Over the course of the quarter, the Bearcats were outscored 14-11 as Cincinnati fell behind by as many as 19 points late in the stanza.
- The Bearcats cut their deficit to 15, 57-42, early in the fourth quarter, but ECU manufactured a 20-9 run over the next eight minutes to take its largest lead of the game.
// TEAM NOTES
- The Bearcats are now 7-5 this season when the trio of Owens, Whitfield, and Lovett each score in double-figures.
- Cincinnati scored 28 points in the paint Wednesday to mark the 19th time this season they have scored 20 or more in the painted area in a game.
- UC forced ECU into 17 turnovers and capitalized off these miscues with 20 points.
- The Bearcats were 10-of-13 from the free throw line, got out on the fast break for 11 points, and got eight points from its bench.
// INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- Sophomore guard Ana Owen (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North) led the Bearcats in scoring for the 12th time this season and the 26th time of her career with 17 points. Owens also led the team in assists for the 15th time this season and the 31st time of her career with three dimes.
- Senior guard Jasmine Whitfield (Crestwood, Ky./South Oldham) reached double-figure scoring for the 18th time this season and the 36th time of her career. Whitfield also swiped a game-best three steals.
- Redshirt senior guard Alyesha Lovett (Newark, N.J./Malcolm X Shabazz) scored in double-figures for the 16th time this season and the 39th time of her career with 10 points. Lovett also led the Bearcats in rebounds for the 11th time this season and the 21st time of her career with five boards.
// UP NEXT
UC will host Tulsa on Saturday in its final regular season home contest of the year. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. with a Senior Day celebration occurring prior. The game will be streamed live on Bearcats TV, while live stats can be accessed through . Admission will be complimentary as part of the University's season-long "Experience UC" initiative.