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CINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati women's basketball team outmatched the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions, 72-42, Tuesday night inside Fifth Third Arena.
With the win, the Bearcats move to 5-1 on the year which marks the program's best start to a season since the 2011-12 team went 6-0 to begin. Meanwhile, the Golden Lions fall to 0-5 overall.
UC imposed its will early on UAPB, ending the opening quarter on a 19-0 run. After taking a 32-11 lead into halftime, the Bearcats kept their foot on the gas in the second half. Outscoring the opposition 24-16 in the third quarter, UC upped its lead to as many as 32 points late in the final period en route to a 72-42 shellacking.
Junior guard Ana Owens (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North) paced the Bearcats with 14 points. Freshman guard Sam Rodgers (Cincinnati, Ohio/Lakota East) also reached double-figure scoring with 11 points including a season-best three three-pointers.
UAPB had just one double-figure scorer with Niya Head adding 16 points as well as a game-best seven rebounds.
// THE SHORT STORY
In its second of a three-game homestand, the Bearcats dominated from the jump. Aside from a UAPB three-pointer at the 8:47 mark of the first quarter, UC held the opposition scoreless for the rest of the period. Using a 19-0 run, UC took a 22-3 advantage into the second quarter. The Bearcats were 5-of-7 from three-point range in the opening 10 minutes.
UC struggled from the field for much of the second quarter, making it unable to increase its lead at the familiar rate. The Bearcats snapped a one-for-their-last-eight field goal streak with a sophomore guard Nikira Goings (Marietta, Ga./Osborne) three-pointer at the two minute mark as UC took a 32-11 advantage into the halftime break.
The Golden Lions went on a 9-5 run over the first four minutes of the third quarter to reduce their deficit to 17 points, 37-20. The Bearcats answered back with a 19-7 surge to end the period to bring the score to 56-27 in favor of UC.
With the game essentially already decided, the two teams traded baskets for much of the fourth quarter. A free-throw conversion from Rodgers with 43 seconds to go brought the Bearcats' advantage to a game-high 32 points, 72-40.
// KEY PLAYERS
CINCINNATI
Ana Owens: 14 points | 3 rebounds
Sam Rodgers: 11 points | 4 rebounds | 3 assists
Shanice Johnson: 9 points | 5 rebounds | 4 steals | 3 assists
Angel Rizor: 9 points | 5 rebounds
ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF
Niya Head: 16 points | 7 rebounds
Malaik Muhammad: 8 points | 3 rebounds | 2 steals
// TEAM NOTES
- UC's bench scored a season-high 34 points. The Bearcats also turned 12 offensive rebounds into 18 second-chance points.
- Scoring 20 points in the paint, UC also scored 15 points off of 17 UAPB turnovers and got out on the fast break for 10 points.
- The Bearcats drained a season-best 10 three-pointers. UC was 10-of-20 from beyond the arc.
- UC shot a season-high 80 percent from the free throw line on 20-of-25 shooting.
// INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- Owens led UC in scoring for the first time this season with her fourth of the year and 44th of her career double-figure scoring game.
- Junior forward Shanice Johnson (Philadelphia, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara/Monroe CC) failed to record a double-double for the fourth-consecutive contest but did notch a team-best three assists and four steals.
- Freshman forward Angel Rizor (Zebulon, N.C./East Wake) posted season highs of nine points and five rebounds.
- Freshman guard Tinee'sha Coleman (Chicago, Ill./Marshall) scored her first points of the year, while freshman forward Sydney Petty (Toledo, Ohio/Rogers) also scored her first points in her first action of the season.
- Sophomore forward Maya Benham (Douglasville, Ga./Osborne) scored a season-high five points on 2-of-2 shooting from the field.
// UP NEXT
UC will end its three-game homestand on Friday, Dec. 2, when it welcomes Tennessee Tech to Fifth Third Arena for a 7 p.m. tipoff. Admission to the game will be complimentary, as it is all season long, as part of the Experience UC initiative. Fans unable to attend can watch the game live on Bearcats TV. A subscription is required to watch online.
// EXPERIENCE UC
Again, this season, the Bearcats will be participating in the University's "Experience UC" initiative which offers complimentary, free of charge admission to home games. The initiative is geared toward inviting the community to campus to see firsthand the great things about and surrounding the University. Groups interested in attending games in 2015-16 should contact Assistant Athletic Director for Marketing and Branding Luke Willman (513-556-1081; luke.willman@uc.edu) for more information.
// MOBILE APP: CINCINNATI GAMEDAY
Improved for the 2016 season, the Cincinnati Gameday app for iPhone, iPad and Android devices offers fans a wide variety of information on the Bearcats — home and away. The free app is available in the App Store and Google Play. The app offers live scores & stats, social interaction, and fan maps, among other features, to enhance the Cincinnati gameday experience.