Tickets
CINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati women's basketball team outmatched the Clarion Golden Eagles, 92-54, on Sunday afternoon inside Fifth Third Arena.
The Bearcats' 92 points is the most they have scored since totaling 93 against Saint Francis (Pa.) on Nov. 14, 2015. The 38-point win margin is UC's most since dominating Furman by 39, 85-46, in the first game of the Jamelle Elliott era on Nov. 15, 2009.
UC has snapped a three-game losing skid and improves to 7-4 on the year. Meanwhile, Clarion's five-game winning streak is halted as it falls to 7-5 overall.
The Bearcats took control of the game early, scoring the opening eight points and setting the tone for the rest of the contest. UC scored its most first-half points of the season as it took a 50-21 lead into halftime. The second half played out much like the first with the home team playing add on, upping its advantage to more than 30 points. A fast break lay-in by sophomore guard Nikira Goings (Marietta, Ga./Osborne) with 26 seconds to play gave the Bearcats their largest lead of the game of 39 points as they cruised to a 92-54 victory.
UC's bench scored a season-high 46 points including a season-high and team-best 18 points from freshman guard Tinee'sha Coleman (Chicago, Ill./Marshall). The rookie didn't miss a shot all game at 6-of-6 from the field, 4-of-4 from three-point range, and 2-of-2 from the free-throw line. Coleman was joined in double figures by four additional Bearcats including junior Shanice Johnson (Philadelphia, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara/Monroe CC) with 13, junior guard Ana Owens (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North) with 12, senior guard Bianca Quisenberry (Springfield, Ohio/Tecumseh) with 11, and sophomore forward Maya Benham (Douglasville, Ga.) with 10.
Clarion was paced by Quorea Pearyer who scored a game-high 22 points, while Tyra Polite added 17.
// QUARTER-BY-QUARTER BREAKDOWN
UC opened the game with an 8-0 run and led 12-4 at the first media stop at the 4:57 mark of the first quarter. The Bearcats continued to outscore the Golden Eagles, 11-5, over the duration of the period including holding the visitors scoreless for the final two minutes to take a 23-9 advantage into the second quarter.
The Bearcats began to pour it on in the second, outscoring Clarion 21-5 through the opening six minutes including a 9-0 streak and knocking down 8-of-9 field goals. UC continued to put pressure on the Golden Eagles through the remainder of the period. A senior guard Brandey Tarver (Chicago, Ill./Bogan Computer Technical) rebound and follow as time expired brought the Bearcats' advantage to 50-21 going into the halftime break.
UC continued to distance itself from Clarion in the third quarter, limiting the Golden Eagles to 4-of-11 shooting from the field, as it pushed its advantage to a then-game-high 32 points on five separate occasions. The Bearcats shot a game-low 28.6 percent (4-of-14) from the field in the period.
The Bearcats kept their foot on the gas pedal in the fourth, holding a 30-plus point advantage throughout. UC knocked down 3-of-4 three-pointers in the period.
// KEY PLAYERS
CINCINNATI
Tinee'sha Coleman: 18 points
Shanice Johnson: 13 points | 7 rebounds | 5 assists | 4 blocks | 2 steals
Ana Owens: 12 points | 8 assists | 2 rebounds
Bianca Quisenberry: 11 points | 4 rebounds | 2 steals
Maya Benham: 10 points
CLARION
Quorea Pearyer: 14 points | 8 rebounds | 6 steals
Tyra Polite: 17 points | 3 rebounds
Jordan Bekelja: 7 points | 6 rebounds | 3 steals | 2 assists
// TEAM NOTES
- UC dominated in many statistical categories including points in the paint (38-22), points off turnovers (24-3), and fast break points (23-2).
- The Bearcats dished out a season-best 25 assists on 35 made field goals.
- UC shot the ball at a 56.5 percent (35-of-62) clip from the field for the game, 53.8 percent (7-of-13) from beyond the three-point arc, and 78.9 percent (15-of-19) from the charity stripe.
- The Bearcats limited their fourth opponent of the season under 30 percent shooting from the field with the Golden Eagles firing at a 28.6 percent (20-of-70) clip.
- UC led the entire game.
// INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- Johnson notched her ninth double-figure scoring game of the season. She also recorded season highs of five assists and four blocks.
- Owens scored in double-figures for the eighth time this year and dished out a career-high tying eight assists.
- Quisenberry reached double-figure scoring for the fourth time this season and the 22nd time of her career.
- Benham posted her first double-digit scoring total of the season.
// UP NEXT
UC will host Eastern Illinois on Wednesday, Dec. 21, at 3 p.m. inside Fifth Third Arena. The game was originally scheduled for a 7 p.m. tipoff but was recently changed. Admission will be complimentary, as it is all season long, as part of the Experience UC initiative. Game promotions include Ugly Sweater Day and National Crossword Puzzle Day in which fans will receive a free Bearcats crossword puzzle. Fans unable to attend the game can watch live on BearcatsTV. 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.