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CINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati women's basketball team posted its fourth-consecutive victory Friday night with a 60-38 win over the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles inside Fifth Third Arena.
Now winners of four straight, UC improves to 6-1 on the season while Tech falls to 2-6 on the year. The Bearcats last started a season 6-1 in 2011. That team went on to finish the year 16-16 overall.
UC limited TTU to just six made field goals in the first half and took a 27-17 advantage into halftime. The strong defense continued in the second half with the Bearcats edging the Golden Eagles, 17-13, in the third period. UC then put the game out of reach by outscoring the opposition, 16-8, in the final quarter en route to a 60-38 victory. The 38 points allowed is a season-low for an opponent this season.
The Bearcats' bench scored 33 points on the night, led by a game-high and career-best 18 from sophomore guard Nikira Goings (Marietta, Ga./Osborne). Goings buried a career-high and game-best five three pointers which is a season-high for UC. Junior guard Ana Owens (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North) and senior guard Bianca Quisenberry (Springfield, Ohio/Tecumseh) each scored 11 points.
Tech had one player with double-figure scoring as Hannah Goolsby scored 11.
// THE SHORT STORY
After both teams failed to score during the opening three minutes of the game, the Bearcats reeled off seven-straight points to take a 7-0 lead at the 6:17 mark of the first quarter. After Tech pulled within four points, UC responded by holding TTU scoreless for the final four minutes of the period to take a 12-5 advantage into the second quarter.
The Golden Eagles began the second period with a 5-0 run to pull within one point, but the Bearcats answered with a surge of their own. Aided by a pair of three-pointers from Goings, UC went on an 8-2 run to increase its lead to seven, 22-15. The Bearcats continued its staunch defense by limiting the Golden Eagles to zero points over the final three minutes of the second quarter to lead 27-17 at the halftime break.
After TTU began the third quarter with a 6-2 run to pull within six points, UC went on a 13-5 streak from the 7:06 to 2:56 marks of the period to pull ahead by a then-game-high 14 points, 42-28. In total, the Bearcats outscored the Golden Eagles, 17-13, in the period to take a 44-30 advantage into the final quarter.
UC outscored TTU 8-4 in the first five minutes of the fourth quarter to go up by 18 points, 52-34, to essentially put the game away.
// KEY PLAYERS
CINCINNATI
Nikira Goings: 18 points | 5 rebounds | 2 assists
Ana Owens: 11 points | 5 rebounds | 2 assists
Bianca Quisenberry: 11 points | 4 rebounds | 3 steals | 3 assists
TENNESSEE TECH
Hannah Goolsby: 11 points
Akia Harris: 9 points | 3 assists | 2 steals
Treyvonna Brooks: 8 points | 11 rebounds
// UP NEXT
UC will visit No. 10 Ohio State on Sunday, Dec. 4, for a 2 p.m. tipoff inside Value City Arena. The game will air live on BTN Plus, while a live audio broadcast will be available through BearcatsTV.
// 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.