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CINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati women's basketball team defeated the Eastern Illinois Panthers, 78-64, on Wednesday afternoon inside Fifth Third Arena.
The Bearcats produced five double-figure scorers for the second-straight game, led by senior guard Bianca Quisenberry's (Springfield, Ohio/Tecumseh) game-best and season-high 20 points.
UC moves to 8-4 on the year, while Eastern Illinois drops to 4-8 overall. With the victory, UC matches its win total from each of the past two seasons.
The Bearcats' defense was the story throughout the game, forcing the Panthers into 24 turnovers which UC converted into 35 points. A 9-1 surge to begin the second quarter allowed the Bearcats to build a lead up to as many as 19 points. EIU threatened late in the fourth quarter to cut its deficit to 11, but sound play by UC down the stretch was fruitful as the home team came away with a 78-64 victory.
The Bearcats had another strong performance from their bench with 22 points, paced by Nikira Goings' (Marietta, Ga./Osborne) 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the field and 3-of-5 from three-point range. Junior Shanice Johnson (Philadelphia, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara/Monroe CC) pushed her double-figure scoring streak to five games with 16 points to go along with season highs of six assists and six steals as well as seven rebounds. Sophomore forward Chelsea Warren (Red Oak, Texas/Red Oak) pitched in a career-high 10 points, while junior guard Ana Owens (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North) also added 10 points as well as four assists.
The Panthers were led Grace Lennox's 18 points as well as her game-high eight assists. Allison Van Dyke and Halle Stull posted 15 and 12 points, respectively.
// QUARTER-BY-QUARTER BREAKDOWN
The Bearcats came out of the gates firing with Quisenberry draining a three-pointer on their first offensive possession. UC led EIU, 10-4, five minutes into the game on 4-of-9 shooting from the field. The Bearcats showed continuous pressure in the first quarter, forcing the Panthers into 10 turnovers which they converted into 12 points to take a 20-9 lead into the second quarter.
UC began the second with a 9-1 run to pull ahead by a game-high 19 points, 29-10, at the 6:59 mark. The Panthers responded by using a 6-0 surge over the final 1:47 of the quarter to bring the score to 36-25, Bearcats, going into the halftime break.
After back and forth play through much of the third quarter, UC put together a late run to take control. An 8-3 run over the final 3:03 of the period put the Bearcats ahead, 58-40, with the final quarter on deck.
The visitors battled back to pull within 11 on three separate occasions in the fourth period. EIU's first surge was met with a 3-0 burst by UC, followed by an answer from the Panthers. An Owens lay-in with 2:03 to go helped the Bearcats stay in control as they made the requisite plays over the final few minutes.
// KEY PLAYERS
CINCINNATI
Bianca Quisenberry: 20 points | 4 steals | 3 assists
Shanice Johnson: 16 points | 7 rebounds | 6 assists |6 steals
Nikira Goings: 15 points | 2 rebounds
Ana Owens: 10 points | 4 assists
Chelsea Warren: 10 points | 4 rebounds
EASTERN ILLINOIS
Grace Lennox: 18 points | 8 assists | 4 rebounds
Allison Van Dyke: 15 points | 3 rebounds | 2 assists
Halle Stull: 12 points | 5 rebounds
// TEAM NOTES
- UC scored a season-best 35 points off of turnovers and posted 36 points in the paint.
- The Bearcats ripped down 11 offensive rebounds which they turned into 13 second-chance points.
- UC dished out 19 assists on 29 made field goals and shot the ball from the field at a 47.5 percent (29-of-61) clip.
- The Bearcats swiped a season-high 15 steals.
// INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- Owens scored in double-figures for the ninth time this year and the 49th time of her career.
- Quisenberry has scored in double-figures in back-to-back games and was one point away from matching her career high of 21 scored on Dec. 8, 2013.
- Goings knocked down three-plus three-pointers for the second time this season after draining five on Dec. 2 against Tennessee Tech.
// UP NEXT
UC will have a week off from competition over the holiday break before returning to action on Wednesday, Dec. 28, against Chicago State at 7 p.m. inside Fifth Third Arena. 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.