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CINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati women's basketball team dropped a 96-49 decision to No. 1 UConn on Tuesday night inside Fifth Third Arena. The Bearcats were led by junior forward Shanice Johnson who scored 20 points, the highest point total for any Cincinnati player against UConn in the 17 meetings all time.
Johnson (Philadelphia, Pa./Monroe CC) scored at least two points in each quarter, collecting nine points in the second to pace the Bearcats. She is the first UC player to ever reach 20 points against the Huskies. Shareese Ulis recorded 19 in a game at UConn on Jan. 1, 2010.
UC falls to 14-9 on the season and evens up at 5-5 in American Athletic Conference play. Meanwhile, UConn remains unblemished at 23-0 overall and 11-0 in the league with its NCAA record 98th-straight win.
// QUARTER BY QUARTER BREAKDOWN
A senior guard Bianca Quisenberry (Springfield, Ohio/Tecumseh) three-point basket cut the UConn lead to 10-7 but the Huskies responded by scoring the next 18 points to end the first quarter with a 28-7 lead.
Johnson led the Bearcats with seven consecutive points in the second quarter, including a layup, a jumper and a three-pointer. Cincinnati held UConn scoreless during the run which spanned over two and a half minutes.
The Huskies shot 68 percent in the third period, scoring 34 points to the Bearcats' 14. Johnson paced Cincinnati with four points in the quarter, which ended with an 83-36 UConn advantage.
Cincinnati and UConn played even in the fourth quarter, scoring 13 points apiece. Sophomores Nikira Goings (Mariette, Ga./Osborne) and Chelsea Warren (Red Oak, Texas/Red Oak) each drained a three-point basket for the Bearcats, while UConn went 0-for-6 from behind the arc in the final frame.
// KEY PLAYERS
Cincinnati
Shanice Johnson: 20 points | 9 rebounds | 2 assists | 2 blocks
Sam Rodgers (Cincinnati, Ohio/Lakota East): 9 points | 3-for-3 3FG
UConn
Napheesa Collier: 24 points | 10-for-10 FG | 12 rebounds | 6 assists | 5 blocks
Katie Lou Samuelson: 20 points | 5 assists
Gabby Williams: 14 points | 10 rebounds | 6 assists | 2 steals
// UP NEXT
The Bearcats hit the road for a two-game road swing at Houston and Tulane on Feb. 11 and 15. UC will face the Cougars at 3 p.m. ET on Saturday before matching up with the Green Wave at 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday.
// 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.