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UNCASVILLE, Conn. - The University of Cincinnati women's basketball team suffered a 74-61 setback to the Houston Cougars on Friday in the first round of the 2017 Frontier Communications American Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Championship at Mohegan Sun Arena.
No. 7 seed UC fell to 16-14 overall, its first winning season since 2006-07 and its most wins since 2011-12. Snapping a six-game losing streak to the Bearcats including twice this season, No. 10 seed UH improved to 12-18 on the year.
Junior Ana Owens (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North) scored a game-best 20 points, her fifth 20-plus point game of the season and the 13th of her career. Junior forward Shanice Johnson (Philadelphia, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara/Monroe CC) recorded her 13th double-double of the season with 15 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. Senior guard Bianca Quisenberry (Springfield, Ohio/Tecumseh) posted her second-consecutive double-digit scoring game with 10 points. Five Cougars scored in double figures, paced by Angela Harris' 17 points.
The Bearcats' inability to put together four solid quarters proved to be the difference. UC was edged 22-17 in the opening period but followed with an even second to trail just 35-30 at halftime. The Black & Red were outscored by just one point in the third but were unable to prolong a burst to begin the fourth as it was outscored 26-19 in total.
UC fell behind by six points early but went on a 9-1 run to take its first lead of the game, 13-11, with 2:19 to go in the first quarter. UH responded with an 11-4 burst over the duration the period to take a 22-17 advantage into the second. The Bearcats saw the Cougars surge ahead by nine points but finished the first half with a 6-2 surge to reduce their deficit to five, 35-30, at the break.
The Bearcats struggled to chip away at their deficit in the third quarter, making only one field goal. UC's defense kept them in the game, though, as they trailed only 48-42 going into the fourth period. A pair of Quisenberry three-pointers to begin the fourth evened the game at 48. The Cougars then answered with a 9-2 run to pull ahead by a 57-50 score. After falling behind by nine points, the Bearcats countered to get within five with 2:12 left to play. UH subsequently answered with a three-pointer to go up eight. Going scoreless for nearly a minute and a half prevented UC from staging a late comeback as the Cougars made eight free throws in the final 1:16 to earn the victory.
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UC will be watching closely when the Postseason WNIT selects its field on Monday, March 13. The 64-team tournament will have 32 at-large selections. Any team considered for an at-large berth must have an overall record of .500 or better. The WNIT begins play on Wednesday, March 15.