TicketsCINCINNATI – University of Cincinnati women's basketball rolled to victory Monday night with an 85-52 win over Slippery Rock in its 2017-18 home opener at Cincinnati State.
Home for the first time in the 2017-18 regular season, the Bearcats (1-1) led The Rock (0-3) by as many as 15 points in the first half and went into the second with a 39-29 advantage. UC came out of the break energized and pushed its lead to 19 points four minutes into the third quarter. Sporting a 62-41 surplus heading into the final quarter, the Red & Black ended strongly with a 15-0 run over the final five minutes of the game to cruise to victory.
The Bearcats were paced by a game-high and career-best 24 points from junior guard Nikira Goings (Marietta, Ga./Osborne) as well as 18 points from freshman forward Iimar'i Thomas (Oakland, Calif./ Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep) and 15 points from senior guard Ana Owens (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North). Senior forward Shanice Johnson (Philadelphia, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara/Monroe CC) just missed her 14th-career double-double with nine points and a team-best nine rebounds. Owens also dished out a game-high five assists.
// QUARTER-BY-QUARTER BREAKDOWN
After a fast-paced opening few minutes in which the two team traded baskets, the Bearcats put together a 9-0 run to pull ahead, 17-8, with 2:49 left in the first quarter. The final two minutes of the period were tightly-contested with UC taking a 21-13 advantage into the second quarter.
Poised to take control of the game with a 14-point lead early in the period, the Red & Black fell victim to a 6-0 surge by The Rock to bring the score to 27-19 with 7:29 to go before halftime. UC responded by increasing its lead to a then-game-high 16 points midway through the stanza. The Bearcats were then outscored, 10-5, over the duration of the quarter to lead, 39-29, at the half.
Over the opening four minutes of the third quarter, the Red & Black outscored the visitors, 11-2, to take command. UC continued to pour it on, putting together an 8-0 run to pull ahead 58-34 with 3:48 to play in the period. In total, the Bearcats outscored The Rock 23-12 in the third to pull away.
SRU did not go away lightly, though, responding to a 25-point deficit with a 6-0 run with six minutes to go in the game. UC put an end to any Slippery Rock comeback hopes with a 15-0 run over the final five minutes to put away The Rock, 85-52.
// UP NEXT
In the second game of a three-game homestand this week, the Bearcats will welcome the Southeastern Louisiana Lions to Saint Ursula Academy Gymnasium & Convocation Center on Wednesday for a 7 p.m. tipoff. Admission will be free as part of the Experience UC initiative.
Home for the first time in the 2017-18 regular season, the Bearcats (1-1) led The Rock (0-3) by as many as 15 points in the first half and went into the second with a 39-29 advantage. UC came out of the break energized and pushed its lead to 19 points four minutes into the third quarter. Sporting a 62-41 surplus heading into the final quarter, the Red & Black ended strongly with a 15-0 run over the final five minutes of the game to cruise to victory.
The Bearcats were paced by a game-high and career-best 24 points from junior guard Nikira Goings (Marietta, Ga./Osborne) as well as 18 points from freshman forward Iimar'i Thomas (Oakland, Calif./ Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep) and 15 points from senior guard Ana Owens (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North). Senior forward Shanice Johnson (Philadelphia, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara/Monroe CC) just missed her 14th-career double-double with nine points and a team-best nine rebounds. Owens also dished out a game-high five assists.
// QUARTER-BY-QUARTER BREAKDOWN
After a fast-paced opening few minutes in which the two team traded baskets, the Bearcats put together a 9-0 run to pull ahead, 17-8, with 2:49 left in the first quarter. The final two minutes of the period were tightly-contested with UC taking a 21-13 advantage into the second quarter.
Poised to take control of the game with a 14-point lead early in the period, the Red & Black fell victim to a 6-0 surge by The Rock to bring the score to 27-19 with 7:29 to go before halftime. UC responded by increasing its lead to a then-game-high 16 points midway through the stanza. The Bearcats were then outscored, 10-5, over the duration of the quarter to lead, 39-29, at the half.
Over the opening four minutes of the third quarter, the Red & Black outscored the visitors, 11-2, to take command. UC continued to pour it on, putting together an 8-0 run to pull ahead 58-34 with 3:48 to play in the period. In total, the Bearcats outscored The Rock 23-12 in the third to pull away.
SRU did not go away lightly, though, responding to a 25-point deficit with a 6-0 run with six minutes to go in the game. UC put an end to any Slippery Rock comeback hopes with a 15-0 run over the final five minutes to put away The Rock, 85-52.
// UP NEXT
In the second game of a three-game homestand this week, the Bearcats will welcome the Southeastern Louisiana Lions to Saint Ursula Academy Gymnasium & Convocation Center on Wednesday for a 7 p.m. tipoff. Admission will be free as part of the Experience UC initiative.