TicketsCINCINNATI – University of Cincinnati women's basketball will host the 13th-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes on Sunday, Dec. 17, at Saint Ursula Academy Gymnasium & Convocation Center. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN2. Fans are encouraged to wear black. The game is presented by UC Health.
// SOLD OUT
Tickets for UC's home matchup with the No. 13 Ohio State Buckeyes, presented by UC Health, on Sunday, Dec. 17, at 4 p.m. at Saint Ursula Academy Gymnasium & Convocation Center (SUA) have sold out. The sellout comes as a result of high group-ticket demand. As such, walk-up admission to the game will not be accepted and only those with an actual physical ticket in hand or those on a ticket will-call list will be permitted access. Fans with will-call tickets can pick them up at SUA beginning at 3 p.m. on Sunday. Fans with tickets are encouraged to come early, be loud, and wear black.
// TEMPORARY HOME(S)
Due to the current, $87-million renovation of Fifth Third Arena, the Bearcats will play all home contests off campus this year. In the regular season, UC will play two games at Cincinnati State – the Nov. 13 home opener against Slippery Rock and the Nov. 27 meeting with St. Francis (Pa.) – with the remaining games played at Saint Ursula Academy Gymnasium & Convocation Center (SUA).
// STUDENT SHUTTLE
UC students are invited to enjoy a free bus ride to the game as well as free pizza. The bus will depart from the Bearcat statue on campus at 3 p.m. Free student shuttles to home UC women's basketball games will continue throughout the season.
// GAME PROMOTIONS
Fans attending Sunday's game are encouraged to wear black. Halftime entertainment will include a performance by the Firecrackers jump rope team. Concessions are cash only.
// GOING LIVE
Sunday's game will air live on ESPN2 and the ESPN app with Eric Frede and Brooke Weisbrod handling play-by-play and analyst duties, respectively. Matt Noonan will have the radio call for BearcatsTV. Live statistics can also be accessed.
// THE SERIES
Sunday's matchup will be the 23rd all-time meeting between the two teams with the Buckeyes holding an 18-4 series advantage. Most recently, OSU dropped UC, 80-38, last season in Columbus. Forward Shanice Johnson (Philadelphia, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara/Monroe CC) recorded a double-double of 17 rebounds and 10 points in the defeat. OSU holds a slight edge in games played in Cincinnati, 4-3, including dealing UC a 105-76 setback inside Fifth Third Arena in 2015. Guard Ana Owens (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North) scored a career-high 35 points in the loss to the No. 10 Buckeyes.
// LAST TIME OUT
UC (7-4) continued its strong play at home on Thursday when it blasted the Howard Bison, 87-53, at Saint Ursula Academy Gymnasium & Convocation Center (SUA).
The Red & Black set the tone early with an 8-0 run in the opening quarter to take a 22-14 lead into the second. The Bearcats held the Bison scoreless for three minutes in the following period to take a 47-25 advantage into the halftime break. UC streaked through the third quarter with an 18-6 run over much of the stanza to up its lead to more than 30 points. The Red & Black's efficient offense and stifling defense continued in the final quarter, outscoring the opposition, 21-13, and increasing its lead to as many as 39 points with 90 seconds to go.
Junior guard Nikira Goings (Marietta, Ga./Osborne) was on fire from the field with a game-best and career-high 25 points. She also had a career night from beyond the 3-point arc with seven made triples, the second most in a game in program history. Freshman forward Iimar'I Thomas (Oakland, Calif./Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep) was impressive in the post with a season-high-tying 19 points as well as a season-best 11 rebounds. Sophomore forward Angel Rizor (Zebulon, N.C./East Wake) continued her strong play with 11 points and three steals.
UC was dominant in the paint with 34 points and had its reserves contribute with 30 bench points. The Bearcats turned the Bison over 17 times, resulting in 18 points. The Red & Black also spread the ball around with a season-high 25 assists on 28 made field goals. UC knocked down 10-of-20 from downtown and buried 21 free throws.
// SCOUTING THE BEARCATS
Goings is leading UC in scoring with 12.5 points per game. Freshman forward Iimar'I Thomas (Oakland, Calif./Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep) follows with 11.8 points a contest, while Owens averages 10.9 points per as well as a team-best 3.7 assists. Johnson is posting 10.4 points per and a Bearcats-high 6.7 rebounds a contest.
After becoming the 26th member of UC women's basketball's 1,000-point club last season, Owens continues her climb up the Bearcats' all-time scoring list. After scoring nine points against Howard on Thursday, Owens passed Regina Williams (1984-89) to move into 12th place with 1,238 career points. She is on pace to break into the top 10 all-time before the season's end.
As a team, UC is second in the conference in scoring defense (57.4) and in assists (15.3) per game. The Bearcats are third in the league in field goal percentage at 43.9 percent a contest. Furthermore, the Red & Black's 33.2 rebounding defense a game is tops in the AAC.
Individually on the year, Rizor's 61.8% field-goal percentage per contest is best in The American. Thomas is not far behind in third place with 59.3% shooting. Owens is second-best in the conference in free-throw percentage at 91.7% a game, while Johnson's 3.1 steals per is also second. Goings' 2.4 made 3-pointers a contest is sixth-best in the league.
// SCOUTING THE BUCKEYES
OSU (10-2) is riding a three-game winning streak including, most recently, a 103-70 home victory over Dartmouth on Friday. The Buckeyes used a 33-0 run that spanned 7:32 of the second half to break away from the Big Green. In the victory, Kelsey Mitchell led four Buckeyes in double-figures with 22 points to go along with five assists and zero turnovers. Sierra Calhoun continued her string of solid performances with 20 points on 4-of-7 from long range. Stephanie Mavunga notched a double-double with 18 points and 14 boards, while Linnae Harper chipped-in with 16 points and three steals.
For the season, Cincinnati native and Princeton High School product Mitchell is leading the Buckeyes and the Big Ten Conference with 25.8 points per game. Redshirt senior forward Mavunga averages a double-double of 16.1 points and 12.1 rebounds a contest. Redshirt senior guard Harper posts 15.6 points per, while redshirt junior guard Calhoun tallies 12.4 points. OSU averages a league-best 91.8 points a contest including a Big Ten-high 9.8 3-pointers per. In addition, the Buckeyes swipe 9.7 steals each game and pull down 43.8 rebounds a contest.
In the preseason, OSU was picked to win the Big Ten with senior guard Mitchell selected as Player of the Year. Mavunga was also chosen for the preseason All-Big Ten team.
// SOLD OUT
Tickets for UC's home matchup with the No. 13 Ohio State Buckeyes, presented by UC Health, on Sunday, Dec. 17, at 4 p.m. at Saint Ursula Academy Gymnasium & Convocation Center (SUA) have sold out. The sellout comes as a result of high group-ticket demand. As such, walk-up admission to the game will not be accepted and only those with an actual physical ticket in hand or those on a ticket will-call list will be permitted access. Fans with will-call tickets can pick them up at SUA beginning at 3 p.m. on Sunday. Fans with tickets are encouraged to come early, be loud, and wear black.
// TEMPORARY HOME(S)
Due to the current, $87-million renovation of Fifth Third Arena, the Bearcats will play all home contests off campus this year. In the regular season, UC will play two games at Cincinnati State – the Nov. 13 home opener against Slippery Rock and the Nov. 27 meeting with St. Francis (Pa.) – with the remaining games played at Saint Ursula Academy Gymnasium & Convocation Center (SUA).
// STUDENT SHUTTLE
UC students are invited to enjoy a free bus ride to the game as well as free pizza. The bus will depart from the Bearcat statue on campus at 3 p.m. Free student shuttles to home UC women's basketball games will continue throughout the season.
// GAME PROMOTIONS
Fans attending Sunday's game are encouraged to wear black. Halftime entertainment will include a performance by the Firecrackers jump rope team. Concessions are cash only.
// GOING LIVE
Sunday's game will air live on ESPN2 and the ESPN app with Eric Frede and Brooke Weisbrod handling play-by-play and analyst duties, respectively. Matt Noonan will have the radio call for BearcatsTV. Live statistics can also be accessed.
// THE SERIES
Sunday's matchup will be the 23rd all-time meeting between the two teams with the Buckeyes holding an 18-4 series advantage. Most recently, OSU dropped UC, 80-38, last season in Columbus. Forward Shanice Johnson (Philadelphia, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara/Monroe CC) recorded a double-double of 17 rebounds and 10 points in the defeat. OSU holds a slight edge in games played in Cincinnati, 4-3, including dealing UC a 105-76 setback inside Fifth Third Arena in 2015. Guard Ana Owens (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North) scored a career-high 35 points in the loss to the No. 10 Buckeyes.
// LAST TIME OUT
UC (7-4) continued its strong play at home on Thursday when it blasted the Howard Bison, 87-53, at Saint Ursula Academy Gymnasium & Convocation Center (SUA).
The Red & Black set the tone early with an 8-0 run in the opening quarter to take a 22-14 lead into the second. The Bearcats held the Bison scoreless for three minutes in the following period to take a 47-25 advantage into the halftime break. UC streaked through the third quarter with an 18-6 run over much of the stanza to up its lead to more than 30 points. The Red & Black's efficient offense and stifling defense continued in the final quarter, outscoring the opposition, 21-13, and increasing its lead to as many as 39 points with 90 seconds to go.
Junior guard Nikira Goings (Marietta, Ga./Osborne) was on fire from the field with a game-best and career-high 25 points. She also had a career night from beyond the 3-point arc with seven made triples, the second most in a game in program history. Freshman forward Iimar'I Thomas (Oakland, Calif./Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep) was impressive in the post with a season-high-tying 19 points as well as a season-best 11 rebounds. Sophomore forward Angel Rizor (Zebulon, N.C./East Wake) continued her strong play with 11 points and three steals.
UC was dominant in the paint with 34 points and had its reserves contribute with 30 bench points. The Bearcats turned the Bison over 17 times, resulting in 18 points. The Red & Black also spread the ball around with a season-high 25 assists on 28 made field goals. UC knocked down 10-of-20 from downtown and buried 21 free throws.
// SCOUTING THE BEARCATS
Goings is leading UC in scoring with 12.5 points per game. Freshman forward Iimar'I Thomas (Oakland, Calif./Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep) follows with 11.8 points a contest, while Owens averages 10.9 points per as well as a team-best 3.7 assists. Johnson is posting 10.4 points per and a Bearcats-high 6.7 rebounds a contest.
After becoming the 26th member of UC women's basketball's 1,000-point club last season, Owens continues her climb up the Bearcats' all-time scoring list. After scoring nine points against Howard on Thursday, Owens passed Regina Williams (1984-89) to move into 12th place with 1,238 career points. She is on pace to break into the top 10 all-time before the season's end.
As a team, UC is second in the conference in scoring defense (57.4) and in assists (15.3) per game. The Bearcats are third in the league in field goal percentage at 43.9 percent a contest. Furthermore, the Red & Black's 33.2 rebounding defense a game is tops in the AAC.
Individually on the year, Rizor's 61.8% field-goal percentage per contest is best in The American. Thomas is not far behind in third place with 59.3% shooting. Owens is second-best in the conference in free-throw percentage at 91.7% a game, while Johnson's 3.1 steals per is also second. Goings' 2.4 made 3-pointers a contest is sixth-best in the league.
// SCOUTING THE BUCKEYES
OSU (10-2) is riding a three-game winning streak including, most recently, a 103-70 home victory over Dartmouth on Friday. The Buckeyes used a 33-0 run that spanned 7:32 of the second half to break away from the Big Green. In the victory, Kelsey Mitchell led four Buckeyes in double-figures with 22 points to go along with five assists and zero turnovers. Sierra Calhoun continued her string of solid performances with 20 points on 4-of-7 from long range. Stephanie Mavunga notched a double-double with 18 points and 14 boards, while Linnae Harper chipped-in with 16 points and three steals.
For the season, Cincinnati native and Princeton High School product Mitchell is leading the Buckeyes and the Big Ten Conference with 25.8 points per game. Redshirt senior forward Mavunga averages a double-double of 16.1 points and 12.1 rebounds a contest. Redshirt senior guard Harper posts 15.6 points per, while redshirt junior guard Calhoun tallies 12.4 points. OSU averages a league-best 91.8 points a contest including a Big Ten-high 9.8 3-pointers per. In addition, the Buckeyes swipe 9.7 steals each game and pull down 43.8 rebounds a contest.
In the preseason, OSU was picked to win the Big Ten with senior guard Mitchell selected as Player of the Year. Mavunga was also chosen for the preseason All-Big Ten team.