TicketsCINCINNATI – University of Cincinnati women's basketball battled but came up short against the 13th-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes, 87-76, on Sunday evening in front of a sold-out crowd of 1,072 fans inside Saint Ursula Academy Gymnasium & Convocation Center. The game was presented by UC Health.
With the loss, UC dropped to 7-5 on the year including 6-3 at home. Meanwhile, with its fourth-straight win, OSU improved to 11-2 on the season.
With a raucous home backing and a national TV audience, the Bearcats competed throughout the first quarter, leading by as many as four points midway through the period. Trailing 19-17 at the end of one, the Red & Black fell victim to a 10-6 Buckeye run over the first four minutes of the second quarter. UC collected itself and outscored the visitors from Columbus, Ohio 14-9 over the duration of the period to trail just 38-37 going into halftime.
OSU came out of the break on fire from the field, putting together a 9-3 run during the opening two minutes. After the Bearcats cut their deficit to three at the 6:29 mark of the third quarter, the Buckeyes responded with a 13-2 surge over the next three minutes to seize the momentum. Behind by 11, 65-54, entering the final period, UC encountered a 15-6 OSU burst over the first five minutes to trail by a game-high 20 points, 80-60. With just minutes left to play, the Red & Black could not make up ground quickly enough as it dropped an 87-76 decision.
Senior forward Shanice Johnson (Philadelphia, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara/Monroe CC) led UC with 17 points. Freshman forward Iimar'I Thomas (Oakland, Calif./Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep) scored 15 points and grabbed nine rebounds in just 22 minutes of play off the bench. Sophomore forward Angel Rizor (Zebulon, N.C./East Wake) posted 15 points, eight rebounds, and two assists, while junior guard Nikira Goings (Marietta, Ga./Osborne) recorded her first career double-double with 13 points and a career-best 11 rebounds.
UC shot a solid 44.8% from the field, but was 6-of-21 from three-point range and missed five free throws. The Bearcats outrebounded the Buckeyes, 46-44, and got 22 points from their bench. The Red & Black also dished out 17 assists and scored 40 points in the paint.
// UP NEXT
The Bearcats will return to Saint Ursula Academy on Thursday, Dec. 21 for a 7 p.m. tipoff against the Bowling Green Falcons. Admission to the game will be free as part of the Experience UC initiative.
With the loss, UC dropped to 7-5 on the year including 6-3 at home. Meanwhile, with its fourth-straight win, OSU improved to 11-2 on the season.
With a raucous home backing and a national TV audience, the Bearcats competed throughout the first quarter, leading by as many as four points midway through the period. Trailing 19-17 at the end of one, the Red & Black fell victim to a 10-6 Buckeye run over the first four minutes of the second quarter. UC collected itself and outscored the visitors from Columbus, Ohio 14-9 over the duration of the period to trail just 38-37 going into halftime.
OSU came out of the break on fire from the field, putting together a 9-3 run during the opening two minutes. After the Bearcats cut their deficit to three at the 6:29 mark of the third quarter, the Buckeyes responded with a 13-2 surge over the next three minutes to seize the momentum. Behind by 11, 65-54, entering the final period, UC encountered a 15-6 OSU burst over the first five minutes to trail by a game-high 20 points, 80-60. With just minutes left to play, the Red & Black could not make up ground quickly enough as it dropped an 87-76 decision.
Senior forward Shanice Johnson (Philadelphia, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara/Monroe CC) led UC with 17 points. Freshman forward Iimar'I Thomas (Oakland, Calif./Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep) scored 15 points and grabbed nine rebounds in just 22 minutes of play off the bench. Sophomore forward Angel Rizor (Zebulon, N.C./East Wake) posted 15 points, eight rebounds, and two assists, while junior guard Nikira Goings (Marietta, Ga./Osborne) recorded her first career double-double with 13 points and a career-best 11 rebounds.
UC shot a solid 44.8% from the field, but was 6-of-21 from three-point range and missed five free throws. The Bearcats outrebounded the Buckeyes, 46-44, and got 22 points from their bench. The Red & Black also dished out 17 assists and scored 40 points in the paint.
// UP NEXT
The Bearcats will return to Saint Ursula Academy on Thursday, Dec. 21 for a 7 p.m. tipoff against the Bowling Green Falcons. Admission to the game will be free as part of the Experience UC initiative.