TicketsGREENVILLE, N.C. – University of Cincinnati women's basketball tipped off American Athletic Conference competition Saturday with a 66-54 victory at ECU.
With the win, UC moved to 9-5 on the season and 1-0 in league play. Meanwhile, ECU fell to 8-6 overall and 0-1 in the AAC
In The American opener for both teams, the first half was competitive with the Red & Black going on a 8-4 run over the final five minutes of the second quarter to take a 29-22 lead into halftime. The Red & Black was strong out of the break with a 10-0 run to begin the second half to take control of the game. UC increased its lead to as many as 20 points late in the third period, but saw the home team answer back to trail by seven, 60-53, with 3:31 left to play. Down the stretch, the Bearcats made plays on both ends of the floor to come away with the win.
Senior guard Ana Owens (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North) led all scorers with 18 points to go along with an also game-high seven assists. Owens was joined in double figures by three Bearcats: sophomore forward Angel Rizor (Zebulon, N.C./East Wake) and freshman forward Iimar'I Thomas (Oakland, Calif./Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep) both with 14 points, and junior guard Nikira Goings (Marietta, Ga./Osborne) with 10. Senior forward Shanice Johnson (Philadelphia, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara/Monroe CC) grabbed a team-best eight rebounds.
UC shot the ball at a 47-percent clip for the game including knocking down four 3-pointers. The Bearcats also drained 14-of-17 from the free-throw line and outrebounded the opposition, 40-31. The Red & Black dished out 14 assists on 24 made field goals and scored 30 points in the paint.
// UP NEXT
The Bearcats will welcome the No. 25 USF Bulls to Saint Ursula Academy Gymnasium & Convocation Center on Wednesday, Jan. 3, for a 7 p.m. tipoff. Admission to the game will be free of charge as part of the season-long Experience UC initiative.
With the win, UC moved to 9-5 on the season and 1-0 in league play. Meanwhile, ECU fell to 8-6 overall and 0-1 in the AAC
In The American opener for both teams, the first half was competitive with the Red & Black going on a 8-4 run over the final five minutes of the second quarter to take a 29-22 lead into halftime. The Red & Black was strong out of the break with a 10-0 run to begin the second half to take control of the game. UC increased its lead to as many as 20 points late in the third period, but saw the home team answer back to trail by seven, 60-53, with 3:31 left to play. Down the stretch, the Bearcats made plays on both ends of the floor to come away with the win.
Senior guard Ana Owens (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North) led all scorers with 18 points to go along with an also game-high seven assists. Owens was joined in double figures by three Bearcats: sophomore forward Angel Rizor (Zebulon, N.C./East Wake) and freshman forward Iimar'I Thomas (Oakland, Calif./Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep) both with 14 points, and junior guard Nikira Goings (Marietta, Ga./Osborne) with 10. Senior forward Shanice Johnson (Philadelphia, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara/Monroe CC) grabbed a team-best eight rebounds.
UC shot the ball at a 47-percent clip for the game including knocking down four 3-pointers. The Bearcats also drained 14-of-17 from the free-throw line and outrebounded the opposition, 40-31. The Red & Black dished out 14 assists on 24 made field goals and scored 30 points in the paint.
// UP NEXT
The Bearcats will welcome the No. 25 USF Bulls to Saint Ursula Academy Gymnasium & Convocation Center on Wednesday, Jan. 3, for a 7 p.m. tipoff. Admission to the game will be free of charge as part of the season-long Experience UC initiative.