TicketsCINCINNATI – A dominant second quarter by University of Cincinnati women's basketball paved the way for a runaway, 83-52 victory over the visiting Tulane Green Wave on Saturday afternoon at Saint Ursula Academy Gymnasium & Convocation Center.
With the victory, the Bearcats picked up their second-consecutive win to move to 15-10 overall and 7-5 in the American Athletic Conference. The triumph also marked UC's largest margin of victory in an AAC game in its five seasons in the league. Meanwhile, the Green Wave fell to 12-13 on the season and 4-8 in conference play.
Fresh off a big, road win Wednesday at Wichita State, UC and Tulane played a competitive first quarter with the Bearcats taking a 16-13 edge into the second. The Red & Black proceeded to dominate the following quarter, outscoring the Green Wave, 24-8, to take a commanding 40-21 lead into the halftime break.
Out of the locker room to begin the second half, UC saw its advantage dwindle to 15, 42-27, with four minutes left in the third quarter. The Bearcats responded by outscoring the visitors from New Orleans, 16-6, over the duration of the third to take back control of the game. The Red & Black played add-on in the final period, increasing its lead to a game-high 31 points to close the contest, 83-52.
With four double-figure scorers for the first time since Jan. 13 against Temple, freshman forward IImar'I Thomas (Oakland, Calif./Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep) led the way for UC with 18 points – to go along with eight rebounds and two assists – in a reserve role off the bench. Junior Nikira Goings (Marietta, Ga./Osborne) continued her hot shooting with 15 points, including three 3-pointers. The guard also recorded four assists and a career-high tying four steals. Senior forward Shanice Johnson (Philadelphia, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara/Monroe CC) just missed a double-double with 12 points, a game-best nine rebounds, as well as five steals. Sophomore guard Sam Rodgers (Cincinnati, Ohio/Lakota East) chipped in 12 points, four rebounds, and two assists and helped limit The American's third-leading scorer, Tulane senior guard Kolby Morgan, to nine points under her season scoring average of 20.0 points per. In addition, sophomore guard Antoinette Miller (Detroit, Mich./Southfield-Lathrup) contributed nine points, three assists, and two rebounds.
UC's defensive pressure was the story of the day, forcing the Green Wave into 21 turnovers which were converted into 25 points. The Red & Black also scored 40 points in the paint, got 42 points from its bench, turned 10 offensive rebounds into 11 second-chance points, and got out on the fast break for 16 points. In total, the Bearcats shot the ball at a 46-percent clip from the floor, grabbed 43 rebounds, and held the opposition to 31-percent shooting from the field, including just 2-of-23 from 3-point range.
// UP NEXT
The Bearcats will have a week off from competition before returning to action on Saturday, Feb. 17 for a 2 p.m. tipoff against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane inside Saint Ursula Academy Gymnasium & Convocation Center. Admission to the game will be free of charge as part of the season-long Experience UC initiative. Partnering with UC Health, the matchup will be the Bearcats' annual pink game to promote cancer awareness. Attending fans are also encouraged to wear pink.
With the victory, the Bearcats picked up their second-consecutive win to move to 15-10 overall and 7-5 in the American Athletic Conference. The triumph also marked UC's largest margin of victory in an AAC game in its five seasons in the league. Meanwhile, the Green Wave fell to 12-13 on the season and 4-8 in conference play.
Fresh off a big, road win Wednesday at Wichita State, UC and Tulane played a competitive first quarter with the Bearcats taking a 16-13 edge into the second. The Red & Black proceeded to dominate the following quarter, outscoring the Green Wave, 24-8, to take a commanding 40-21 lead into the halftime break.
Out of the locker room to begin the second half, UC saw its advantage dwindle to 15, 42-27, with four minutes left in the third quarter. The Bearcats responded by outscoring the visitors from New Orleans, 16-6, over the duration of the third to take back control of the game. The Red & Black played add-on in the final period, increasing its lead to a game-high 31 points to close the contest, 83-52.
With four double-figure scorers for the first time since Jan. 13 against Temple, freshman forward IImar'I Thomas (Oakland, Calif./Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep) led the way for UC with 18 points – to go along with eight rebounds and two assists – in a reserve role off the bench. Junior Nikira Goings (Marietta, Ga./Osborne) continued her hot shooting with 15 points, including three 3-pointers. The guard also recorded four assists and a career-high tying four steals. Senior forward Shanice Johnson (Philadelphia, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara/Monroe CC) just missed a double-double with 12 points, a game-best nine rebounds, as well as five steals. Sophomore guard Sam Rodgers (Cincinnati, Ohio/Lakota East) chipped in 12 points, four rebounds, and two assists and helped limit The American's third-leading scorer, Tulane senior guard Kolby Morgan, to nine points under her season scoring average of 20.0 points per. In addition, sophomore guard Antoinette Miller (Detroit, Mich./Southfield-Lathrup) contributed nine points, three assists, and two rebounds.
UC's defensive pressure was the story of the day, forcing the Green Wave into 21 turnovers which were converted into 25 points. The Red & Black also scored 40 points in the paint, got 42 points from its bench, turned 10 offensive rebounds into 11 second-chance points, and got out on the fast break for 16 points. In total, the Bearcats shot the ball at a 46-percent clip from the floor, grabbed 43 rebounds, and held the opposition to 31-percent shooting from the field, including just 2-of-23 from 3-point range.
// UP NEXT
The Bearcats will have a week off from competition before returning to action on Saturday, Feb. 17 for a 2 p.m. tipoff against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane inside Saint Ursula Academy Gymnasium & Convocation Center. Admission to the game will be free of charge as part of the season-long Experience UC initiative. Partnering with UC Health, the matchup will be the Bearcats' annual pink game to promote cancer awareness. Attending fans are also encouraged to wear pink.