TicketsCINCINNATI – University of Cincinnati women's basketball will begin the 2018-19 regular season Tuesday when it welcomes Austin Peay to Fifth Third Arena for a 7 p.m. tipoff.
// TICKETS
General admission tickets to the game are only $5, while tickets inside the Champions Club are just $7. Discounts for youth (ages 4-12) and seniors (ages 65+) include $3 general admission tickets and $5 Champions Club tickets. Tickets can be purchased by either calling 1-877-CATS-TIX, logging onto GoBEARCATS.com/Tickets, or by visiting the Fifth Third Arena ticket office on gameday.
// PARKING
Cash parking will be available at Corry Garage on campus for $5.
// GOING LIVE
A live video stream will be available – for free – on Bearcats TV, while live stats can be accessed here.
// GAME PROMOTIONS
Fans will receive a commemorative ticket recognizing the first regular-season women's basketball game inside the new Fifth Third Arena. Along with the special ticket, fans will get a 15% off UnderArmour.com coupon. Concessions specials will include 12-ounce beers on sale for just $3. In addition, UC students will receive coupons for free Skyline Chili cheese coneys.
// THE SERIES
The Bearcats lead the all-time series, 1-0. In the only previous meeting, UC bested APU, 74-61, on Dec. 30, 1995 in Cincinnati.
// LAST TIME OUT
In its first game at Fifth Third Arena since February of 2017, University of Cincinnati women's basketball came away with a 69-49 exhibition victory over California (Pa.) Saturday afternoon inside the newly-renovated facility. Junior forward Angel Rizor (Zebulon, N.C./East Wake) led the way for UC in the scoring column with a game-high 17 points, to go along with seven rebounds. Sophomore IImar'I Thomas (Oakland, Calif./Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep) recorded a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Senior guard Nikira Goings (Marietta, Ga./Osborne) chipped in 11 points.
// SCOUTING THE BEARCATS
UC returns three starters in 2018-19 from a team that won 19 games last year -- its best season in 15 years – and advanced to the semifinals of the American Athletic Conference Championship. With 68 percent of their scoring and 66 percent of their rebounding back, the Bearcats also boast the league's reigning Freshman of the Year in Thomas UC's leading returning scorer from a year ago, Goings, is also back after averaging 11.2 points per game in 2017-18.
Leading UC this year will be head coach Michelle Clark-Heard who was an assistant at UC from 2002-05 and spent the previous six seasons as the head coach at Western Kentucky. In six seasons at WKU, Clark-Heard reached four NCAA Tournaments, won four conference tournament championships and two regular season conference titles while posting 154 wins, becoming the second-fastest Lady Topper coach to reach 100 victories with the program. She amassed a 154-48 (.762) record at WKU and a 178-80 (.690) career mark. Clark-Heard has led her teams to six-consecutive 20-win seasons and six-straight appearances in the postseason (four NCAA, two WNIT).
At American Athletic Conference Basketball Media Day on Oct. 15, UC was selected to finish fifth in the 12-team league. Chosen by the league's head coaches, the pick is the highest the Bearcats have ever been selected in their six years in the AAC. Five-time The American champion and 2018 NCAA Final Four participant UConn was, again, picked to win the conference title. USF earned one first-place vote and was chosen second. Houston followed in third ahead of UCF, Cincinnati, Temple, SMU, ECU, Tulane, Wichita State, Memphis, and Tulsa to round out the poll.
UC welcomes three newcomers in 2018-19 in transfer guards Addaya Moore (Granite City, Ill./Granite City/Illinois), Monique Thompson (Long Beach, Calif./St. Anthony/Northwest Christian), and Florence Sifa (Bujumbura, Burundi/Jacksonville College). Moore transferred to UC from Illinois and will sit out this season due to NCAA transfer rules with three seasons of eligibility remaining in Clifton, beginning with the 2019-20 season. Thompson is a graduate transfer from NAIA Northwest Christian in Eugene, Oregon and is eligible to play this season. Sifa comes to UC from the JuCo ranks at Jacksonville College in Jacksonville, Texas and will be an important contributor for the Bearcats in 2018-19.
The Bearcats' home schedule features 16 regular-season home games, highlighted by the annual Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout against Xavier on Sunday, Dec. 16 and a matchup with perennial national power UConn on Saturday, Feb. 2. View the complete 2018-19 schedule here.
// SCOUTING THE GOVERNORS
In its lone preseason exhibition on Friday, APU rolled Georgetown College, 108-74. Six Governors scored in double figures, led by Brianah Ferby's 16 points. APU went 13-of-38 from 3-point range, 39-for-80 from the field, and outrebounded the Tigers, 53-26. The Govs are coming off their third-straight Ohio Valley Conference Tournament appearance under coach David Midlick. The Govs were selected ninth in the OVC Preseason Poll, with the top eight teams in the 12-team conference qualifying for the postseason tournament. Senior guard Keisha Gregory is the leading returning scorer (10.1 ppg) and rebounder (6.0 rpg) from last season.
// FIFTH THIRD ARENA REOPENS
After a 20-month, privately funded, $87-million renovation, Fifth Third Arena reopens in 2018-19. With the arena under renovation, the Bearcats played the 2017-18 season off campus at both Saint Ursula Academy (16 games) and Cincinnati State (two games). UC posted a 12-6 home mark last year.
// SEASON-TICKET INFO
Catch the exciting start of Clark-Heard era and the reopening of Fifth Third Arena by purchasing your 2018-19 University of Cincinnati women's basketball season tickets now! The prices for standard Bearcats season tickets are $65 for adults and $50 for youth, seniors, UC faculty and staff and current or former military members. Courtside season tickets are on sale for $100. Click here for more information on season tickets. Click here to purchase today.
// TICKETS
General admission tickets to the game are only $5, while tickets inside the Champions Club are just $7. Discounts for youth (ages 4-12) and seniors (ages 65+) include $3 general admission tickets and $5 Champions Club tickets. Tickets can be purchased by either calling 1-877-CATS-TIX, logging onto GoBEARCATS.com/Tickets, or by visiting the Fifth Third Arena ticket office on gameday.
// PARKING
Cash parking will be available at Corry Garage on campus for $5.
// GOING LIVE
A live video stream will be available – for free – on Bearcats TV, while live stats can be accessed here.
// GAME PROMOTIONS
Fans will receive a commemorative ticket recognizing the first regular-season women's basketball game inside the new Fifth Third Arena. Along with the special ticket, fans will get a 15% off UnderArmour.com coupon. Concessions specials will include 12-ounce beers on sale for just $3. In addition, UC students will receive coupons for free Skyline Chili cheese coneys.
// THE SERIES
The Bearcats lead the all-time series, 1-0. In the only previous meeting, UC bested APU, 74-61, on Dec. 30, 1995 in Cincinnati.
// LAST TIME OUT
In its first game at Fifth Third Arena since February of 2017, University of Cincinnati women's basketball came away with a 69-49 exhibition victory over California (Pa.) Saturday afternoon inside the newly-renovated facility. Junior forward Angel Rizor (Zebulon, N.C./East Wake) led the way for UC in the scoring column with a game-high 17 points, to go along with seven rebounds. Sophomore IImar'I Thomas (Oakland, Calif./Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep) recorded a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Senior guard Nikira Goings (Marietta, Ga./Osborne) chipped in 11 points.
// SCOUTING THE BEARCATS
UC returns three starters in 2018-19 from a team that won 19 games last year -- its best season in 15 years – and advanced to the semifinals of the American Athletic Conference Championship. With 68 percent of their scoring and 66 percent of their rebounding back, the Bearcats also boast the league's reigning Freshman of the Year in Thomas UC's leading returning scorer from a year ago, Goings, is also back after averaging 11.2 points per game in 2017-18.
Leading UC this year will be head coach Michelle Clark-Heard who was an assistant at UC from 2002-05 and spent the previous six seasons as the head coach at Western Kentucky. In six seasons at WKU, Clark-Heard reached four NCAA Tournaments, won four conference tournament championships and two regular season conference titles while posting 154 wins, becoming the second-fastest Lady Topper coach to reach 100 victories with the program. She amassed a 154-48 (.762) record at WKU and a 178-80 (.690) career mark. Clark-Heard has led her teams to six-consecutive 20-win seasons and six-straight appearances in the postseason (four NCAA, two WNIT).
At American Athletic Conference Basketball Media Day on Oct. 15, UC was selected to finish fifth in the 12-team league. Chosen by the league's head coaches, the pick is the highest the Bearcats have ever been selected in their six years in the AAC. Five-time The American champion and 2018 NCAA Final Four participant UConn was, again, picked to win the conference title. USF earned one first-place vote and was chosen second. Houston followed in third ahead of UCF, Cincinnati, Temple, SMU, ECU, Tulane, Wichita State, Memphis, and Tulsa to round out the poll.
UC welcomes three newcomers in 2018-19 in transfer guards Addaya Moore (Granite City, Ill./Granite City/Illinois), Monique Thompson (Long Beach, Calif./St. Anthony/Northwest Christian), and Florence Sifa (Bujumbura, Burundi/Jacksonville College). Moore transferred to UC from Illinois and will sit out this season due to NCAA transfer rules with three seasons of eligibility remaining in Clifton, beginning with the 2019-20 season. Thompson is a graduate transfer from NAIA Northwest Christian in Eugene, Oregon and is eligible to play this season. Sifa comes to UC from the JuCo ranks at Jacksonville College in Jacksonville, Texas and will be an important contributor for the Bearcats in 2018-19.
The Bearcats' home schedule features 16 regular-season home games, highlighted by the annual Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout against Xavier on Sunday, Dec. 16 and a matchup with perennial national power UConn on Saturday, Feb. 2. View the complete 2018-19 schedule here.
// SCOUTING THE GOVERNORS
In its lone preseason exhibition on Friday, APU rolled Georgetown College, 108-74. Six Governors scored in double figures, led by Brianah Ferby's 16 points. APU went 13-of-38 from 3-point range, 39-for-80 from the field, and outrebounded the Tigers, 53-26. The Govs are coming off their third-straight Ohio Valley Conference Tournament appearance under coach David Midlick. The Govs were selected ninth in the OVC Preseason Poll, with the top eight teams in the 12-team conference qualifying for the postseason tournament. Senior guard Keisha Gregory is the leading returning scorer (10.1 ppg) and rebounder (6.0 rpg) from last season.
// FIFTH THIRD ARENA REOPENS
After a 20-month, privately funded, $87-million renovation, Fifth Third Arena reopens in 2018-19. With the arena under renovation, the Bearcats played the 2017-18 season off campus at both Saint Ursula Academy (16 games) and Cincinnati State (two games). UC posted a 12-6 home mark last year.
// SEASON-TICKET INFO
Catch the exciting start of Clark-Heard era and the reopening of Fifth Third Arena by purchasing your 2018-19 University of Cincinnati women's basketball season tickets now! The prices for standard Bearcats season tickets are $65 for adults and $50 for youth, seniors, UC faculty and staff and current or former military members. Courtside season tickets are on sale for $100. Click here for more information on season tickets. Click here to purchase today.