TicketsCINCINNATI – University of Cincinnati women's basketball outmatched Yale, 66-52, Wednesday night at Fifth Third Arena.
The Bearcats (4-2) outscored the Bulldogs (2-3) 37-26 in the second half to notch the victory. Senior guard Nikira Goings (Marietta, Ga./Osborne) led the way for UC with 20 points, while sophomore forward IImar'I Thomas (Oakland, Calif./Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep) posted a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
Looking to protect home court, the Red & Black fell behind by six late in the first quarter and took a 17-13 deficit into the second. The Bearcats battled back in the next period, taking a 21-19 lead at the 7:50 mark following a Goings made 3-pointer. The two teams competed tightly over the duration of the first half with UC taking a 29-26 advantage into the break.
After Yale tied the game at 33 with 6:22 remaining in the third quarter, the Red & Black went on a 10-2 run over four minutes and led 50-42 heading into the final period. In the fourth, UC pulled ahead by 12 points midway through the quarter and didn't look back -- increasing its lead to a game-high 17 points with a minute to play.
Goings' 20-point outing was her second of the season and the sixth of her career. In addition to Thomas recording her first double-double of the year and the third of her career, she also posted career bests in assists (4) and blocks (4). Moreover, junior guard Florence Sifa (Bujumbura, Burundi/Jacksonville College) added nine points, five rebounds, and three steals.
As a team, the Bearcats dominated in the paint with 40 points, got 29 points from their bench, owned the backboard with 51 rebounds, and got out on the break with 15 points in transition. Furthermore, the Red & Black nailed 10-of-12 from the free-throw line, dished out 11 assists, and shot 46 percent (27-of-59) from the field.
// UP NEXT
UC will cap its two-game homestand Saturday, Nov. 24, when it welcomes Lipscomb to Fifth Third Arena for a 2 p.m. ET tipoff.
// SINGLE-GAME TICKET INFO
Single-game tickets for the 2018-19 season are on sale now. General admission tickets are available at just $5, while Champions Club tickets are $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.
// SEASON TICKET INFO
Catch the exciting start of the Michelle Clark-Heard era and the reopening of Fifth Third Arena by purchasing your 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.