TicketsCINCINNATI – University of Cincinnati women's basketball sophomore forward IImar'I Thomas (Oakland, Calif./Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep) paced five Bearcats in double-figures with a career-high-tying 20 points -- as well as a career-best 18 rebounds – in a 79-61 victory over the Xavier Musketeers on Sunday afternoon at Fifth Third Arena in the 2018 edition of the Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout.
Following an even first half, the Bearcats (7-5) turned it on in the second, outscoring the Musketeers (7-2), 38-20, to take back the Kendle Cup – the traveling trophy in the rivalry. The win for UC also snapped a four-game losing streak to XU and marked its first home Shootout win since 2008.
Thomas was joined in double-figure scoring by junior guards Sam Rodgers (Cincinnati, Ohio/Lakota East), Antoinette Miller (Detroit, Mich./Southfield-Lathrup), and Florence Sifa (Bujumbura, Burundi/Jacksonville College) who posted 14, 13, and 10 points, respectively, while sophomore forward Andeija Puckett (Griffin, Ga./Griffin) added a career-high-tying 11 points. Furthermore, Thomas' four assists also tied a career best, while Miller's eight rebounds set a new career mark.
Following a week off from competition during finals week, the Bearcats fell behind by as many as five points in the first quarter and faced a 21-17 deficit at the end of one. Confronted with a five-point, 24-19, hole with 8:43 to go before halftime, UC went on a 22-13 run over the next eight minutes to lead, 41-37, with under a minute left in the second quarter. Four unanswered points by XU in the final seconds brought the score to 41-all at the break.
With the score tied at 43 with eight minutes to go in the third period, the Red & Black surged ahead with a 22-7 run – including 11 unanswered points -- to take a 65-50 advantage with 1:15 remaining in the quarter. The Muskies answered with six-straight points to bring the score to 65-56, Bearcats, with one quarter of regulation left to play. UC took control of the game with a 9-0 run to begin the fourth period and never looked back, staying in the driver's seat over the duration of the stanza to come away with the victory.
The Bearcats dominated XU on the glass with a 51-30 rebounding advantage, including 20 offensive rebounds which they turned into 21 points. UC was also forceful in the paint with 38 points, and got 21 points from its bench. In addition, the Red & Black dished out 17 assists and held XU nine points under its season scoring average.
// UP NEXT
UC will wrap nonconference play Friday, Dec. 21, when it welcomes Howard to Fifth Third Arena for a 7 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.