TicketsCINCINNATI – University of Cincinnati women's basketball used a dominant fourth-quarter showing to defeat the visiting VCU Rams, 66-54, on Friday night at Fifth Third Arena.
Facing a 46-43 deficit, the Bearcats (6-5) outscored the Rams (6-3) 23-8 in the final period – including a 10-0 run midway through the stanza -- to snap a three-game losing streak.
Sophomore forward IImar'I Thomas (Oakland, Calif./Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep) led all scorers and rebounders with a career-best 20 points, to go along with nine rebounds. Thomas was joined in double-figures by guards Nikira Goings (Marietta, Ga./Osborne) and Sam Rodgers (Cincinnati, Ohio/Lakota East) who both scored 14 points, while junior guard Antoinette Miller (Detroit, Mich./Southfield-Lathrup) chipped in 11 points. Miller also contributed six assists and five rebounds, while junior forward Angel Rizor (Zebulon, N.C./East Wake) added eight rebounds and three assists.
In its first game back at Fifth Third Arena in two weeks, the Red & Black struggled out of the gate, falling behind 13-8 after one quarter of play. The Bearcats bounced back in the second with a 6-0 run to pull ahead, 16-15, with 5:53 to go before halftime. The two teams traded baskets over much of the remainder of the half before the Rams edged UC to take a 25-22 lead into the break.
In a competitive third quarter, the squads matched one another blow for blow with VCU gaining a slight advantage, 46-43, going into the final period. The Red & Black started the fourth quarter fast, scoring the first four points of the stanza. The Bearcats continued on with a 10-0 burst to lead 57-48 with 4:26 remaining. UC stayed in control over the rest of the period, increasing its lead to as many as 15 points with under a minute to play as it cruised to victory.
Though they did not shoot the ball particularly well from the field at 34 percent, the Bearcats supplemented with strong defense that forced VCU into 21 turnovers which they turned into 16 points. The Red & Black also knocked down a season-high 21 free throws and outrebounded the visitors, 36-29. In addition, UC assisted on 15 of 20 made field goals and scored 28 points in the paint. The Bearcats also got 16 points from their bench and scored 15 second-chance points.
// UP NEXT
UC will have more than a week off from competition before returning to action on Sunday, Dec. 16, when it welcomes Xavier to Fifth Third Arena for the 2018 Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout at 2 p.m. ET.
// 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.