TicketsCINCINNATI – University of Cincinnati women's basketball used a dominant second-half performance to upend the visiting Houston Cougars, 68-57, on Wednesday night at Fifth Third Arena.
Following a 36-31 halftime deficit, the Bearcats (12-7, 4-2 AAC) fought back in the third quarter, outscoring the Cougars (9-9, 3-2 AAC), 22-9, to take a 53-45 advantage into the final period. In the fourth, the Red & Black increased its lead to as many as 12 points early, and following UH cutting its deficit to five with 1:30 to go, ended the game with a 6-0 run to secure the victory. The win is the Bearcats' third in a row and their eighth-consecutive at home.
UC had three players with double-figure scoring outputs, led by a game and career-high 21 points from junior guard Antoinette Miller (Detroit, Mich./Southfield-Lathrup). Miller also added seven rebounds and four assists. Sophomore forward IImar'I Thomas (Oakland, Calif./Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep) contributed 16 points and a team-best eight rebounds, while junior guard Florence Sifa (Bujumbura, Burundi/Jacksonville College) came off the bench to score 10 points. Junior forward Angel Rizor (Zebulon, N.C./East Wake) recorded eight points, seven rebounds, and a career-high-tying six assists.
Beginning a two-game home stint, the Bearcats fell behind by as many as six points midway through the first quarter, but battled back to trail just 15-14 at the end of one. UC took a one-point, 18-17, lead early in the second period, but fell victim to an 8-2 Cougars streak over four minute to trail, 25-20. The two teams went back and forth over the duration of the half, resulting in the visitors holding a 36-31 surplus at the break.
UC came out of the locker room energized and quickly erased a seven-point shortfall with a 9-2 run to tie the game at 40 with 4:33 left in the third quarter. Over the course of the period, the Bearcats outscored the opposition, 13-5, to lead 53-45 going into the fourth. The Red and Black went up by double digits early in the final quarter and weathered a late UH rally to come away with a 68-57 triumph.
The Bearcats shot the ball at a 40-percent clip for the game and held the Cougars to 34-percent shooting. UC scored 38 points in the paint and edged UH in rebounds, 43-41. The Red & Black also dished out 19 assists on 23 made field goals and knocked down 18-of-22 from the free-throw line.
// UP NEXT
UC will return to Fifth Third Arena on Saturday, Jan. 26, for a 2 p.m. showdown with Memphis at Fifth Third Arena.
// 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.