TicketsCINCINNATI – University of Cincinnati women's basketball put on a defensive clinic on Senior Day Saturday at Fifth Third Arena (FTA) with a 57-43 victory over the visiting USF Bulls.
The Bearcats (19-9, 11-4 AAC) turned in its best defensive performance of the season, limiting the Bulls (16-13, 7-8 AAC) to season lows of 10 made field goals and 18-percent shooting from the field.
With the win, UC clinched the No. 3 seed in next week's American Athletic Conference Championship at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. A top-three seed is the Bearcats' best-ever regular-season finish in its six years in the AAC
Four Cincinnati players scored in double figures, with junior forward Angel Rizor (Zebulon, N.C./East Wake) and sophomore forward IImar'I Thomas (Oakland, Calif./Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep) both scoring a team-high 13 points. Thomas also pulled down a Bearcats-best nine rebounds. Junior guard Sam Rodgers (Cincinnati, Ohio/Lakota East) added 11 points, six rebounds, and a career-high-tying six assists. Moreover, senior guard Nikira Goings (Marietta, Ga./Osborne) scored 10 points on Senior Day.
In its last regular-season home game, the Bearcats started fast, scoring the first six points of the contest. The Bulls answered with a 7-0 run to take the lead. The two teams traded baskets for much of the opening period, but USF pulled ahead 13-10 with 1:24 left in the first quarter. UC responded by scoring the final four points of the stanza to take a 14-13 advantage at the end of one. The Red & Black surged ahead in the second period, using an 8-0 run midway through the quarter and parlayed it into a 31-21 halftime lead.
The Bearcats came out of the break energized, scoring the first six points of the second half to take a 37-21 advantage early in the third quarter. USF battled back and trailed just 41-33 with 2:32 left in the third. UC closed the period with an 8-2 surge to go up 49-35 with 10 minutes remaining. The Bearcats did not let up in the fourth quarter and continued to limit the Bulls from the field. The two sides ultimately played an even final period with the Red & Black suffocating USF into a 57-43 decision.
In addition to their dominating defense, the Bearcats shot the ball at a 43-percent clip from the floor and knocked down 11-of-15 free throws. The home team also registered 24 points in the paint, got out in transition for 17 points, and got 11 points from its bench. UC also added 13 assists on 22 made field goals.
// UP NEXT
UC will have a very quick turnaround to its regular-season finale at Tulane on Monday, March 4. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN3.
// AAC CHAMPIONSHIP TICKET INFO
Fans wanting to support University of Cincinnati women's basketball at the 2019 American Athletic Conference Championship can purchase tickets at GoBearcats.com/Tickets or by calling 1-877-CATS-TIX. The championship will take place March 8-11, 2019, with all games being played at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, for the sixth-consecutive season. All-session ticket packages, which includes admission to all four days of competition – a total of 11 games – will be available for $99. Tickets will be allocated and mailed the week of Feb. 25. All will-call tickets will be available to pick up at the Mohegan Sun Arena on UC gamedays.