TicketsCINCINNATI – University of Cincinnati women's basketball is set to host the Minnesota Gophers Sunday, March 24 in the second round of the Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT). The game will tipoff at 3 p.m. at Fifth Third Arena (FTA).
// TICKETS
Single-game general admission tickets are only $5, while reserved seating inside the Champions Club is just $7. UC and UM students can gain free admission to FTA by presenting their valid student ID. UC faculty and staff (and guests) can also get in free by showing their Bearcat Card at the ticket office. Children three years of age and under, too, will receive free admission. Tickets can be purchased by logging onto GoBEARCATS.com/Tickets or by visiting the FTA ticket office on gameday.
// PARKING
Cash parking will be available at Corry Garage on campus for $5.
// GOING LIVE
The game will be streamed live on Bearcats TV, while live stats can be accessed here.
// GAME PROMOTIONS
Fans can receive a free rally towel upon entry to the arena. The usual postgame autograph session will also take place.
// THE SERIES
The matchup will be the first all-time between the Bearcats and Gophers.
// LAST TIME OUT
UC (22-10) took care of business Thursday night in the WNIT first round with a 76-62 win against the Youngstown State Penguins at Fifth Third Arena. A dominant second quarter – featuring a 20-8 scoring edge – allowed the Bearcats to take control of the game early on. UC then weathered a late run by YSU (22-10) to come away with the victory. The triumph was the Red & Black's first in the postseason since a WNIT win over Duquesne in 2012. In addition, head coach Michelle Clark-Heard picked up her 200th career victory in just nine seasons as a head coach. UC, once again, featured a balanced scoring attack with four players scoring 10 or more points. Sophomore forward Andeija Puckett (Griffin, Ga./Griffin) led the way with a career-high 16 points, to go along with six rebounds. Junior guard Antoinette Miller (Detroit, Mich./Southfield-Lathrup) also scored 16 and added five rebounds. Junior forward Angel Rizor (Zebulon, N.C./East Wake) continued her strong late-season play with 14 points and a team-best eight rebounds. Junior guard Sam Rodgers (Cincinnati, Ohio/Lakota East) chipped in 10 points a career-best-tying seven rebounds, as well as a team-high five assists.
// SCOUTING THE BEARCATS
UC is 5-13 all-time in the postseason, including 4-9 in the WNIT. The Red & Black has never won consecutive postseason games. This is the Bearcats' second-straight WNIT appearance after being edged, 81-75, at Michigan State last season in the tournament's first round.
The Bearcats have created a formidable home-court advantage inside newly-renovated Fifth Third Arena this season with a 15-2 home record. UC's 15 home wins is the most since the 2002-03 squad went 15-1 on its way to the NCAA Tournament. In total, the Red & Black boasts a 74-percent (39-14) winning percentage on their home floor over the last three seasons.
The Bearcats' historic accomplishments this season include their first 20-win season since 2003, first time with 12 or more conference wins since 1999, highest-ever finish in the AAC (third place), and first time with three or more regular-season conference honorees since 2003.
The trio of sophomore forward IImar'I Thomas (Oakland, Calif./Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep), Miller, and junior guard Florence Sifa (Bujumbura, Burundi/Jacksonville College) were each recognized with AAC regular-season honors early this month. Thomas was selected First Team All-Conference, Miller Second Team, and Sifa Newcomer of the Year. The recognition marks back-to-back years UC has had multiple AAC regular-season honorees after Thomas won Freshman of the Year and Ana Owens was chosen for the Third Team in 2018. In addition, Thomas' selection is the Bearcats' first First Team honoree in its six years in the AAC.
Thomas was named American Player of the Week for the second time this season on March 5 after averaging 15.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.5 blocks per game as the Bearcats went 2-0 over the previous week. On the year, she is 12th in the country in field-goal percentage at 60.5 percent which is currently second-best in a season in program history. Additionally, Rizor was tabbed for the Weekly Honor Roll on March 5 after posting averages of 14.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in UC's pair of wins the week prior. Thomas has received weekly recognition by the league five times this season, including her first Player of the Week on Dec. 17, 2018. In total, the sophomore has garnered weekly AAC accolades 10 times in her young career. The honor is the first of Rizor's career.
Sifa had a long, winding journey to NCAA Division I basketball, but is thriving at UC. Having experienced civil war and political unrest in her east African home country of Burundi, Sifa followed her basketball dream to junior college in Jacksonville, Texas and now to Cincinnati. An athletic guard, she has proven to be a great, late addition to the Bearcats roster with 7.5 points and 3.0 rebounds per game through 30 contests. Sifa earned her first AAC Weekly Honor Roll distinction on Feb. 25 after averaging 15.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 3.5 steals per game as the Bearcats won both of their contests the previous week.
Miller is being leaned on to step up this year after the graduation of Owens who scored 1,469 points and dished out 404 assists in her UC career. She has responded by impacting the game in a variety of ways with 12.8 points, 5.3 assists, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.9 steals per game so far in 2018-19. Her assists per game mark (5.3) ranks second in the AAC and 31st in the country and her current 169 total assists ranks as fourth-best in a season in program history. Additionally, her assist-to-turnover ratio (2.1) is 49th-best in NCAA Division I. Miller has been named to the AAC Weekly Honor Roll twice this season, most recently on Feb. 11 following her career day of 23 points against Wichita State.
Goings has shown a steady progression throughout her Bearcats career and is stepping up in her senior season. After averaging 2.7 points per game as a freshman, 6.1 as a sophomore, and a team-best 11.2 as a junior, the guard is averaging 9.1 points each contest in 2018-19. After suffering a sprained ankle at UConn on Jan. 9, the senior scored 11 points at UCF the following game with three made 3-pointers. Goings' streak of five-straight games – off the bench -- with double-figure scoring was snapped against Tulsa on Feb. 20 with nine points. The Georgia native earned her first AAC Weekly Honor Roll accolade on Feb. 4 after averaging 16.0 points, 2.0 steals, and 2.0 rebounds as the Bearcats split a pair of games the week prior. In her career, the sharpshooter is sixth all-time in program history in made 3-pointers with 154.
UC's 12 conference wins were each very impressive. On average, the Bearcats won by 17 points, featuring a league-play-best, 28-point wallop of Wichita State on Feb. 10. The Red & Black registered six wins by 20 points or more, including three of its last seven.
Rodgers picked up her first AAC Weekly Honor Roll distinction on Jan.7 after recording a career performance on Jan. 6 in UC's AAC-opening, 69-57 home victory over SMU. The Cincinnati native scored a career-best 20 points – 17 of which came in the first half – including a career-high five 3-pointers. The guard was a catalyst in a game-changing, late-second-quarter, 15-0 Bearcats run with three triples. In addition, she tallied another career mark with two blocks.
UC signed a talented, six-member recruiting class for the 2019-20 season on Nov. 11. Stretching from the Mid-Atlantic to the Southeast and all the way to Africa, head coach Michelle Clark-Heard's inaugural Bearcats signing class features players who are tenacious, versatile, and true winners. Signees include: 6-foot-2 forward Jana Abdullah (Alexandria, Egypt/King Integrated American School), 5-foot-6 point guard Aleah Nelson (Nottingham, Md./McDonogh High School), 6-foot-1 wing Jada Scott (Townsend, Ga./Frederica Academy), 6-foot-1 forward Jadyn Scott (Townsend, Ga./Frederica Academy), 5-foot-8 guard Jordan Tuff (Kernersville, N.C./Connections Academy), and 5-foot-8 guard Chellia Watson (Winder, Ga./Window-Barrow High School). Nelson and Tuff were both recently nominated for selection for the 2019 McDonald's All American Game. The Scott twins' brother, Trevon, is a redshirt junior forward on the UC men's basketball team.
Leading UC this year is head coach Michelle Clark-Heard who was an assistant at UC from 2002-05 and spent the previous six seasons as the head coach at Western Kentucky. In six seasons at WKU, Clark-Heard reached four NCAA Tournaments, won four conference tournament championships and two regular season conference titles while posting 154 wins, becoming the second-fastest Lady Topper coach to reach 100 victories with the program. She amassed a 154-48 (.762) record at WKU and a 178-80 (.690) career mark. Clark-Heard has led her teams to six-consecutive 20-win seasons and six-straight appearances in the postseason (four NCAA, two WNIT).
// SCOUTING THE GOPHERS
An at-large selection to the WNIT, the Gophers (21-10, 9-9 B1G) advanced to the tournament's second round with a 91-75 home win Friday over Northern Iowa. In the victory, four Minnesota players scored in double figures, led by sophomore Destiny Pitts' 29 points. On the season, senior Kenisha Bell leads the way with 18.9 points per game, while Pitts scores 16.5 per. Junior Taiye Bello adds a team-best 12.0 rebounds to go along with 9.7 points each outing. Minnesota finished the regular season sixth out of 14 teams in the Big Ten and reached the second round of the conference tournament. Three Gophers earned Big Ten regular-season honors with Bell and Pitts garnering First and Second Team accolades, respectively, while Bello was an Honorable Mention. Minnesota is led by first-year head coach and UM alum Lindsay Whalen – a WNBA Champion, Olympic Gold Medalist, three-time All-American, and Minnesota's all-time points leader.
// FIFTH THIRD ARENA REOPENS
After a 20-month, privately funded, $87-million renovation, Fifth Third Arena reopens in 2018-19. With the arena under renovation, the Bearcats played the 2017-18 season off campus at both Saint Ursula Academy (16 games) and Cincinnati State (two games). UC posted a 12-6 home mark last year.
// TICKETS
Single-game general admission tickets are only $5, while reserved seating inside the Champions Club is just $7. UC and UM students can gain free admission to FTA by presenting their valid student ID. UC faculty and staff (and guests) can also get in free by showing their Bearcat Card at the ticket office. Children three years of age and under, too, will receive free admission. Tickets can be purchased by logging onto GoBEARCATS.com/Tickets or by visiting the FTA ticket office on gameday.
// PARKING
Cash parking will be available at Corry Garage on campus for $5.
// GOING LIVE
The game will be streamed live on Bearcats TV, while live stats can be accessed here.
// GAME PROMOTIONS
Fans can receive a free rally towel upon entry to the arena. The usual postgame autograph session will also take place.
// THE SERIES
The matchup will be the first all-time between the Bearcats and Gophers.
// LAST TIME OUT
UC (22-10) took care of business Thursday night in the WNIT first round with a 76-62 win against the Youngstown State Penguins at Fifth Third Arena. A dominant second quarter – featuring a 20-8 scoring edge – allowed the Bearcats to take control of the game early on. UC then weathered a late run by YSU (22-10) to come away with the victory. The triumph was the Red & Black's first in the postseason since a WNIT win over Duquesne in 2012. In addition, head coach Michelle Clark-Heard picked up her 200th career victory in just nine seasons as a head coach. UC, once again, featured a balanced scoring attack with four players scoring 10 or more points. Sophomore forward Andeija Puckett (Griffin, Ga./Griffin) led the way with a career-high 16 points, to go along with six rebounds. Junior guard Antoinette Miller (Detroit, Mich./Southfield-Lathrup) also scored 16 and added five rebounds. Junior forward Angel Rizor (Zebulon, N.C./East Wake) continued her strong late-season play with 14 points and a team-best eight rebounds. Junior guard Sam Rodgers (Cincinnati, Ohio/Lakota East) chipped in 10 points a career-best-tying seven rebounds, as well as a team-high five assists.
// SCOUTING THE BEARCATS
UC is 5-13 all-time in the postseason, including 4-9 in the WNIT. The Red & Black has never won consecutive postseason games. This is the Bearcats' second-straight WNIT appearance after being edged, 81-75, at Michigan State last season in the tournament's first round.
The Bearcats have created a formidable home-court advantage inside newly-renovated Fifth Third Arena this season with a 15-2 home record. UC's 15 home wins is the most since the 2002-03 squad went 15-1 on its way to the NCAA Tournament. In total, the Red & Black boasts a 74-percent (39-14) winning percentage on their home floor over the last three seasons.
The Bearcats' historic accomplishments this season include their first 20-win season since 2003, first time with 12 or more conference wins since 1999, highest-ever finish in the AAC (third place), and first time with three or more regular-season conference honorees since 2003.
The trio of sophomore forward IImar'I Thomas (Oakland, Calif./Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep), Miller, and junior guard Florence Sifa (Bujumbura, Burundi/Jacksonville College) were each recognized with AAC regular-season honors early this month. Thomas was selected First Team All-Conference, Miller Second Team, and Sifa Newcomer of the Year. The recognition marks back-to-back years UC has had multiple AAC regular-season honorees after Thomas won Freshman of the Year and Ana Owens was chosen for the Third Team in 2018. In addition, Thomas' selection is the Bearcats' first First Team honoree in its six years in the AAC.
Thomas was named American Player of the Week for the second time this season on March 5 after averaging 15.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.5 blocks per game as the Bearcats went 2-0 over the previous week. On the year, she is 12th in the country in field-goal percentage at 60.5 percent which is currently second-best in a season in program history. Additionally, Rizor was tabbed for the Weekly Honor Roll on March 5 after posting averages of 14.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in UC's pair of wins the week prior. Thomas has received weekly recognition by the league five times this season, including her first Player of the Week on Dec. 17, 2018. In total, the sophomore has garnered weekly AAC accolades 10 times in her young career. The honor is the first of Rizor's career.
Sifa had a long, winding journey to NCAA Division I basketball, but is thriving at UC. Having experienced civil war and political unrest in her east African home country of Burundi, Sifa followed her basketball dream to junior college in Jacksonville, Texas and now to Cincinnati. An athletic guard, she has proven to be a great, late addition to the Bearcats roster with 7.5 points and 3.0 rebounds per game through 30 contests. Sifa earned her first AAC Weekly Honor Roll distinction on Feb. 25 after averaging 15.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 3.5 steals per game as the Bearcats won both of their contests the previous week.
Miller is being leaned on to step up this year after the graduation of Owens who scored 1,469 points and dished out 404 assists in her UC career. She has responded by impacting the game in a variety of ways with 12.8 points, 5.3 assists, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.9 steals per game so far in 2018-19. Her assists per game mark (5.3) ranks second in the AAC and 31st in the country and her current 169 total assists ranks as fourth-best in a season in program history. Additionally, her assist-to-turnover ratio (2.1) is 49th-best in NCAA Division I. Miller has been named to the AAC Weekly Honor Roll twice this season, most recently on Feb. 11 following her career day of 23 points against Wichita State.
Goings has shown a steady progression throughout her Bearcats career and is stepping up in her senior season. After averaging 2.7 points per game as a freshman, 6.1 as a sophomore, and a team-best 11.2 as a junior, the guard is averaging 9.1 points each contest in 2018-19. After suffering a sprained ankle at UConn on Jan. 9, the senior scored 11 points at UCF the following game with three made 3-pointers. Goings' streak of five-straight games – off the bench -- with double-figure scoring was snapped against Tulsa on Feb. 20 with nine points. The Georgia native earned her first AAC Weekly Honor Roll accolade on Feb. 4 after averaging 16.0 points, 2.0 steals, and 2.0 rebounds as the Bearcats split a pair of games the week prior. In her career, the sharpshooter is sixth all-time in program history in made 3-pointers with 154.
UC's 12 conference wins were each very impressive. On average, the Bearcats won by 17 points, featuring a league-play-best, 28-point wallop of Wichita State on Feb. 10. The Red & Black registered six wins by 20 points or more, including three of its last seven.
Rodgers picked up her first AAC Weekly Honor Roll distinction on Jan.7 after recording a career performance on Jan. 6 in UC's AAC-opening, 69-57 home victory over SMU. The Cincinnati native scored a career-best 20 points – 17 of which came in the first half – including a career-high five 3-pointers. The guard was a catalyst in a game-changing, late-second-quarter, 15-0 Bearcats run with three triples. In addition, she tallied another career mark with two blocks.
UC signed a talented, six-member recruiting class for the 2019-20 season on Nov. 11. Stretching from the Mid-Atlantic to the Southeast and all the way to Africa, head coach Michelle Clark-Heard's inaugural Bearcats signing class features players who are tenacious, versatile, and true winners. Signees include: 6-foot-2 forward Jana Abdullah (Alexandria, Egypt/King Integrated American School), 5-foot-6 point guard Aleah Nelson (Nottingham, Md./McDonogh High School), 6-foot-1 wing Jada Scott (Townsend, Ga./Frederica Academy), 6-foot-1 forward Jadyn Scott (Townsend, Ga./Frederica Academy), 5-foot-8 guard Jordan Tuff (Kernersville, N.C./Connections Academy), and 5-foot-8 guard Chellia Watson (Winder, Ga./Window-Barrow High School). Nelson and Tuff were both recently nominated for selection for the 2019 McDonald's All American Game. The Scott twins' brother, Trevon, is a redshirt junior forward on the UC men's basketball team.
Leading UC this year is head coach Michelle Clark-Heard who was an assistant at UC from 2002-05 and spent the previous six seasons as the head coach at Western Kentucky. In six seasons at WKU, Clark-Heard reached four NCAA Tournaments, won four conference tournament championships and two regular season conference titles while posting 154 wins, becoming the second-fastest Lady Topper coach to reach 100 victories with the program. She amassed a 154-48 (.762) record at WKU and a 178-80 (.690) career mark. Clark-Heard has led her teams to six-consecutive 20-win seasons and six-straight appearances in the postseason (four NCAA, two WNIT).
// SCOUTING THE GOPHERS
An at-large selection to the WNIT, the Gophers (21-10, 9-9 B1G) advanced to the tournament's second round with a 91-75 home win Friday over Northern Iowa. In the victory, four Minnesota players scored in double figures, led by sophomore Destiny Pitts' 29 points. On the season, senior Kenisha Bell leads the way with 18.9 points per game, while Pitts scores 16.5 per. Junior Taiye Bello adds a team-best 12.0 rebounds to go along with 9.7 points each outing. Minnesota finished the regular season sixth out of 14 teams in the Big Ten and reached the second round of the conference tournament. Three Gophers earned Big Ten regular-season honors with Bell and Pitts garnering First and Second Team accolades, respectively, while Bello was an Honorable Mention. Minnesota is led by first-year head coach and UM alum Lindsay Whalen – a WNBA Champion, Olympic Gold Medalist, three-time All-American, and Minnesota's all-time points leader.
// FIFTH THIRD ARENA REOPENS
After a 20-month, privately funded, $87-million renovation, Fifth Third Arena reopens in 2018-19. With the arena under renovation, the Bearcats played the 2017-18 season off campus at both Saint Ursula Academy (16 games) and Cincinnati State (two games). UC posted a 12-6 home mark last year.