TicketsCINCINNATI – University of Cincinnati women's basketball held its postseason team banquet Tuesday inside the Fifth Third Arena Champions Club.
The programming began with comments from UC Director of Athletics Mike Bohn, then head coach Michelle Clark-Heard took to the podium to recap the 2018-19 season and announce the team's postseason awards, selected by the Bearcats coaching staff.
Junior guard Antoinette Miller (Detroit, Mich./Southfield-Lathrup) was named UC's Most Valuable Player after leading the team with 13.6 points and 5.2 assists per game en route to Second Team All-American Athletic Conference (AAC) regular season honors. The junior's assist total (183) ranks as 20th-best nationally, second in the AAC, and third-best in a season in program history. On the season, Miller led UC in scoring on 11 occasions and in assists 27 times.
Guard Nikira Goings (Marietta, Ga./Osborne) took home the CATS Award which is given to a player who is clutch, battles through adversity, is a true team player, and contributes to the overall success of the program. Battling through injury at various points during the season, the senior came off the bench to average 8.7 points and 2.4 rebounds per game. The sharpshooter buried a team-high tying 54 3-pointers on the season which brought her career total to 156 – the sixth-best mark in program history.
Junior guard Sam Rodgers (Cincinnati, Ohio/Lakota East) was the recipient of the inaugural Jolinda Lewis Award, presented in the name of UC Athletics Hall of Famer Jolinda Lewis-Miller. Rodgers earned the honor as the embodiment of Lewis' effort, grit, loyalty, commitment to excellence, and overall impact on the women's basketball program. A leader on the team, the local product averaged 9.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and drained a Bearcats-best-tying 54 3-pointers.
A number of additional award winners were recognized on the night. Senior Maya Benham (Douglasville, Ga./Osborne) was tabbed for the Bearcat Award for her joy and energy every day, as well as her constant encouragement and celebration of her teammates. Senior Chelsea Warren (Red Oak, Texas/Red Oak) earned the Hustle & Heart Award for her ability to bring those attributes every day to the team. Moreover, student assistant coach Zenzele Apesemaka-Vital took home the Zenzele Award for her inspiration, perseverance, and selflessness which were very important to the success of the team.
The Bearcats' historic accomplishments this past season include the first time with consecutive postseason wins in program history, their first 20-win season since 2003, first time with 12 conference wins since 1999, highest-ever finish in the American Athletic Conference (third place), and first time with three or more regular-season conference honorees since 2003.
The programming began with comments from UC Director of Athletics Mike Bohn, then head coach Michelle Clark-Heard took to the podium to recap the 2018-19 season and announce the team's postseason awards, selected by the Bearcats coaching staff.
Junior guard Antoinette Miller (Detroit, Mich./Southfield-Lathrup) was named UC's Most Valuable Player after leading the team with 13.6 points and 5.2 assists per game en route to Second Team All-American Athletic Conference (AAC) regular season honors. The junior's assist total (183) ranks as 20th-best nationally, second in the AAC, and third-best in a season in program history. On the season, Miller led UC in scoring on 11 occasions and in assists 27 times.
Guard Nikira Goings (Marietta, Ga./Osborne) took home the CATS Award which is given to a player who is clutch, battles through adversity, is a true team player, and contributes to the overall success of the program. Battling through injury at various points during the season, the senior came off the bench to average 8.7 points and 2.4 rebounds per game. The sharpshooter buried a team-high tying 54 3-pointers on the season which brought her career total to 156 – the sixth-best mark in program history.
Junior guard Sam Rodgers (Cincinnati, Ohio/Lakota East) was the recipient of the inaugural Jolinda Lewis Award, presented in the name of UC Athletics Hall of Famer Jolinda Lewis-Miller. Rodgers earned the honor as the embodiment of Lewis' effort, grit, loyalty, commitment to excellence, and overall impact on the women's basketball program. A leader on the team, the local product averaged 9.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and drained a Bearcats-best-tying 54 3-pointers.
A number of additional award winners were recognized on the night. Senior Maya Benham (Douglasville, Ga./Osborne) was tabbed for the Bearcat Award for her joy and energy every day, as well as her constant encouragement and celebration of her teammates. Senior Chelsea Warren (Red Oak, Texas/Red Oak) earned the Hustle & Heart Award for her ability to bring those attributes every day to the team. Moreover, student assistant coach Zenzele Apesemaka-Vital took home the Zenzele Award for her inspiration, perseverance, and selflessness which were very important to the success of the team.
The Bearcats' historic accomplishments this past season include the first time with consecutive postseason wins in program history, their first 20-win season since 2003, first time with 12 conference wins since 1999, highest-ever finish in the American Athletic Conference (third place), and first time with three or more regular-season conference honorees since 2003.