TicketsCINCINNATI – University of Cincinnati women's basketball dropped a 60-50 decision to the Saint Louis Billikens on Sunday at Fifth Third Arena.
The Bearcats (1-1) duo of senior guard Antoinette Miller (Detroit, Mich./Southfield-Lathrup) and junior forward IImar'I Thomas (Oakland, Calif./Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep) provided the scoring punch again with Miller posting a game-high 21 points – as well as four assists – while Thomas posted a double-double of 16 points and 12 rebounds. Miller's 20-plus-point performance was her fifth straight going back to last season, while Thomas' double-double was her first this season and the ninth of her career.
In the second of a five-game homestand to open the season, UC and SLU (2-0) played an even, 13-13, first quarter. In the second, the Billikens used a 17-4 run to separate from the home team and took a 34-27 advantage into halftime following a Red & Black rally.
The Bearcats scored the first six points of the second half and took a 35-34 lead midway through the third quarter on a senior guard Sam Rodgers (Cincinnati, Ohio/Lakota East) jumper. The two teams went back and forth over the duration of the period with SLU edging UC 41-39 at the end of three.
In the final stanza, the Red & Black battled back and pulled ahead 44-43 with 7:48 remaining. The visitors answered with an 11-2 surge over the next six minutes to get into the driver's seat, 54-46, with a minute to go. Down the stretch, UC was unable to convert on the offensive end and saw the Billikens drain six free throws to ice the game, 60-50.
On the day, the Bearcats scored 26 points in the paint and turned 15 offensive rebounds into 16 second-chance points. In addition, the home team converted 14 SLU turnovers into 14 points and made 10 free throws.
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UC will welcome the Ohio State Buckeyes to Fifth Third Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 13 for a 7 p.m. tipoff. Buy tickets to the game here.
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