TicketsSAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – University of Cincinnati women's basketball will spend its Thanksgiving holiday competing in the Puerto Rico Clasico. The Bearcats will first face Iowa on Wednesday, Nov. 27 and follow against Bucknell on Thursday, Nov. 28. Both games are slated to tip-off at 2:30 PM ET.
// GOING LIVE
A live video stream will be available on FloHoops (subscription required). Fans can listen to live audio streams of the games on Bearcats TV – Iowa, Bucknell.
// THE SERIES
The games will be the first-ever meetings between the Bearcats and both Iowa and Bucknell.
// LAST TIME OUT
UC (3-2) won its second-straight game with a 72-53 victory over the visiting Chattanooga Mocs at Fifth Third Arena. Solid first-half play, including a 12-4 run to end the second quarter, allowed the Bearcats to take a 37-26 lead into the halftime locker room. The home team then scored the first five points of the third period to go up 16, 42-26. UC saw its advantage reduced to just six points with 10 minutes left to play. The Bearcats responded by scoring the first seven points of the fourth period to lead 56-43 with 5:49 remaining. The Red & Black kept the pressure on UTC over the duration of the contest, increasing their advantage to as many as 21 points with under a minute to play to put the game away. Junior forward IImar'I Thomas' (Oakland, Calif./Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep) scored a career-high 29 points – to go along with seven rebounds – to lead all scorers. Senior guard Antoinette Miller (Detroit, Mich./Southfield-Lathrup) added 14 points, four assists, and two steals, while senior guard Sam Rodgers Rodgers (Cincinnati, Ohio/Lakota East) chipped in 12 points and three assists.
// SCOUTING THE BEARCATS
After scoring a career-high 29 points against Chattanooga last week, Thomas was named the American Athletic Conference Player of the Week, the league office announced Monday afternoon. Entering Monday, Thomas is second in the AAC in scoring (20.4 PPG) and third in rebounding (9.6 RPG). She is also fifth in the league in field-goal percentage (52.0%), third in free-throw shooting (82.8%), and second in offensive rebounds (5.2 RPG). Last week, Thomas was picked for The American Weekly Honor Roll after averaging 19.0 points and 10.5 rebounds during week two of the season. She last earned conference Player of the Week on Dec. 17, 2018.
Miller has been on a tear, scoring 20 points or more in six of her last eight games dating back to last season. The senior is stuffing the stat sheet with 18.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 2.0 steals per game. Furthermore, her scoring average ranks sixth in the conference, her assists average tied for seventh, assist-to-turnover ratio (1.6) also seventh, and her 37.0 minutes a contest is third-most in the AAC.
Senior forward Angel Rizor (Zebulon, N.C./East wake) has already surpassed her double-double total from last season with two in just four games. On the year, she is averaging 7.0 points and 7.6 rebounds (10th in the AAC) a game. Additionally, her assist-to-turnover ratio (1.9) is sixth-best in the conference while her offensive rebounds average (3.4 RPG) ranks in a tie for seventh.
A pair of Bearcats are quickly approaching 1,000-career points. Miller currently boasts 852 points, while Thomas is at 864. The duo will soon be the 27th and 28th members of the program's 1,000-point club. Guard Ana Owens was the most recent Bearcat to score 1,000 points when she joined the club in 2017.
The Bearcats have created a formidable home-court advantage inside newly-renovated Fifth Third Arena with an 20-4 home record going back to last season. In total, the Red & Black boasts a 73% (44-16) winning percentage on their home floor over the last four seasons.
Announced at AAC Basketball Media Day on Oct. 14, UC was selected to finish in a tie for third in the 12-team league. In addition, Miller and Thomas were both tabbed for the preseason all-conference second team. Chosen by the league's head coaches, the predicted finish is the highest the Bearcats have ever received in their seven years in The American, while the preseason all-conference accolades are the first since Alyesha Lovett received second team all-AAC honors in 2014.
UC will aim to continue the momentum from last year's historic season which included consecutive postseason wins for the first time in program history (WNIT quarterfinals), first 20-win season (24) since 2003, first time with 12 conference wins since 1999, and highest-ever finish in the American Athletic Conference (AAC) (third place).
With nine newcomers to the program in 2019-20, the Red & Black returns five starters, as well as Illinois transfer Addaya Moore (Granite City, Ill./Granite City/Illinois). Returning senior starters include 2019 second team all-AAC pick Miller, Rizor, and Sam Rodgers (Cincinnati, Ohio/Lakota East). In addition, first team all-conference honoree Thomas and reigning league Newcomer of the Year Florence Sifa (Bujumbura, Burundi/Jacksonville College) are also back.
// SCOUTING THE HAWKEYES
Iowa improved to 3-1 on the season with a 77-75 overtime victory over Princeton in Iowa City. Senior Kathleen Doyle scored 21 points with nine assists and seven rebounds, while senior Makenzie Meyer added 19 points and seven rebounds. The Hawkeyes' lone setback on the year was an 88-66 loss at Northern Iowa. On the season, Doyle leads the team with 16.3 points per game, while Meyer contributes 15.3. Coming off an Elite Eight appearance and a Big Ten Tournament Championship last season, Iowa's Doyle was named Preseason All-Big Ten.
// SCOUTING THE BISON
Bucknell enters the week at 2-3 after suffering back-to-back losses for the first time since last November. Most recently, the Bison fell 72-61 to Temple after carrying a 33-32 lead into halftime. In the loss, junior captain Tessa Brugler recorded her first double-double with career highs in points (15) and rebounds (11). Senior captain Ellie Mack currently paces the Bison with 17.8 points per game, while Ally Johnson and Abby Kapp add 11.6 and 10.2 points, respectively. In the preseason, the Bison were picked to finish third in the 10-team Patriot League with Mack tabbed Preseason All-Conference.
// TICKET INFO
Single-game tickets for the 2019-20 UC women's basketball season are on sale now. General admission tickets for most games are available at $7, while Champions Club tickets are $10. Season tickets are on sale starting at just $50.
// GET CONNECTED
Stay up to date with the team by following the Bearcats on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook at @GoBearcatsWBB.
// GOING LIVE
A live video stream will be available on FloHoops (subscription required). Fans can listen to live audio streams of the games on Bearcats TV – Iowa, Bucknell.
// THE SERIES
The games will be the first-ever meetings between the Bearcats and both Iowa and Bucknell.
// LAST TIME OUT
UC (3-2) won its second-straight game with a 72-53 victory over the visiting Chattanooga Mocs at Fifth Third Arena. Solid first-half play, including a 12-4 run to end the second quarter, allowed the Bearcats to take a 37-26 lead into the halftime locker room. The home team then scored the first five points of the third period to go up 16, 42-26. UC saw its advantage reduced to just six points with 10 minutes left to play. The Bearcats responded by scoring the first seven points of the fourth period to lead 56-43 with 5:49 remaining. The Red & Black kept the pressure on UTC over the duration of the contest, increasing their advantage to as many as 21 points with under a minute to play to put the game away. Junior forward IImar'I Thomas' (Oakland, Calif./Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep) scored a career-high 29 points – to go along with seven rebounds – to lead all scorers. Senior guard Antoinette Miller (Detroit, Mich./Southfield-Lathrup) added 14 points, four assists, and two steals, while senior guard Sam Rodgers Rodgers (Cincinnati, Ohio/Lakota East) chipped in 12 points and three assists.
// SCOUTING THE BEARCATS
After scoring a career-high 29 points against Chattanooga last week, Thomas was named the American Athletic Conference Player of the Week, the league office announced Monday afternoon. Entering Monday, Thomas is second in the AAC in scoring (20.4 PPG) and third in rebounding (9.6 RPG). She is also fifth in the league in field-goal percentage (52.0%), third in free-throw shooting (82.8%), and second in offensive rebounds (5.2 RPG). Last week, Thomas was picked for The American Weekly Honor Roll after averaging 19.0 points and 10.5 rebounds during week two of the season. She last earned conference Player of the Week on Dec. 17, 2018.
Miller has been on a tear, scoring 20 points or more in six of her last eight games dating back to last season. The senior is stuffing the stat sheet with 18.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 2.0 steals per game. Furthermore, her scoring average ranks sixth in the conference, her assists average tied for seventh, assist-to-turnover ratio (1.6) also seventh, and her 37.0 minutes a contest is third-most in the AAC.
Senior forward Angel Rizor (Zebulon, N.C./East wake) has already surpassed her double-double total from last season with two in just four games. On the year, she is averaging 7.0 points and 7.6 rebounds (10th in the AAC) a game. Additionally, her assist-to-turnover ratio (1.9) is sixth-best in the conference while her offensive rebounds average (3.4 RPG) ranks in a tie for seventh.
A pair of Bearcats are quickly approaching 1,000-career points. Miller currently boasts 852 points, while Thomas is at 864. The duo will soon be the 27th and 28th members of the program's 1,000-point club. Guard Ana Owens was the most recent Bearcat to score 1,000 points when she joined the club in 2017.
The Bearcats have created a formidable home-court advantage inside newly-renovated Fifth Third Arena with an 20-4 home record going back to last season. In total, the Red & Black boasts a 73% (44-16) winning percentage on their home floor over the last four seasons.
Announced at AAC Basketball Media Day on Oct. 14, UC was selected to finish in a tie for third in the 12-team league. In addition, Miller and Thomas were both tabbed for the preseason all-conference second team. Chosen by the league's head coaches, the predicted finish is the highest the Bearcats have ever received in their seven years in The American, while the preseason all-conference accolades are the first since Alyesha Lovett received second team all-AAC honors in 2014.
UC will aim to continue the momentum from last year's historic season which included consecutive postseason wins for the first time in program history (WNIT quarterfinals), first 20-win season (24) since 2003, first time with 12 conference wins since 1999, and highest-ever finish in the American Athletic Conference (AAC) (third place).
With nine newcomers to the program in 2019-20, the Red & Black returns five starters, as well as Illinois transfer Addaya Moore (Granite City, Ill./Granite City/Illinois). Returning senior starters include 2019 second team all-AAC pick Miller, Rizor, and Sam Rodgers (Cincinnati, Ohio/Lakota East). In addition, first team all-conference honoree Thomas and reigning league Newcomer of the Year Florence Sifa (Bujumbura, Burundi/Jacksonville College) are also back.
// SCOUTING THE HAWKEYES
Iowa improved to 3-1 on the season with a 77-75 overtime victory over Princeton in Iowa City. Senior Kathleen Doyle scored 21 points with nine assists and seven rebounds, while senior Makenzie Meyer added 19 points and seven rebounds. The Hawkeyes' lone setback on the year was an 88-66 loss at Northern Iowa. On the season, Doyle leads the team with 16.3 points per game, while Meyer contributes 15.3. Coming off an Elite Eight appearance and a Big Ten Tournament Championship last season, Iowa's Doyle was named Preseason All-Big Ten.
// SCOUTING THE BISON
Bucknell enters the week at 2-3 after suffering back-to-back losses for the first time since last November. Most recently, the Bison fell 72-61 to Temple after carrying a 33-32 lead into halftime. In the loss, junior captain Tessa Brugler recorded her first double-double with career highs in points (15) and rebounds (11). Senior captain Ellie Mack currently paces the Bison with 17.8 points per game, while Ally Johnson and Abby Kapp add 11.6 and 10.2 points, respectively. In the preseason, the Bison were picked to finish third in the 10-team Patriot League with Mack tabbed Preseason All-Conference.
// TICKET INFO
Single-game tickets for the 2019-20 UC women's basketball season are on sale now. General admission tickets for most games are available at $7, while Champions Club tickets are $10. Season tickets are on sale starting at just $50.
// GET CONNECTED
Stay up to date with the team by following the Bearcats on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook at @GoBearcatsWBB.