TicketsCINCINNATI – University of Cincinnati women's basketball will travel 3.5 miles to Xavier on Saturday to face the Musketeers in the 2019 edition of the Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout. Tipoff at the Cintas Center is set for 2 p.m. ET in the annual battle for the Kendle Cup.
// TICKETS
Fans can purchase tickets to the game here. Prices start at $5.
// GOING LIVE
A live video stream will be available – for free – on GoXavier.com, while a live audio stream is available on Bearcats TV. Live stats can be accessed here.
// THE SERIES
Cincinnati leads the all-time series 24-17 and is 10-9 in games played at Xavier. Last season, UC snapped a four-game losing skid against the Musketeers with a 79-61 victory at Fifth Third Arena. Forward IImar'I Thomas (Oakland, Calif./Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep) paced five Bearcats in double-figures with a then career-high-tying 20 points, as well as a career-best 18 rebounds. In the last matchup between the two teams at the Cintas Center, the Red & Black dropped a 53-50 decision in 2017. In the loss, forward Angel Rizor (Zebulon, N.C./East Wake) tallied game highs of 15 points and 12 rebounds.
// LAST TIME OUT
UC (5-4) outmatched the Miami (OH) RedHawks with a 98-68 victory Sunday at Fifth Third Arena. The Bearcats took a 42-31 advantage into halftime and stormed out of the locker room, outscoring Miami 24-14 in the third quarter. In the fourth, UC kept the pressure on and cruised to its largest margin of victory of the season. With all 12 UC players that played reaching the scoring column, junior forward Thomas led the way with a game-best 24 points -- as well as eight rebounds, four assists, and three blocks – for her fourth 20-point game of the season. Rizor tied a career high with 18 points to go along with seven rebounds and two assists. In addition, senior guard Florence Sifa (Bujumbura, Burundi/Jacksonville College) chipped in season highs of 10 points and four assists, while redshirt sophomore Addaya Moore (Granite City, Ill./Granite City/Illinois) stuffed the stat sheet with season bests of eight points, nine rebounds, and four assists.
// SCOUTING THE BEARCATS
UC's 98-point scoring output vs. Miami (OH) was the most since tallying 96 at home vs. Valparaiso (96-69) on Nov. 16, 2007. The last time the Bearcats scored more than 98 was in 2003 when they netted 105 vs. Charleston Southern. UC's record scoring output is 109 at Marquette in 1992.
Rizor has already surpassed her double-double total from last season with two in nine games to begin the year. On the season, she is averaging 9.7 points and 7.3 rebounds (tied for ninth in the AAC) a game. Additionally, her offensive rebounds (2.9 RPG) and steals (1.9 SPG) averages both rank in a tie for 11th in the league. The senior was recently named to the AAC weekly honor roll after averaging 15.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 2.5 steals per game as the Bearcats went 2-0 last week.
After scoring a career-high 29 points against Chattanooga on Nov. 19, Thomas was named the American Athletic Conference Player of the Week on Nov. 25. Thomas is currently third in the AAC in scoring (18.9 PPG) and fifth in rebounding (9.1 RPG). She is also second in the league in field-goal percentage (57.3%), fourth in free-throw shooting (80.0%), and tops in offensive rebounds (4.6 RPG). Previously, on Nov. 12, 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.
A pair of Bearcats are quickly approaching 1,000-career points. Thomas currently boasts 932 points, while senior guard Antoinette Miller (Detroit, Mich./Southfield-Lathrup) is at 869. 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 a 21-4 home record going back to last season. In total, the Red & Black boasts a 74% (45-16) 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 Moore 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 Sifa are also back.
// SCOUTING THE MUSKETEERS
Under first-year head coach Melanie Moore, XU enters Saturday's game at 1-7 on the season. After winning their season opener at home vs. Utah (70-63), the Musketeers have dropped seven-consecutive contests including, most recently, a 56-55 home setback to Eastern Kentucky on Dec. 8. In the loss, junior A'riana Gray led Xavier with nine points and a season-high 17 rebounds. On the season, Gray is leading the team with 13.0 points and 10.3 rebounds per game, while junior Aaliyah Dunham adds 9.0 points per. In the preseason, the Musketeers were picked to finish eighth in the 10-team BIG EAST with Gray an all-conference selection.
// 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.
// TICKETS
Fans can purchase tickets to the game here. Prices start at $5.
// GOING LIVE
A live video stream will be available – for free – on GoXavier.com, while a live audio stream is available on Bearcats TV. Live stats can be accessed here.
// THE SERIES
Cincinnati leads the all-time series 24-17 and is 10-9 in games played at Xavier. Last season, UC snapped a four-game losing skid against the Musketeers with a 79-61 victory at Fifth Third Arena. Forward IImar'I Thomas (Oakland, Calif./Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep) paced five Bearcats in double-figures with a then career-high-tying 20 points, as well as a career-best 18 rebounds. In the last matchup between the two teams at the Cintas Center, the Red & Black dropped a 53-50 decision in 2017. In the loss, forward Angel Rizor (Zebulon, N.C./East Wake) tallied game highs of 15 points and 12 rebounds.
// LAST TIME OUT
UC (5-4) outmatched the Miami (OH) RedHawks with a 98-68 victory Sunday at Fifth Third Arena. The Bearcats took a 42-31 advantage into halftime and stormed out of the locker room, outscoring Miami 24-14 in the third quarter. In the fourth, UC kept the pressure on and cruised to its largest margin of victory of the season. With all 12 UC players that played reaching the scoring column, junior forward Thomas led the way with a game-best 24 points -- as well as eight rebounds, four assists, and three blocks – for her fourth 20-point game of the season. Rizor tied a career high with 18 points to go along with seven rebounds and two assists. In addition, senior guard Florence Sifa (Bujumbura, Burundi/Jacksonville College) chipped in season highs of 10 points and four assists, while redshirt sophomore Addaya Moore (Granite City, Ill./Granite City/Illinois) stuffed the stat sheet with season bests of eight points, nine rebounds, and four assists.
// SCOUTING THE BEARCATS
UC's 98-point scoring output vs. Miami (OH) was the most since tallying 96 at home vs. Valparaiso (96-69) on Nov. 16, 2007. The last time the Bearcats scored more than 98 was in 2003 when they netted 105 vs. Charleston Southern. UC's record scoring output is 109 at Marquette in 1992.
Rizor has already surpassed her double-double total from last season with two in nine games to begin the year. On the season, she is averaging 9.7 points and 7.3 rebounds (tied for ninth in the AAC) a game. Additionally, her offensive rebounds (2.9 RPG) and steals (1.9 SPG) averages both rank in a tie for 11th in the league. The senior was recently named to the AAC weekly honor roll after averaging 15.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 2.5 steals per game as the Bearcats went 2-0 last week.
After scoring a career-high 29 points against Chattanooga on Nov. 19, Thomas was named the American Athletic Conference Player of the Week on Nov. 25. Thomas is currently third in the AAC in scoring (18.9 PPG) and fifth in rebounding (9.1 RPG). She is also second in the league in field-goal percentage (57.3%), fourth in free-throw shooting (80.0%), and tops in offensive rebounds (4.6 RPG). Previously, on Nov. 12, 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.
A pair of Bearcats are quickly approaching 1,000-career points. Thomas currently boasts 932 points, while senior guard Antoinette Miller (Detroit, Mich./Southfield-Lathrup) is at 869. 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 a 21-4 home record going back to last season. In total, the Red & Black boasts a 74% (45-16) 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 Moore 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 Sifa are also back.
// SCOUTING THE MUSKETEERS
Under first-year head coach Melanie Moore, XU enters Saturday's game at 1-7 on the season. After winning their season opener at home vs. Utah (70-63), the Musketeers have dropped seven-consecutive contests including, most recently, a 56-55 home setback to Eastern Kentucky on Dec. 8. In the loss, junior A'riana Gray led Xavier with nine points and a season-high 17 rebounds. On the season, Gray is leading the team with 13.0 points and 10.3 rebounds per game, while junior Aaliyah Dunham adds 9.0 points per. In the preseason, the Musketeers were picked to finish eighth in the 10-team BIG EAST with Gray an all-conference selection.
// 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.