CINCINNATI – University of Cincinnati women's basketball used an 11-4 run over the final four minutes of the game to come away victorious against Xavier on Saturday afternoon at the Cintas Center in the 2019 edition of the Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout.
Leading by as many as 14 points at the end of the first quarter, the Bearcats (6-4) saw the Musketeers (1-8) battle back to go up by two early in the fourth. Down the stretch, UC made a couple timely stops and managed to convert on the offensive end to pick up its second win in a row against XU and its first at the Cintas Center since 2013.
Junior forward IImar'I Thomas' (Oakland, Calif./Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep) continued her dominant play with a game-high 25 points – as well as eight rebounds and a career-high-tying six assists – to notch her second-straight 20-point game and her fifth of the season.
Veteran forward Angel Rizor (Zebulon, N.C./East Wake), too, carried over the momentum from last time out with career bests of 20 points and five steals.
Senior guard Sam Rodgers (Cincinnati, Ohio/Lakota East) added 11 points, and career highs of eight rebounds and six assists. Freshman Chellia Watson (Winder, Ga./Winder-Barrow) chipped in a season-best 13 points to go along with six assists and four rebounds.
The Red & Black had a season best first-quarter scoring output and took a 30-16 lead into the second period. In the next stanza, the Bearcats weathered a surge from the home team and were up 44-37 at the halftime break.
UC increased its advantage to 10 (52-42) midway through the third period before the Musketeers put together a 20-9 run over the duration of the quarter to bring the score to 62-61, UC, with 10 minutes to go.
The two teams went back and forth over the opening six minutes of the fourth quarter before the Red & Black manufactured their late-game push to seal the victory.
UC, again, shot better than 50% from the field with a 53% (33-of-62) clip for the game. The Bearcats also buried 16-of-18 free throws and got out on the fast break for 20 points. In addition, the Red & Black edged the home team in rebounding (38-34) and turned 16 XU turnovers into 19 points.
// UP NEXT
The Bearcats will begin a three-game homestand to end 2019 on Tuesday, Dec. 17 when they welcome Alabama A&M to Fifth Third Arena for a 7 p.m. tipoff. Buy tickets to the game here.
// GET CONNECTED
Stay up to date with the team by following the Bearcats on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook at @GoBearcatsWBB.
Leading by as many as 14 points at the end of the first quarter, the Bearcats (6-4) saw the Musketeers (1-8) battle back to go up by two early in the fourth. Down the stretch, UC made a couple timely stops and managed to convert on the offensive end to pick up its second win in a row against XU and its first at the Cintas Center since 2013.
Junior forward IImar'I Thomas' (Oakland, Calif./Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep) continued her dominant play with a game-high 25 points – as well as eight rebounds and a career-high-tying six assists – to notch her second-straight 20-point game and her fifth of the season.
Veteran forward Angel Rizor (Zebulon, N.C./East Wake), too, carried over the momentum from last time out with career bests of 20 points and five steals.
Senior guard Sam Rodgers (Cincinnati, Ohio/Lakota East) added 11 points, and career highs of eight rebounds and six assists. Freshman Chellia Watson (Winder, Ga./Winder-Barrow) chipped in a season-best 13 points to go along with six assists and four rebounds.
The Red & Black had a season best first-quarter scoring output and took a 30-16 lead into the second period. In the next stanza, the Bearcats weathered a surge from the home team and were up 44-37 at the halftime break.
UC increased its advantage to 10 (52-42) midway through the third period before the Musketeers put together a 20-9 run over the duration of the quarter to bring the score to 62-61, UC, with 10 minutes to go.
The two teams went back and forth over the opening six minutes of the fourth quarter before the Red & Black manufactured their late-game push to seal the victory.
UC, again, shot better than 50% from the field with a 53% (33-of-62) clip for the game. The Bearcats also buried 16-of-18 free throws and got out on the fast break for 20 points. In addition, the Red & Black edged the home team in rebounding (38-34) and turned 16 XU turnovers into 19 points.
// UP NEXT
The Bearcats will begin a three-game homestand to end 2019 on Tuesday, Dec. 17 when they welcome Alabama A&M to Fifth Third Arena for a 7 p.m. tipoff. Buy tickets to the game here.
// GET CONNECTED
Stay up to date with the team by following the Bearcats on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook at @GoBearcatsWBB.