TicketsCINCINNATI – University of Cincinnati women's basketball will begin a three-game homestand to cap 2019 on Tuesday, Dec. 17 when it welcomes Alabama A&M to Fifth Third Arena for a 7 p.m. tipoff.
// TICKETS
General admission tickets are available at $7, while Champions Club tickets are $10. Discounts for youth (ages 4-12) and seniors (ages 65+) include $5 general admission tickets. Tickets can be purchased by either calling 1-877-CATS-TIX, logging onto GoBEARCATS.com/Tickets, or by visiting the FTA ticket office on gameday.
// PARKING
Cash parking will be available at Corry Garage on campus for $5.
// GOING LIVE
A live video stream will be available – for free – on Bearcats TV, while live stats can be accessed here.
// GAME PROMOTIONS
The usual autograph session on the court will take place following the game.
// THE SERIES
Tuesday will be just the second all-time meeting between the Bearcats and Bulldogs. In the lone previous matchup, UC dropped Alabama A&M 67-61 in Cincinnati in 2006.
// LAST TIME OUT
UC (6-4) 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 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.
// SCOUTING THE BEARCATS
After totaling 25 points, eight rebounds and a career-high-tying six assists against Xavier, Thomas was picked Monday for the American Athletic Conference Weekly Honor Roll. Thomas is currently second in the AAC in scoring (19.5 PPG) and sixth in rebounding (9.0 RPG). She is also second in the league in both field-goal percentage (57.1%) and free-throw shooting (81.1%) as well as tops in offensive rebounding (4.4 RPG). Following 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. 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.
Following a career day of 20 points and five steals Saturday vs. the Musketeers, Rizor, too, was picked for the AAC Weekly Honor Roll. The senior is 20th in the conference in scoring (10.7 PPG) and 14th in rebounding (6.8 RPG). She also leads the league in free-throw shooting (82.8%) and is sixth in steals (2.2 SPG). Last week, Rizor was 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.
A pair of Bearcats are quickly approaching 1,000-career points. Thomas currently boasts 957 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.
UC's 98-point scoring output vs. Miami (OH) on Dec. 8 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.
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).
// SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
Alabama A&M (3-5) dropped a 67-61 home decision Saturday to Austin Peay. In the loss, the Bulldogs were led by 17 points and 11 rebounds from sophomore forward Dariauna Lewis. On the season, Lewis leads the team with 16.5 points and 11.9 rebounds per game, while junior guard DeShawna Harper adds 11.9 points per. Alabama A&M boasts wins this year over Denver, Georgia State, and San Diego State. In the preseason, the Bulldogs were picked to finish seventh in the 10-team Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) with sophomore forward Elexis Evans and junior guard Nigeria Jones both all-conference awardees.
// 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
General admission tickets are available at $7, while Champions Club tickets are $10. Discounts for youth (ages 4-12) and seniors (ages 65+) include $5 general admission tickets. Tickets can be purchased by either calling 1-877-CATS-TIX, logging onto GoBEARCATS.com/Tickets, or by visiting the FTA ticket office on gameday.
// PARKING
Cash parking will be available at Corry Garage on campus for $5.
// GOING LIVE
A live video stream will be available – for free – on Bearcats TV, while live stats can be accessed here.
// GAME PROMOTIONS
The usual autograph session on the court will take place following the game.
// THE SERIES
Tuesday will be just the second all-time meeting between the Bearcats and Bulldogs. In the lone previous matchup, UC dropped Alabama A&M 67-61 in Cincinnati in 2006.
// LAST TIME OUT
UC (6-4) 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 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.
// SCOUTING THE BEARCATS
After totaling 25 points, eight rebounds and a career-high-tying six assists against Xavier, Thomas was picked Monday for the American Athletic Conference Weekly Honor Roll. Thomas is currently second in the AAC in scoring (19.5 PPG) and sixth in rebounding (9.0 RPG). She is also second in the league in both field-goal percentage (57.1%) and free-throw shooting (81.1%) as well as tops in offensive rebounding (4.4 RPG). Following 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. 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.
Following a career day of 20 points and five steals Saturday vs. the Musketeers, Rizor, too, was picked for the AAC Weekly Honor Roll. The senior is 20th in the conference in scoring (10.7 PPG) and 14th in rebounding (6.8 RPG). She also leads the league in free-throw shooting (82.8%) and is sixth in steals (2.2 SPG). Last week, Rizor was 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.
A pair of Bearcats are quickly approaching 1,000-career points. Thomas currently boasts 957 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.
UC's 98-point scoring output vs. Miami (OH) on Dec. 8 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.
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).
// SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
Alabama A&M (3-5) dropped a 67-61 home decision Saturday to Austin Peay. In the loss, the Bulldogs were led by 17 points and 11 rebounds from sophomore forward Dariauna Lewis. On the season, Lewis leads the team with 16.5 points and 11.9 rebounds per game, while junior guard DeShawna Harper adds 11.9 points per. Alabama A&M boasts wins this year over Denver, Georgia State, and San Diego State. In the preseason, the Bulldogs were picked to finish seventh in the 10-team Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) with sophomore forward Elexis Evans and junior guard Nigeria Jones both all-conference awardees.
// 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.