TicketsMEMPHIS, Tenn. – University of Cincinnati women's basketball will continue conference play on the road on Wednesday, Jan. 8, taking on the Memphis Tigers at 8 p.m. ET at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse.
// GOING LIVE
Fans can watch the game live on the American Digital Network. A live audio stream will be available on Bearcats TV, while live stats can be accessed on GoTigersGo.com.
// THE SERIES
The Bearcats have won the last six meetings with the Tigers, but trail in the all-time series, 35-20. UC won all three games last season including, most recently, a 68-48 win in the quarterfinals of the 2019 AAC Championship. Forward Angel Rizor (Zebulon, N.C./East Wake) led the way for UC with 14 points, to go along with eight rebounds. In matchups in Memphis, UofM leads the series 18-6, but the Red & Black have won the last two meetings including, most recently, an 89-69 victory last year at Roane Fieldhouse. Antoinette Miller (Detroit, Mich./Southfield-Lathrup), Sam Rodgers (Cincinnati, Ohio/Lakota East), and Florence Sifa (Bujumbura, Burundi/Jacksonville College) each scored 15 points.
// LAST TIME OUT
UC (9-5, 0-1 AAC) saw its run of six-straight wins come to an end Sunday afternoon with a 76-68 loss at USF to begin American Athletic Conference play. The Bearcats cut a 14 point, fourth-quarter deficit to six, but were unable to close the gap down the stretch as the Bulls pulled away for the victory. Junior forward IImar'I Thomas (Oakland, Calif./Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep) scored a game-high 23 points for her seventh 20-point outing of the season. Thomas was joined in double figures by Miller with 19, Rizor with 12, and Rodgers with 10. Miller also recorded six assists and four rebounds, while Thomas grabbed a game-high seven rebounds.
// SCOUTING THE BEARCATS
Following her performance Sunday at USF, Thomas was selected Monday for the AAC Weekly Honor Roll for the second-consecutive week. On the season, Thomas is averaging team bests of 19.4 points and 8.3 rebounds. Her scoring average is second-best in the AAC, while her rebounding is seventh. In addition, she ranks second in the league in field-goal percentage (58.3%), fifth in free-throw percentage (79.4%), and third in offensive rebounding (3.9 RPG). Last week, Thomas was tabbed for the honor roll after recording 21 points and six rebounds – in just 19 minutes of play – in a UC win over Coppin State on Dec. 30. In total, the junior has been recognized by the league five times this season with weekly awards.
Needing 10 points to reach 1,000 for her career, Thomas posted 21 points on Dec. 30 against Coppin State to become the 27th member of the UC women's basketball 1,000-point club. Now with 1,034 career points in just nearly two-and-a-half seasons, the junior is the latest Bearcats 1,000-point scorer with guard Ana Owens the next most recent after reaching the milestone in 2017.
Miller has had a strong senior season to date. After beginning the year with six-straight games of double-figure scoring, Miller was sidelined for four games with injury. Now back in the lineup and easing back into her usual minutes, she totaled 19 points, six assists, and four rebounds in 33 minutes of play in the AAC opener at USF on Jan. 5. Already with an accomplished career, Miller is on the verge of joining the UC 1,000-point club with 900 career points.
UC's 86-40 defeat of Coppin State on Dec. 30 was the Bearcats' largest margin of victory since Dec. 4, 1982 when they defeated Carlow 101-24 on a neutral floor in Pittsburgh. The win also capped a perfect 6-0 record during the month of December. The last time UC recorded a perfect month of competition came in 2011 when they started the season with a 5-0 record during the month of November.
Following a career day of 20 points and five steals in the Crosstown Shootout at Xavier on Dec. 14, Rizor was picked for the AAC Weekly Honor Roll on Dec. 16. The senior is 20th in the conference in scoring (10.9 PPG) and 13th in rebounding (6.6 RPG). She also leads the league in free-throw shooting (86.4%) and is tied for eighth in steals (1.9 SPG). A week prior, 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.
On the heels of back-to-back impressive showings, Rodgers was picked for the AAC Weekly Honor Roll on Monday, Dec. 23. She collected the honor after averaging 15.5 points, 57.1% shooting (5-of-9) from 3-point range, 3.0 assists, and 2.0 steals in helping UC to a pair of wins on the week. For the season, the Cincinnati native is averaging 8.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.5 steals a contest. In addition, her 36.4 minutes each outing is third-most in the AAC. The weekly league honor was Rodgers' first of this season and the second of her career.
The Bearcats have created a formidable home-court advantage inside newly-renovated Fifth Third Arena with a 24-4 home record going back to last season. In total, the Red & Black boasts a 75% (48-16) 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 TIGERS
Memphis (9-5, 0-1 AAC) dropped a 75-65 decision Sunday at Houston to begin AAC play. Five players scored in double-digits for Memphis, led by senior guard Gazmyne Herndon's 13 points. On the season, the Tigers are led by sophomore guard Jamirah Shute's 15.3 points per game. Shutes is joined in double-figure scoring by junior forward Dulcy Mendjiadeu's 10.6 points, freshman guard Madison Griggs' 10.6, and Herndon's 10.4. Mendjiadeu also leads the team with 7.8 rebounds per. Memphis shoots 43% from the field and outrebounds its opponents by 4.1 boards each outing. In the preseason, the Tigers were picked to finish eighth in the 12-team AAC.
// 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
Fans can watch the game live on the American Digital Network. A live audio stream will be available on Bearcats TV, while live stats can be accessed on GoTigersGo.com.
// THE SERIES
The Bearcats have won the last six meetings with the Tigers, but trail in the all-time series, 35-20. UC won all three games last season including, most recently, a 68-48 win in the quarterfinals of the 2019 AAC Championship. Forward Angel Rizor (Zebulon, N.C./East Wake) led the way for UC with 14 points, to go along with eight rebounds. In matchups in Memphis, UofM leads the series 18-6, but the Red & Black have won the last two meetings including, most recently, an 89-69 victory last year at Roane Fieldhouse. Antoinette Miller (Detroit, Mich./Southfield-Lathrup), Sam Rodgers (Cincinnati, Ohio/Lakota East), and Florence Sifa (Bujumbura, Burundi/Jacksonville College) each scored 15 points.
// LAST TIME OUT
UC (9-5, 0-1 AAC) saw its run of six-straight wins come to an end Sunday afternoon with a 76-68 loss at USF to begin American Athletic Conference play. The Bearcats cut a 14 point, fourth-quarter deficit to six, but were unable to close the gap down the stretch as the Bulls pulled away for the victory. Junior forward IImar'I Thomas (Oakland, Calif./Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep) scored a game-high 23 points for her seventh 20-point outing of the season. Thomas was joined in double figures by Miller with 19, Rizor with 12, and Rodgers with 10. Miller also recorded six assists and four rebounds, while Thomas grabbed a game-high seven rebounds.
// SCOUTING THE BEARCATS
Following her performance Sunday at USF, Thomas was selected Monday for the AAC Weekly Honor Roll for the second-consecutive week. On the season, Thomas is averaging team bests of 19.4 points and 8.3 rebounds. Her scoring average is second-best in the AAC, while her rebounding is seventh. In addition, she ranks second in the league in field-goal percentage (58.3%), fifth in free-throw percentage (79.4%), and third in offensive rebounding (3.9 RPG). Last week, Thomas was tabbed for the honor roll after recording 21 points and six rebounds – in just 19 minutes of play – in a UC win over Coppin State on Dec. 30. In total, the junior has been recognized by the league five times this season with weekly awards.
Needing 10 points to reach 1,000 for her career, Thomas posted 21 points on Dec. 30 against Coppin State to become the 27th member of the UC women's basketball 1,000-point club. Now with 1,034 career points in just nearly two-and-a-half seasons, the junior is the latest Bearcats 1,000-point scorer with guard Ana Owens the next most recent after reaching the milestone in 2017.
Miller has had a strong senior season to date. After beginning the year with six-straight games of double-figure scoring, Miller was sidelined for four games with injury. Now back in the lineup and easing back into her usual minutes, she totaled 19 points, six assists, and four rebounds in 33 minutes of play in the AAC opener at USF on Jan. 5. Already with an accomplished career, Miller is on the verge of joining the UC 1,000-point club with 900 career points.
UC's 86-40 defeat of Coppin State on Dec. 30 was the Bearcats' largest margin of victory since Dec. 4, 1982 when they defeated Carlow 101-24 on a neutral floor in Pittsburgh. The win also capped a perfect 6-0 record during the month of December. The last time UC recorded a perfect month of competition came in 2011 when they started the season with a 5-0 record during the month of November.
Following a career day of 20 points and five steals in the Crosstown Shootout at Xavier on Dec. 14, Rizor was picked for the AAC Weekly Honor Roll on Dec. 16. The senior is 20th in the conference in scoring (10.9 PPG) and 13th in rebounding (6.6 RPG). She also leads the league in free-throw shooting (86.4%) and is tied for eighth in steals (1.9 SPG). A week prior, 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.
On the heels of back-to-back impressive showings, Rodgers was picked for the AAC Weekly Honor Roll on Monday, Dec. 23. She collected the honor after averaging 15.5 points, 57.1% shooting (5-of-9) from 3-point range, 3.0 assists, and 2.0 steals in helping UC to a pair of wins on the week. For the season, the Cincinnati native is averaging 8.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.5 steals a contest. In addition, her 36.4 minutes each outing is third-most in the AAC. The weekly league honor was Rodgers' first of this season and the second of her career.
The Bearcats have created a formidable home-court advantage inside newly-renovated Fifth Third Arena with a 24-4 home record going back to last season. In total, the Red & Black boasts a 75% (48-16) 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 TIGERS
Memphis (9-5, 0-1 AAC) dropped a 75-65 decision Sunday at Houston to begin AAC play. Five players scored in double-digits for Memphis, led by senior guard Gazmyne Herndon's 13 points. On the season, the Tigers are led by sophomore guard Jamirah Shute's 15.3 points per game. Shutes is joined in double-figure scoring by junior forward Dulcy Mendjiadeu's 10.6 points, freshman guard Madison Griggs' 10.6, and Herndon's 10.4. Mendjiadeu also leads the team with 7.8 rebounds per. Memphis shoots 43% from the field and outrebounds its opponents by 4.1 boards each outing. In the preseason, the Tigers were picked to finish eighth in the 12-team AAC.
// 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.