TicketsCINCINNATI – University of Cincinnati women's basketball will host the UCF Knights on Sunday, Jan. 12 in its first home American Athletic Conference (AAC) game of the season. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. ET at Fifth Third Arena.
// 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.
// GOING LIVE
The game will be broadcast live on ESPN2. A live audio stream will be available on Bearcats TV, while live stats can be accessed here.
// GAME PROMOTIONS
Per usual, autograph session on the court will take place following the game. Also following the contest, UC cheer & dance will performance their nationals routines.
// THE SERIES
Sunday will be the 14th all-time meeting between the two teams with UC holding a 7-6 series advantage. The Bearcats have come up short in the last four meetings including, most recently, a 66-58 loss to the Knights in the semifinals of the 2019 AAC Championship. Forward IImar'I Thomas (Oakland, Calif./Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep) led three UC double-figure scorers with 16 points, as well as eight rebounds. In games against UCF in Cincinnati, UC leads the series 3-2. In the last meeting in the Queen City, the Red & Black dropped a 50-38 decision in 2018 at Saint Ursula Academy Gymnasium & Convocation Center.
// LAST TIME OUT
UC (10-5, 1-1 AAC) picked up its first conference win of the season Wednesday with a gutty 73-66 victory over the Memphis Tigers at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse in Memphis, Tennessee. A back-and-forth game throughout, the Bearcats ended the tilt on a 10-0 run to escape the Bluff City with the victory. The Red & Black were paced by a career-best 27 points from senior guard Antoinette Miller (Detroit, Mich./Southfield-Lathrup), as well as a double-double of 23 points and 14 rebounds by junior forward
IImar'I Thomas (Oakland, Calif./Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep).
// SCOUTING THE BEARCATS
Following her performance on Jan. 5 at USF, Thomas was selected Monday for the AAC Weekly Honor Roll for the second-consecutive week. The week prior, 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. On the season, Thomas is averaging team bests of 19.7 points and 8.7 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 (58.8%), fourth in free-throw percentage (80.3%), and fourth in offensive rebounding (3.7 RPG).
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 1,057 career points in just two-and-a-half seasons, she currently ranks 23rd and is climbing the list. 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 a stellar start to the year, highlighted by six-straight games of double-figure scoring, Miller was sidelined for four games with injury. Now again in the lineup and easing back into her usual minutes, she scored a career-high 27 points at Memphis on Wednesday. Already with an accomplished career, Miller is on the verge of joining the UC 1,000-point club with 927 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, senior forward Angel Rizor (Zebulon, N.C./East Wake) was picked for the AAC Weekly Honor Roll on Dec. 16. 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. The senior currently is 23rd in the conference in scoring (10.6 PPG) and 13th in rebounding (6.6 RPG). She also leads the league in free-throw shooting (87.0%) and is tied for 14th in steals (1.8 SPG).
On the heels of back-to-back impressive showings, senior guard Sam Rodgers (Cincinnati, Ohio/Lakota East) 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. The weekly league honor was Rodgers' first of this season and the second of her career. For the season, the Cincinnati native is averaging 8.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.5 steals a contest. In addition, her 36.6 minutes each outing is second-most in the AAC.
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 KNIGHTS
UCF (9-4, 1-0 AAC) picked up its fifth-straight win Sunday with a 91-55 home victory over ECU in the AAC opener for both teams. Sophomore forward Brittney Smith scored a career-high 21 points to lead UCF, while junior guard Georgia Gayle posted 18 points and redshirt senior guard Sianni Martin added 14. On the season, senior guard Kay Kay Wright leads the team with 14.8 points per game, while Smith contributes 9.9. Junior forward Masseny Kaba grabs a team-best 6.2 rebounds each outing. The Knights shoot the ball at a 41% clip from the field and knock down 14 free throws a contest. UCF also forces 21 turnovers per game including a 10.3 steals average. In the preseason, the Knights were picked to finish in a tie with the Bearcats for third place in the AAC with Wright tabbed Co-Player of the Year.
// 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.
// GOING LIVE
The game will be broadcast live on ESPN2. A live audio stream will be available on Bearcats TV, while live stats can be accessed here.
// GAME PROMOTIONS
Per usual, autograph session on the court will take place following the game. Also following the contest, UC cheer & dance will performance their nationals routines.
// THE SERIES
Sunday will be the 14th all-time meeting between the two teams with UC holding a 7-6 series advantage. The Bearcats have come up short in the last four meetings including, most recently, a 66-58 loss to the Knights in the semifinals of the 2019 AAC Championship. Forward IImar'I Thomas (Oakland, Calif./Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep) led three UC double-figure scorers with 16 points, as well as eight rebounds. In games against UCF in Cincinnati, UC leads the series 3-2. In the last meeting in the Queen City, the Red & Black dropped a 50-38 decision in 2018 at Saint Ursula Academy Gymnasium & Convocation Center.
// LAST TIME OUT
UC (10-5, 1-1 AAC) picked up its first conference win of the season Wednesday with a gutty 73-66 victory over the Memphis Tigers at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse in Memphis, Tennessee. A back-and-forth game throughout, the Bearcats ended the tilt on a 10-0 run to escape the Bluff City with the victory. The Red & Black were paced by a career-best 27 points from senior guard Antoinette Miller (Detroit, Mich./Southfield-Lathrup), as well as a double-double of 23 points and 14 rebounds by junior forward
IImar'I Thomas (Oakland, Calif./Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep).
// SCOUTING THE BEARCATS
Following her performance on Jan. 5 at USF, Thomas was selected Monday for the AAC Weekly Honor Roll for the second-consecutive week. The week prior, 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. On the season, Thomas is averaging team bests of 19.7 points and 8.7 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 (58.8%), fourth in free-throw percentage (80.3%), and fourth in offensive rebounding (3.7 RPG).
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 1,057 career points in just two-and-a-half seasons, she currently ranks 23rd and is climbing the list. 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 a stellar start to the year, highlighted by six-straight games of double-figure scoring, Miller was sidelined for four games with injury. Now again in the lineup and easing back into her usual minutes, she scored a career-high 27 points at Memphis on Wednesday. Already with an accomplished career, Miller is on the verge of joining the UC 1,000-point club with 927 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, senior forward Angel Rizor (Zebulon, N.C./East Wake) was picked for the AAC Weekly Honor Roll on Dec. 16. 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. The senior currently is 23rd in the conference in scoring (10.6 PPG) and 13th in rebounding (6.6 RPG). She also leads the league in free-throw shooting (87.0%) and is tied for 14th in steals (1.8 SPG).
On the heels of back-to-back impressive showings, senior guard Sam Rodgers (Cincinnati, Ohio/Lakota East) 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. The weekly league honor was Rodgers' first of this season and the second of her career. For the season, the Cincinnati native is averaging 8.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.5 steals a contest. In addition, her 36.6 minutes each outing is second-most in the AAC.
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 KNIGHTS
UCF (9-4, 1-0 AAC) picked up its fifth-straight win Sunday with a 91-55 home victory over ECU in the AAC opener for both teams. Sophomore forward Brittney Smith scored a career-high 21 points to lead UCF, while junior guard Georgia Gayle posted 18 points and redshirt senior guard Sianni Martin added 14. On the season, senior guard Kay Kay Wright leads the team with 14.8 points per game, while Smith contributes 9.9. Junior forward Masseny Kaba grabs a team-best 6.2 rebounds each outing. The Knights shoot the ball at a 41% clip from the field and knock down 14 free throws a contest. UCF also forces 21 turnovers per game including a 10.3 steals average. In the preseason, the Knights were picked to finish in a tie with the Bearcats for third place in the AAC with Wright tabbed Co-Player of the Year.
// 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.