TicketsCINCINNATI – In its first home American Athletic Conference (AAC) game of the season, University of Cincinnati women's basketball dropped UCF, 81-64, on Sunday afternoon at Fifth Third Arena behind a career-high 32 points from junior forward IImar'I Thomas (Oakland, Calif./Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep).
In a matchup of two teams both picked in the preseason to finish third in the league, the Bearcats (11-5, 2-1 AAC) punched the Knights (9-5, 1-1 AAC) in the mouth early and never looked back. UC jumped ahead by as many as 11 points in the first quarter and took a 21-15 advantage into the second. The Red & Black kept the pressure on in the second period, going up by 15 late and went into the halftime locker room with a 43-30 lead.
The Bearcats really separated from the Knights in the third quarter, using a 7-0 run early and a 9-0 streak late to hop into the driver's seat heading into the final stanza. In the fourth period, UC poured it on, accumulating a 24-point (70-46) advantage with 7:28 to go as it cruised to victory down the stretch. The Red & Black's 81 points were the most UCF had given up since Jan. 27, 2019.
Thomas' 30-point outing was UC's first this season and the first since guard Genesis Parker scored 30 in the WNIT first round at Michigan State in 2018. In addition, Thomas' highly-efficient performance included 12-of-13 shooting from the field and 8-of-8 from the free-throw line, as well as a game-high eight rebounds to go along with four assists. The junior was joined in double figures by three teammates -- senior guard Antoinette Miller (Detroit, Mich./Southfield-Lathrup) with 16 and senior forward Angel Rizor (Zebulon, N.C./East Wake) and senior guard Sam Rodgers (Cincinnati, Ohio/Lakota East) each with 10. Moreover, Rizor and Rodgers both dished out game bests of six assists.
The Bearcats scored 42 points in the paint and 25 off of 20 UCF turnovers. The home team also shot the ball at a 53% clip (32-of-60) from the field and buried seven 3-pointers. In addition, the Red & Black dished out 25 assists, knocked down 10-of-14 from the free-throw line, and turned 12 offensive rebounds into 17 second-chance points.
// UP NEXT
UC will be back on the road Saturday, Jan. 18 when it travels to New Orleans to take on the Tulane Green Wave at 4:30 p.m. ET inside Devlin Fieldhouse. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN3.
// NGWSD CELEBRATION
The University of Cincinnati Department of Athletics and the UC Sport Administration program will host its sixth annual National Girls & Women in Sports Day (NGWSD) Celebration on Sunday, Jan. 26. Register for free here.
// GET CONNECTED
Stay up to date with the team by following the Bearcats on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook at @GoBearcatsWBB.
In a matchup of two teams both picked in the preseason to finish third in the league, the Bearcats (11-5, 2-1 AAC) punched the Knights (9-5, 1-1 AAC) in the mouth early and never looked back. UC jumped ahead by as many as 11 points in the first quarter and took a 21-15 advantage into the second. The Red & Black kept the pressure on in the second period, going up by 15 late and went into the halftime locker room with a 43-30 lead.
The Bearcats really separated from the Knights in the third quarter, using a 7-0 run early and a 9-0 streak late to hop into the driver's seat heading into the final stanza. In the fourth period, UC poured it on, accumulating a 24-point (70-46) advantage with 7:28 to go as it cruised to victory down the stretch. The Red & Black's 81 points were the most UCF had given up since Jan. 27, 2019.
Thomas' 30-point outing was UC's first this season and the first since guard Genesis Parker scored 30 in the WNIT first round at Michigan State in 2018. In addition, Thomas' highly-efficient performance included 12-of-13 shooting from the field and 8-of-8 from the free-throw line, as well as a game-high eight rebounds to go along with four assists. The junior was joined in double figures by three teammates -- senior guard Antoinette Miller (Detroit, Mich./Southfield-Lathrup) with 16 and senior forward Angel Rizor (Zebulon, N.C./East Wake) and senior guard Sam Rodgers (Cincinnati, Ohio/Lakota East) each with 10. Moreover, Rizor and Rodgers both dished out game bests of six assists.
The Bearcats scored 42 points in the paint and 25 off of 20 UCF turnovers. The home team also shot the ball at a 53% clip (32-of-60) from the field and buried seven 3-pointers. In addition, the Red & Black dished out 25 assists, knocked down 10-of-14 from the free-throw line, and turned 12 offensive rebounds into 17 second-chance points.
// UP NEXT
UC will be back on the road Saturday, Jan. 18 when it travels to New Orleans to take on the Tulane Green Wave at 4:30 p.m. ET inside Devlin Fieldhouse. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN3.
// NGWSD CELEBRATION
The University of Cincinnati Department of Athletics and the UC Sport Administration program will host its sixth annual National Girls & Women in Sports Day (NGWSD) Celebration on Sunday, Jan. 26. Register for free here.
// GET CONNECTED
Stay up to date with the team by following the Bearcats on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook at @GoBearcatsWBB.