TicketsCINCINNATI – University of Cincinnati women's basketball junior forward IImar'I Thomas (Oakland, Calif./Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep) scored a career-high 35 points in a 85-66 win Wednesday against the Houston Cougars at Fifth Third Arena.
UH (9-10, 2-3 AAC) jumped out to a seven-point lead midway through the first quarter before UC (12-6, 3-2 AAC) ended the opening period with an 11-0 run to get into the driver's seat. The Bearcats doubled up the Cougars, 22-11, in the second quarter to take a 47-31 halftime advantage. The home team stayed in control over the course of the contest, not allowing the visitors to get within single digits the rest of the way and led by as many as 23 points in the fourth period to pick up its eighth-straight home victory.
Thomas one-upped her career performance of 32 points 10 days ago with a new career mark on Wednesday. The junior also grabbed 10 rebounds for her sixth double-double of the season and her second in as many games. The forward's career night was just one of a number of notable performances for the Bearcats.
Senior guard Antoinette Miller (Detroit, Mich./Southfield-Lathrup) added 18 points, a game-high eight assists, and seven rebounds. In addition, senior forward Angel Rizor (Zebulon, N.C./East Wake) posted 13 points and a career-high seven assists, while senior guard Sam Rodgers (Cincinnati, Ohio/Lakota East) scored 12 points and grabbed five rebounds.
UC shot a blistering 55% from the field, 4-of-7 from 3-point range, 13-of-18 from the free-throw line, and dished out 23 assists on 34 made field goals. Additionally, the Red & Black dominated in the paint with 48 points, pulled down 45 rebounds, and scored 18 points off of nine Cougars turnovers.
// UP NEXT
The Bearcats will be back home Sunday, Jan. 26 when they welcome Temple to Fifth Third Arena for a 2 p.m. ET tipoff. Buy tickets to the game here. The contest will be broadcast live on ESPNU.
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