TicketsCINCINNATI – University of Cincinnati women's basketball will go for its ninth-straight home win on Sunday, Jan. 26 when it welcomes the Temple Owls to Fifth Third Arena for a 2 p.m. ET 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.
// GOING LIVE
The game will be broadcast live on ESPNU. A live audio stream will be available on Bearcats TV, while live stats can be accessed here.
// GAME PROMOTIONS
There will be programming during the game celebrating National Girls & Women in Sports Day (NGWSD). Learn more about NGWSD here. Per usual, autograph session on the court will take place following the game.
// THE SERIES
Sunday will be the 12th all-time meeting between the two teams with Temple holding a 7-4 series advantage. The Bearcats' three-game win streak against the Owls was snapped in Philadelphia last season with a 78-70 loss on Feb. 17, 2019. A month prior, UC dropped TU, 72-52, at Fifth Third Arena to tie the series in games played in Cincinnati at two wins apiece. In the triumph, forward IImar'I Thomas (Oakland, Calif./Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep) added a double-double of 22 points and 10 rebounds, while guard Antoinette Miller (Detroit, Mich./Southfield-Lathrup) notched her first career double-double with 12 points and 10 assists.
// LAST TIME OUT
Thomas scored a career-high 35 points in a 85-66 UC (12-6, 3-2 AAC) win Wednesday against the Houston Cougars at Fifth Third Arena. UH jumped out to a seven-point lead midway through the first quarter before UC 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 was joined in double figures by Miller with 18 points, senior forward Angel Rizor (Zebulon, N.C./East Wake) with 13, and senior guard Sam Rodgers (Cincinnati, Ohio/Lakota East) with 12.
// SCOUTING THE BEARCATS
The Bearcats have created a formidable home-court advantage inside newly-renovated Fifth Third Arena with a 26-4 home record going back to last season. In total, the Red & Black boasts a 76% (50-16) winning percentage on their home floor over the last four seasons. Currently, UC has won eight-straight games at home, last coming up short on Nov. 13, 2019 vs. Ohio State.
On the season, Thomas is averaging 20.8 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. Her points average is tops in the AAC, while her rebounding average is sixth-best. In addition, her field-goal percentage (59.8%) is first in the league, while her free-throw percentage (82.0%) is second. The junior also ranks third in the AAC in offensive rebounding (3.9 RPG) and 15th in minutes played (33.1 MPG). In conference play, the forward is averaging 25 points and 10 rebounds. Nationally, her scoring average is 12th-best, field-goal percentage 13th, field goals made (146) fifth, and total points (374) 12th.
Thomas picked up her second American Athletic Conference (AAC) Player of the Week award of the season – and the fifth of her career -- on Jan. 20 after averaging 27.5 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 80% shooting from the field the week prior as UC picked up a pair of conference wins. First, the junior notched a double-double of 23 points and 14 rebounds in a 73-66 road win on Jan. 8 at Memphis. She then followed with a career day of 32 points against UCF on Jan. 12. The recognition was Thomas' third in three-straight weeks and her fifth overall in 2019-20.
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, she was sidelined for four games with injury. Now again in the lineup and back to her usual workload, the senior scored a career-high 27 points at Memphis on Jan. 8 and added a game-high 20 points on Jan. 18 at Tulane. In league play, she is posting 20.0 points each outing, which is third-best in The American, and 4.4 assists per. Already with an accomplished career, Miller is on the verge of joining the UC 1,000-point club with 981 career points.
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 1,136 career points, Thomas currently ranks 19th on the all-time scoring list and is climbing. The junior is the latest Bearcats 1,000-point scorer with guard Ana Owens the next most recent after reaching the milestone in 2017.
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. A week prior, the forward 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 22nd in the conference in scoring (10.9 PPG) and 14th in rebounding (6.3 RPG). She also leads the league in free-throw shooting (83.3%) and is 12th in offensive rebounds (2.6 RPG).
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. The weekly league honor was Rodgers' first of this season and the second of her career. For the season, the Cincinnati native is averaging 8.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.4 steals a contest. In addition, her assist-to-turnover ratio (1.6) is fifth-best in the AAC, while her 36.3 minutes each outing is second-most in the AAC.
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 November.
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 OWLS
Temple (12-7, 4-2 AAC) downed Penn, 76-72, on Thursday to claim a share of the Philadelphia Big 5 title. Trailing by 13 to start the fourth quarter, the Owls rallied to outscore visiting Penn 29-12 in the final frame. Junior Mia Davis tallied her 13th double-double of the season and 30th of her career, leading Temple with 20 points and 14 rebounds. On the season, Davis is pacing the team with 19.7 points and 11.1 rebounds per game. Redshirt sophomore guard Ashley Jones add 16.4 points per, while sophomore guard Marissa Mackins posts 13.3 points each time out. The Owls shoot the ball at a 40% clip from the field and outrebounds their opponents by 6.1 boards a contest. Highlighted among TU's wins in 2019-20 are victories over Xavier, Villanova, and USF, among others. In the preseason, the Owls were picked to finish sixth in the 12-team AAC with Davis a unanimous first team all-league selection.
// 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 ESPNU. A live audio stream will be available on Bearcats TV, while live stats can be accessed here.
// GAME PROMOTIONS
There will be programming during the game celebrating National Girls & Women in Sports Day (NGWSD). Learn more about NGWSD here. Per usual, autograph session on the court will take place following the game.
// THE SERIES
Sunday will be the 12th all-time meeting between the two teams with Temple holding a 7-4 series advantage. The Bearcats' three-game win streak against the Owls was snapped in Philadelphia last season with a 78-70 loss on Feb. 17, 2019. A month prior, UC dropped TU, 72-52, at Fifth Third Arena to tie the series in games played in Cincinnati at two wins apiece. In the triumph, forward IImar'I Thomas (Oakland, Calif./Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep) added a double-double of 22 points and 10 rebounds, while guard Antoinette Miller (Detroit, Mich./Southfield-Lathrup) notched her first career double-double with 12 points and 10 assists.
// LAST TIME OUT
Thomas scored a career-high 35 points in a 85-66 UC (12-6, 3-2 AAC) win Wednesday against the Houston Cougars at Fifth Third Arena. UH jumped out to a seven-point lead midway through the first quarter before UC 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 was joined in double figures by Miller with 18 points, senior forward Angel Rizor (Zebulon, N.C./East Wake) with 13, and senior guard Sam Rodgers (Cincinnati, Ohio/Lakota East) with 12.
// SCOUTING THE BEARCATS
The Bearcats have created a formidable home-court advantage inside newly-renovated Fifth Third Arena with a 26-4 home record going back to last season. In total, the Red & Black boasts a 76% (50-16) winning percentage on their home floor over the last four seasons. Currently, UC has won eight-straight games at home, last coming up short on Nov. 13, 2019 vs. Ohio State.
On the season, Thomas is averaging 20.8 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. Her points average is tops in the AAC, while her rebounding average is sixth-best. In addition, her field-goal percentage (59.8%) is first in the league, while her free-throw percentage (82.0%) is second. The junior also ranks third in the AAC in offensive rebounding (3.9 RPG) and 15th in minutes played (33.1 MPG). In conference play, the forward is averaging 25 points and 10 rebounds. Nationally, her scoring average is 12th-best, field-goal percentage 13th, field goals made (146) fifth, and total points (374) 12th.
Thomas picked up her second American Athletic Conference (AAC) Player of the Week award of the season – and the fifth of her career -- on Jan. 20 after averaging 27.5 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 80% shooting from the field the week prior as UC picked up a pair of conference wins. First, the junior notched a double-double of 23 points and 14 rebounds in a 73-66 road win on Jan. 8 at Memphis. She then followed with a career day of 32 points against UCF on Jan. 12. The recognition was Thomas' third in three-straight weeks and her fifth overall in 2019-20.
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, she was sidelined for four games with injury. Now again in the lineup and back to her usual workload, the senior scored a career-high 27 points at Memphis on Jan. 8 and added a game-high 20 points on Jan. 18 at Tulane. In league play, she is posting 20.0 points each outing, which is third-best in The American, and 4.4 assists per. Already with an accomplished career, Miller is on the verge of joining the UC 1,000-point club with 981 career points.
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 1,136 career points, Thomas currently ranks 19th on the all-time scoring list and is climbing. The junior is the latest Bearcats 1,000-point scorer with guard Ana Owens the next most recent after reaching the milestone in 2017.
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. A week prior, the forward 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 22nd in the conference in scoring (10.9 PPG) and 14th in rebounding (6.3 RPG). She also leads the league in free-throw shooting (83.3%) and is 12th in offensive rebounds (2.6 RPG).
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. The weekly league honor was Rodgers' first of this season and the second of her career. For the season, the Cincinnati native is averaging 8.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.4 steals a contest. In addition, her assist-to-turnover ratio (1.6) is fifth-best in the AAC, while her 36.3 minutes each outing is second-most in the AAC.
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 November.
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 OWLS
Temple (12-7, 4-2 AAC) downed Penn, 76-72, on Thursday to claim a share of the Philadelphia Big 5 title. Trailing by 13 to start the fourth quarter, the Owls rallied to outscore visiting Penn 29-12 in the final frame. Junior Mia Davis tallied her 13th double-double of the season and 30th of her career, leading Temple with 20 points and 14 rebounds. On the season, Davis is pacing the team with 19.7 points and 11.1 rebounds per game. Redshirt sophomore guard Ashley Jones add 16.4 points per, while sophomore guard Marissa Mackins posts 13.3 points each time out. The Owls shoot the ball at a 40% clip from the field and outrebounds their opponents by 6.1 boards a contest. Highlighted among TU's wins in 2019-20 are victories over Xavier, Villanova, and USF, among others. In the preseason, the Owls were picked to finish sixth in the 12-team AAC with Davis a unanimous first team all-league selection.
// 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.