TicketsCINCINNATI – Angel Rizor scored 18 points to reach 1,000 for her career while both IImar'I Thomas (25) and Antoinette Miller (20) hit for at least 20 to help the University of Cincinnati women's basketball team run past visiting Tulane Sunday afternoon inside Fifth Third Arena, 87-63. The Bearcats, winners of 12 in a row at home, improved to 18-8 on the year and moved into sole possession of second place in the American Athletic Conference with a 9-4 league record while handing the Green Wave (12-15, 7-7 AAC) their fifth-consecutive loss.
// TIP INS
• Cincinnati moved to 18-8 overall and 9-4 in the American while Tulane fell to 12-15 overall and 7-7 in league play
• Cincinnati is 18-16 all-time in the series with Tulane and 9-5 when the game is played in the Queen City
• The Bearcats have won 12 in a row at home, tying for the second-longest streak in program history
• 3,272 fans were in attendance at the game, the largest home crowd for the Bearcats this season
• Rizor reach 1,000 points for her career as she scored 18 points to land exactly on 1,000
• Rizor is the third current player on the UC roster to reach the milestone mark with both Thomas and Miller joining the club earlier this year
• Thomas reached 20+ points for the 10th time this year and the 15th time in her career
• Miller finished with 20 points, marking the second time this year she and Thomas had both scored 20+ in a game after the duo scored 23 and 27, respectively, at Memphis (1/8/20)
• Florence Sifa hit double figures for just the third time this year and the first time since dropping a career-high 18 points against Alabama A&M (12/17/19)
• The Bearcats were excellent from the line tonight as they hit 20-of-22 from the charity stripe, including perfect outings from Rizor (6-of-6), Thomas (7-of-7) and Chellia Watson (1-of-1)
• The game was the second of a doubleheader with the UC men (W, 67-64, over Wichita State), giving the Bearcats a sweep of the day against AAC foes at home
// THE GAME
Cincinnati game out fast to start as they connected on their first three shots and forced a pair of turnovers for a quick 6-0 lead that forced Tulane to call timeout. From there, the Bearcats never trailed and continued to build their lead as they were ahead by eight after one and four at the half. In the second half, however, UC started clicking, outscoring the visitors, 28-18, in the third before pulling further away with a 25-15 fourth quarter.
UC passed the scoring around in the first quarter with Miller leading the way with six while Rizor and Thomas both had four. It was more of the same in the second as five players scored at least two points with Sifa's six pacing the team. In the third, however, Miller started to hit her stride as she poured in 10 points while Rizor (8), Thomas (6) each connected on at least three made field goals. The fourth quarter saw Thomas take over as she was 3-of-4 from the field and a perfect 5-of-5 from the line for a team-best 11 points.
// IN THE CLUB1,000 for Rizor!!
— Cincinnati W. Hoops (@GoBearcatsWBB) February 23, 2020
Angel gets fouled and hits both free throws to reach 1,000 career points with the #Bearcats!! pic.twitter.com/kdloBQcZgZ
Rizor's career has seen her score 1,000 points while adding 685 rebounds as well. The 29th member of the 1,000 Point Club at Cincinnati, Rizor reached her milestone by hitting both free throws in the fourth quarter to land exactly on the number. Earlier this year, Thomas joined the club when she scored 21 points against Coppin State while Miller made the mark with 21 points in win over Temple.
// LOW POST POWER
The Bearcats muscled up in the paint as they scored 52 of their 87 points in the paint. That total ranks as the second-highest output of the season after the Bearcats scored 60 against visiting Miami (Ohio).
// UP NEXT
Cincinnati will welcome #6/#5 UConn (23-3, 13-0) to Fifth Third Arena Wednesday night for a 7 p.m. AAC contest. The game, which will pit the Top 2 teams in the league against one another, will be aired live by SNY and ESPN3. Matt Noonan will have the radio call on BearcatsTV via GoBearcats.com.
// PLAY4KAY FREE THROW CHALLENGE
Participate all month long in the Play4Kay National Free Throw Challenge. Click on the link to join the Bearcats in the challenge: https://pledgeit.org/cincinnati-play4kay.
// GET CONNECTED
Stay up to date with the team by following the Bearcats on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook at @GoBearcatsWBB.