TicketsGAME #30
AMERICAN WOMEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
QUARTERFINAL • #3 CINCINNATI vs. #6 SMU or #11 MEMPHIS
SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2020
TIP: 8:00 PM
MOHEGAN SUN ARENA • UNCASVILLE, CT
TV: ESPN3 (Roy Philpott and Brooke Weisbrod)
RADIO: BearcatsTV (Matt Noonan)
// THE GAME
Holders of the #3 seed following a share of second place in the league, the University of Cincinnati women's basketball team will await the winner of Friday's American Women's Basketball Championship First Round game between #6 SMU and #11 Memphis in a quarterfinal contest Saturday at 8 p.m. The game, which will be aired live on ESPN3, will be played at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The Bearcats finished the regular season with a 20-9 overall record and were 11-5 in league play.
// LAST TIME OUT
Cincinnati closed out the regular season with back-to-back AAC wins as they downed Wichita State on the road last Saturday (75-54) before handing visiting ECU a 76-53 decision Monday in Cincinnati on Senior Night. In the final outing of the season, the seniors showed out as Sam Rodgers nearly had the first triple-double at UC since 1992 as she was two assists shy, settling for a 23-point, 10-rebound double-double. Antoinette Miller scored 22 points while Angel Rizor scored 12 and Florence Sifa three.
// TIP INS
• UC finished tied for second in the AAC, its best finish in the league and its best overall since placing second in 2004 as a member of Conference USA.
• With a 20-9 record, UC has won 20+ in back-to-back seasons for the first time since doing three seasons in a row (2001, 2002, 2003).
• Cincinnati currently has 699 all-time victories, just one away from reaching the 700-victory milestone.
• Cincinnati now has three current players that have scored 1,000 or more points in their careers as Angel Rizor was the 29th member of the club following her 18 points Sunday against Tulane. Rizor (1,033) joined by IImar'I Thomas (1,304) and Antoinette Miller (1,157) in the club after each reached the milestone earlier this season.
• The AAC announced its annual awards Friday morning with IImar'i Thomas (1st), Antoinette Miller (2nd) and Angel Rizor (3rd) each earning AAC All-Conference honors. Additionally, Rizor was selected as the AAC Most Improved Player of the Year.
// IN THE SERIES • SMU
The Bearcats and Mustangs have played 10 times in the history of the series with Cincinnati holding a 6-4 edge. The two teams have not faced one another on a neutral floor in the series. UC and SMU last me in Dallas on February 8 this year with the Bearcats winning, 73-58, to extend their winning streak over the Mustangs to four in a row. In the game, IImar'I Thomas led the way with 19 points while Angle Rizor added 13 points and nine boards and Antoinette Miller chipped in 12 with five assists.
// IN THE SERIES • MEMPHIS
The series between the Bearcats and Tigers dates back to 1978 with Memphis holding a 35-21 edge all-time despite the Bearcats winning each of the last seven meetings. The two have also met seven times in neutral site games with UM holding a 5-2 advantage, although UC won the most recent meeting, 68-48, in last year's AAC tournament. The two teams meet earlier this year with the Bearcats taking a 73-66 decision on the road on January 8, 2020. In that game, Antoinette Miller scored a career-high 27 points while IImar'I Thomas tallied 23 points in the win.
// AND THE AWARD GOES TO...
Earlier in the day Friday, the league announced its annual awards with the Bearcats pulling in four honors, including one major award as Angel Rizor was named the AAC Most Improved Player of the Year. In addition to her honor, Rizor was also named AAC All-Conference Third Team. IImar'I Thomas was a unanimous selection to the AAC All-Conference First Team while Antoinette Miller earned a spot on the AAC All-Conference Second Team.
// NOTING AWARD WINNERS
• Thomas earned first-team honors for the second year in a row, Miller earned second-team for the second year in a row and Rizor earned her first accolade with a place on the third team
• Rizor's MIP award is the first earned by a UC player ever
• The MIP award marks the fourth year in a row a UC player has earned a major award following Florence Sifa (2019 Newcomer), Thomas (Freshman) and Shanice Johnson (Newcomer)
• The three all-conference selections this year ties for a program record for the most in a single season and is the first time it has happened since the 2003 season when three players earned Conference USA first team
• Thomas' first-team honor marks the third time a UC player has been named to a conference's first team in back-to-back years, joining Valerie King (2002 & 2003 Conference USA) and Madinah Slaise (1999 and 2000 Conference USA)
• Cincinnati's three all-conference accolades earned were the second-most in the league behind the four earned by UConn
• The Bearcats were the only team to place at least one individual on each of the three all-conference teams with UCF, UConn and Temple placing one player on two teams
// SECOND BEST
This year, the Bearcats posted an 11-5 record in league play to earn a share of runner-up honors with UCF. The second-place showing is the best finish for the Bearcats in their seven years with the American is the best finish for UC since 2001-02 and 2002-03 squads placed second in the final Conference USA standings. Additionally, the 11 wins tallied is the second-most earned in the AAC era behind only the 12 UC posted last year.
// 20 WINS
For just the eighth time in program history, the Bearcats have won 20 or more games in a season and have done so in back-to-back years as well. Prior to last year's 24 victories, the last time a UC team captured 20+ win came in 2002-03 when UC finished 23-8 on the year.
// BACK-TO-BACK
With their 20 wins this year and 24 last year, the Bearcats have posted 20+ wins in back-to-back seasons for the first time since the 2000-01 (22), 2001-02 (27) and 2002-03 (23) squads accomplished the feat. Additionally, the back-to-back 20+ wins is just the third such instance in program history with the 1997-98 (21) and 1998-99 (22) squads the first to do so.
// HOME SWEET HOME
To get to 20 wins this year, the Bearcats put together a remarkable home record as they finished 14-3 inside Fifth Third Arena, a record that included a 12-game winning streak toward the end of the year. The 14 wins marked just the eighth time in program history the Bearcats have won 14+ at home in a single season and gave UC back-to-back years of 14+ wins for just the third time in program history. The previous instances came in 2000-01, 2001-02 and 2002-03 when UC won 15 each year.
// STREAKING
The 12-game home winning streak that was snapped in the UConn loss stood as the second-longest in program history. The longest streak is 13 in a row that the 2002-03 team pieced together on its way to a 15-2 record at home. Two other teams posted 12-game winning streaks, including the 2000-01 (15-2) and 1980-81 (17-2) squads.
// COACHING MILESTONE
The back-to-back 20+ win seasons also are historic as they mark the first time in program history a UC coach has opened her tenure with 20 wins in each of her first two seasons as Michelle Clark-Heard has. The closest any previous coach had come was Ceal Barry, who won 18 in 1979-80 and 27 in 1980-81.
// ONE AWAY
Following Monday's win over ECU, the Bearcats are one win away from reaching a milestone. As it stands, UC is 699-661 all-time since the program began in time for the 1971-72 season. A win Saturday over either SMU or Memphis would not only put the Bearcats into the semifinals of the AAC tournament of the third year in a row, it also would be win #700 for the program.
// ANOTHER 700 CLUB
On the same night the Bearcats could win their 700th game, Angel Rizor could join another 700 club as she is currently sitting on 699 career rebounds. Ranked #7 all-time at UC, she would become the first UC player to reach 700 since Debbie Merrill recorded 701 from 2002-04.
// FOR THREE
UC enters the AAC Tournament as the #3 seed for the second year in a row and the third time overall in their conference tournament history. The first time UC was the #3 seed came at the 2002 Conference USA Tournament in Chicago where the Bearcats went 3-0 to win their only conference tournament crown. In that event, they defeated Louisville (80-70), Houston (78-74) and Tulane (68-56). Last year, UC went 1-1 and reach the semifinals as they defeated Memphis (68-48) before falling to UCF (58-66).
// IN THE CLUB
On February 23 against Tulane, Angel Rizor became the 29th member of UC's 1,000 Point Club as she scored the 18 points she needed to hit 1,000 exactly. Not only did Rizor join the club, she also became the third active member of the team to do so this year after both IImar'I Thomas and Antoinette Miller did so earlier in the season.
// MOVING UP
Following the game with ECU, Thomas' 1,304 career points ranks her #13 all-time while Miller is #20 with 1,157 points and Rizor stands 26th with 1,033 points. Rizor needs just 20 points to tie Jill Stephens with 1,053 points and earn a spot in the all-time Top 25. Miller is close to passing another UC great as well as she is seven points from tying K.B. Sharp for #19 all-time and, should she score 11 points, would move all the way up to #17 all-time as well.
// HOW THEY GOT THERE
IImar'I Thomas • vs. Coppin State (12/30/19)
Thomas scored 21 points and added six boards as she eclipsed the 1,000 point mark and became the 27th member of the club. Thomas needed 10 points in the game to reach the milestone and more than doubled that as she scored 20 or more in a game for the sixth time.
Antoinette Miller • vs. Temple (1/26/20)
Miller entered the game with Temple in need of 19 points to reach 1,000 for her career and topped that with 21 points scored. The 28th member of the club, Miller finished the game with 11 of her points coming at the free-throw line while she also dished four assists, pulled down three rebounds and blocked one shot.
Angel Rizor • vs. Tulane (2/23/20)
Rizor came into the game needing 18 and scored exactly 18, including draining two free throws in the fourth quarter for points 999 and 1,000. She finished the game with 18 points, which included a perfect 6-of-6 from the charity stripe, nine rebounds, three assists, one steal and one block in 35 minutes of play.
// CAREER LISTS
Along with movement up the scoring ladder, four Bearcats also have moved up the all-time Top 10 in several career statistical categories:
- Sam Rodgers is now #9 all-time in career three-pointers made (144) while ranking #10 in attempts (416).
- Angel Rizor is #8 in rebounds (699) and #8 in blocked shots (64).
- Antoinette Miller is #6 in assists (379) and recently moved to \#10 for steals (158).
- IImar'I Thomas is #4 for blocked shots (96) and cracked the Top 10 in rebounds with 677.
// ANT FINDING HER TOUCH
In the last fiver games, Antoinette Miller has tallied at least 15 points, including 22 against ECU on Senior Night. For the season, Miller is second on the team with a 15.8 scoring average that also ranks sixth in the American. She averaged 18.0 points and 4.0 assists over the final three games of the regular season and was named to the final AAC Weekly Honor Roll for her efforts.
// 23 GOES OVER 29
For the 11th time this season and 16th time in her career, Thomas scored 20 or more points in a game as she finished with 29 against Wright State Saturday. So far this year, Thomas has posted two games of 30+, including 32 at home against UCF and then 35 at home against Houston for a career-high. Additionally, she has scored 29 twice and 25 twice. She ended the regular season ranked second in the league in scoring at 18.7 points per game.
// IIMAR'I PULLING RANK
Thomas also ranks highly in several other categories in the AAC as well as nationally. She currently leads the American and is 12th in the NCAA in field goal percentage as she is hitting at a 59.4% clip while her 215 made field goals ranks sixth nationally and 542 points scored ranks 24th in the NCAA. The 29th-ranked player in the nation in points per game average, Thomas also enters the AAC Tournament ranked eighth in rebounds (8.0), fourth in free-throw percentage (80.0), and third in offensive rebounds (3.5) in the league.
// PAINTING PROJECT
Against Tulane, the Bearcats went to work in the paint as the scored 52 of their 87 points in the paint. The 52 points are the second-most scored this year by UC, surpassed only by the 60 UC tallied against Miami (Ohio). Then, last Saturday at Wichita State, the Bearcats torched the Shockers for 58 points in the paint, just two off their season best. To add to that stat, UC's 58 points in the paint were four more than WSU scored in total for the entire game (54).
// FROM THE LINE
Also against Tulane, the Bearcats entered halftime 1-of-1 from the free throw line. At the end of the game, UC finished 20-of-22 from the stripe, connecting on 90.9% of their attempts for the. The seventh time the Bearcats have attempted 20+ free throws in a game this year, UC shot over 80% from the line for the fifth time as well. UC, who has been among the best in the league from the charity stripe, currently ranks second in free throw percentage, connecting at a 73.1% clip.
PREVIOUSLY NOTED
// DOUBLE THE DOUBLE-DOUBLE
For the third time this year and the second time in six days, both Rizor and Thomas combined to post double-doubles in the same game. Rizor's 20 and 10 was complimented by Thomas' 16 and 13 just six days after the duo posted 15-13 and 21-11, respectively, against Tulsa. The Houston game marked the third time the duo posted double-doubles in the same game with the first coming against Ohio State as Rizor posted 10 and 12 and Thomas added 25 and 12.
// THIEF!
The Bearcats recorded 10 steals against Houston (2/18/20) with Sam Rodgers recording a career-high five thefts in the game. Previously, her high was four (twice), most recently coming against Wichita State last year (2/10/19).
// DEFENSE
At UCF, the Bearcats limited the Knights to just four points in the first quarter and 15 points total in the first half. The four points in the first quarter marked the second time UC had limited an opponent to under 10 points in the opening quarter of play (9, Ball State) and the eighth time overall this year a team has been limited to under 10 points in any quarter. The four points also are the fewest allowed in any quarter this year, surpassing the five score by USF in the fourth quarter in Cincinnati February 2. Overall, the 15 points allowed in the first half are the fewest of any half this year, surpassing the 16 Coppin State scored.
// SHE'S ON FIRE!
For the second time in three games, one of UC's players went off from outside the arc and, this time, it was Antoinette Miller at Houston as the senior drained 5-of-8 trey attempts to tie a career high. Against Tulsa last week, Sam Rodgers caught fire from behind the arc as she too finished 5-of-8 for the day and tied her career-high for made treys in a contest.
// HISTORIC WIN
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.
// RODGERS HONORED
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, 4.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.3 steals a contest. In addition, her assist-to-turnover ratio (1.6) is fourth-best in the AAC, while her 36.5 minutes each outing is fourth-most in the league.
// SCORING EXPLOSION
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.
// 2020 SIGNING CLASS
The University of Cincinnati women's basketball has signed a talented quartet of 2020 recruits, complete with highly-decorated student-athletes Riane Burton, Caitlin Elseser, Jillian Hayes, and Destiny Haymer.
Burton ranks as the No. 88 prospect nationally and a four-star recruit in the 2020 class by Prospects Nation … Tabbed as the No. 10 wing in the country in her class by ESPN … Averaged 16 points and 11 rebounds per game as a junior at Cypress Ranch High School ... Three-time First Team All-District honoree … 2018-19 All-Greater Houston First Teamer and All-State selection.
Elseser averaged 17 points and 7 rebounds per game as a junior at Liberty-Benton High School … Division III Third Team All-Ohio and Second Team All-Northwest District in 2019 … First Team Blanchard Valley Conference pick … Four-year high school volleyball letter winner who was recently a part of a state championship team.
Hayes ranks as the No. 116 prospect in the 2020 class by Collegiate Girls Basketball Report … Tabbed as a four-star recruit by Prospects Nation … Averaged 17 points and 8 rebounds per game as a junior at Loveland High School … Honorable Mention Division I All-Ohio and Second Team All-Southwest District in 2019 ... Father Jonathan is current head coach of the XFL's St. Louis BattleHawks, her mother, Kristi, a former Missouri Valley Conference Women's Basketball Player of the Year at Drake, and her brother, Jaxson, the 8th overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft and a current member of the New Orleans Pelicans.
Haymer ranks as the No. 12 junior college recruit in the 2020 class by All Star Girls Report (ASGR) ... First Team All-MACJC and NJCAA All-Region 23 pick in 2019 ... Averaged 12.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 3.7 assists in a year ago ... In high school, was tabbed the 2017-18 Gatorade Mississippi Player of the Year ... Averaged 16.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, 4.8 steals and 3.4 assists per game … Led the Jaguars to the 2016 5A state championship...Had 10 career triple-doubles and one quadruple-double.
// UP NEXT
Should Cincinnati win, the Bearcats would play in the second semifinal game with a 6:30 p.m. start on ESPNU.