TicketsUNCASVILLE, Conn. – Angel Rizor scored 16 points and pulled down nine rebounds while IImar'I Thomas (14) and Antotinette Miller (15) each hit double figures, but it was not enough as the University of Cincinnati women's basketball team fell to #4 UConn, 87-53, in the American Women's Basketball Championship Game inside the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., Monday night.
The Bearcats (22-10) were playing in their first final in the seven-year history of the AAC event and came up short against the Huskies (29-3), who won for the seventh year in a row. Following the game, both Rizor and Thomas were named to the 2020 American Women's Basketball All-Championship Team for their outstanding play in the tournament.
// TIP INS
• Cincinnati fell to 22-10 overall while UConn improved to 29-3
• The Bearcats are 1-4 all-time in conference championship games and 0-1 in the American after reaching the championship game for the first time in the seven-year existence of the league
• The nine turnovers UC committed on the night was its fewest in three games with the Huskies (10 & 13) and marked the fifth time the Bearcats turned the ball over nine or fewer times in a game this year
• Rizor and Thomas were both named to the AAC All-Championship Team, the first selections for both and the first for a UC player since the 2004 Conference USA Tournament (Valerie King)
• Rizor was one rebound shy of her fifth double-double of the season as she pulled down a team-high nine rebounds while adding a pair of steals, also a team-high
• Rizor had the hot hand early as she scored 10 of the team's 15 points in the first quarter to keep UC close
• Antoinette Miller scored 15 points for the sixth time in the last seven games (has 10 vs. UCF Sunday) while also handing out a team-best four assists
• Thomas hit double figures for the 27th time 32 games this year as she finished with 14 points while adding five boards, two assists and one blocked shot
// THE GAME
Cincinnati kept it close in the first quarter, trailing 19-15 at the first break, but a big second quarter created the separation in the game as UC was 18.2% from the floor (4-of-22) compared to UConn's 65% shooting (13-of-20) that broke the game open and gave the Huskies a 22-point advantage at the half. Rizor did her part to help keep it close in the opening quarter as she started the game 3-of-4 from the field and scored the first six points for UC before finishing with 10 in the quarter.
The Bearcats hung around in the third as the Huskies added seven points to their advantage but were unable to close the gap as the Huskies outscored the Bearcats, 16-11, in the final stanza to claim the crown and the conference's automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament.
// ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Following the game, the conference announced its All-Championship Team with both Rizor and Thomas earning a spot on the team. Selected in a vote of the media members in attendance throughout the tournament, Rizor and Thomas were both instrumental in helping the Bearcats reach their first final as members of the league and their first since 2003, exactly 17 years to the day. The selections are the first of their respective careers and the first for any UC player in the AAC era. The last time UC placed anyone on a conference's all-tournament team was 2004 when Valerie King earned a spot on the Conference USA All-Tournament Team. Overall, the duo are the 13th and 14th players to earn a place on an all-tournament team in program history.
// UP NEXT
Cincinnati will now await its postseason fate that will be announced next week as the NCAA Selection Show will air next Monday, March 16, live on ESPN at 7 p.m. ET.
// GET CONNECTED
Stay up to date with the team by following the Bearcats on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook at @GoBearcatsWBB.
The Bearcats (22-10) were playing in their first final in the seven-year history of the AAC event and came up short against the Huskies (29-3), who won for the seventh year in a row. Following the game, both Rizor and Thomas were named to the 2020 American Women's Basketball All-Championship Team for their outstanding play in the tournament.
// TIP INS
• Cincinnati fell to 22-10 overall while UConn improved to 29-3
• The Bearcats are 1-4 all-time in conference championship games and 0-1 in the American after reaching the championship game for the first time in the seven-year existence of the league
• The nine turnovers UC committed on the night was its fewest in three games with the Huskies (10 & 13) and marked the fifth time the Bearcats turned the ball over nine or fewer times in a game this year
• Rizor and Thomas were both named to the AAC All-Championship Team, the first selections for both and the first for a UC player since the 2004 Conference USA Tournament (Valerie King)
• Rizor was one rebound shy of her fifth double-double of the season as she pulled down a team-high nine rebounds while adding a pair of steals, also a team-high
• Rizor had the hot hand early as she scored 10 of the team's 15 points in the first quarter to keep UC close
• Antoinette Miller scored 15 points for the sixth time in the last seven games (has 10 vs. UCF Sunday) while also handing out a team-best four assists
• Thomas hit double figures for the 27th time 32 games this year as she finished with 14 points while adding five boards, two assists and one blocked shot
// THE GAME
Cincinnati kept it close in the first quarter, trailing 19-15 at the first break, but a big second quarter created the separation in the game as UC was 18.2% from the floor (4-of-22) compared to UConn's 65% shooting (13-of-20) that broke the game open and gave the Huskies a 22-point advantage at the half. Rizor did her part to help keep it close in the opening quarter as she started the game 3-of-4 from the field and scored the first six points for UC before finishing with 10 in the quarter.
The Bearcats hung around in the third as the Huskies added seven points to their advantage but were unable to close the gap as the Huskies outscored the Bearcats, 16-11, in the final stanza to claim the crown and the conference's automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament.
// ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Following the game, the conference announced its All-Championship Team with both Rizor and Thomas earning a spot on the team. Selected in a vote of the media members in attendance throughout the tournament, Rizor and Thomas were both instrumental in helping the Bearcats reach their first final as members of the league and their first since 2003, exactly 17 years to the day. The selections are the first of their respective careers and the first for any UC player in the AAC era. The last time UC placed anyone on a conference's all-tournament team was 2004 when Valerie King earned a spot on the Conference USA All-Tournament Team. Overall, the duo are the 13th and 14th players to earn a place on an all-tournament team in program history.
// UP NEXT
Cincinnati will now await its postseason fate that will be announced next week as the NCAA Selection Show will air next Monday, March 16, live on ESPN at 7 p.m. ET.
// GET CONNECTED
Stay up to date with the team by following the Bearcats on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook at @GoBearcatsWBB.