TicketsUNCASVILLE, Conn. – Five players scored in double figures and all 13 Bearcats that stepped on the court scored at least two points as the University of Cincinnati women's basketball team ran past Memphis, 94-52, in the quarterfinals at the American Women's Basketball Championship in Uncasville, Conn., Saturday night. The Bearcats (21-9), seeded third in the tournament, knocked the 11th-seeded Tigers (14-17) out of the tournament to advance to the semifinals for the third year in a row.
// TIP INS
• Cincinnati improved to 21-9 overall while Memphis fell to 14-1
• The win stands as the 700th in the history of the progra
• The #3 seed Bearcats advance to meet #2 UCF in the second semifinal Sunday at the Mohegan Sun Arena
• Cincinnati scored its second-highest point total of the season with 94 points, just four off the 98 scored against Miami (Ohio) earlier this season
• The Bearcats won by 42, their second-largest margin of the year behind the 46-point margin of victory over Coppin State in UC's 86-40 wi
• UC held UM to 25.9% shooting on the night, the second-lowest shooting of the year for an opponent behind the 25.0% Coppin State sho
• Cincinnati held a foe to under 10 points in a quarter for the 12th time this year as Memphis scored just seven points in the second quarter. The total is the second lowest in that quarter this year behind the five scored by ECU Monday night in the regular-season finale. Additionally, the 19 points the Tigers scored mark the fourth time this year that UC has held a team under 20 points in the opening half as well.
• All 13 players that saw minutes in the game scored at least two points with five scoring in double-figures, including IImar'I Thomas (17), Antoinette Miller (15), Sam Rodgers (14), Angel Rizor (10) and Chellia Watson (10)
• Rizor finished the game with five rebounds with her first of the night giving her 700 for her career and making her just the seventh UC player to reach the milestone
• The Bearcats connected on a season-high 10 three-pointers (10-of-20), surpassing the eight they hit Monday against ECU in the regular-season finale
• Of those 10 makes, Rodgers connected on four to mark the 18th time in her career and eighth time this season she has made three or more in a game
• Also connecting on three-pointers was Watson, who tied a career high with two makes to help her to 10 points her second career double-digit scoring night
• Miller nearly recorded a double-double as she finished the night with 15 points and added nine assists
• UC was balanced in its scoring on the night as 42 points came in the paint with 50 coming from mid to long-range (12 from the free throw line)
// THE GAME
Cincinnati jumped out to a quick start with a 6-0 run to open the game that saw the Bearcats score in transition off a pair of steals to get things started. The Bearcats built a 20-12 lead after the first quarter, but it was the second quarter where they took off as the out-scored the Tigers, 31-7, in the stanza to take a 51-19 lead into the break. The 51 points scored are the second-highest total of the season behind only the 52 scored against Coppin State earlier this year. Additionally, the seven points allowed in the second quarter are the second-fewest of the season in that quarter after holding ECU to five in Monday's regular-season finale. Also, the 19 points UC limited the Tigers to in the half marked the fourth time this year an opponent was held to 19 or fewer points in the opening half.
In the second half, the Bearcats continued to pull away as they outscored the Tigers, 22-18, in the third and 21-15 in the fourth. After shooting a blazing 71.4% from the floor in the second quarter, UC slowed a bit in the final half of the game as they connected on 64.3% in the third and 42.9% in the fourth. Regardless, UC finished shooting 56.3%, connecting on 50% or better for the third game in a row and the third time in the last five.
// 700 CLUB • PART 1
The number 700 was prominent on the night for the Bearcats. First, in early in the game, Rizor pulled down her first of five rebounds in the game to record the 700th of her career. With 704 to her credit, Rizor is the seventh UC woman to reach the milestone and the first to do sine Debbie Merrill joined the club in 2004.
// 700 CLUB • PART 2
With the victory, the Bearcats secured the 700th victory in program history, moving their all-time record to 700-661. UC began playing as a varsity team in the 1971-72 season.
// MOVING ON
The Bearcats have advanced to the semifinals for third year in a row and will face UCF for the second year in a row as well. All told, Cincinnati is 4-3 all-time in the semifinal round of a conference tournament, but has lost two in a row, including a 66-58 score to the Knights last year. The last time the Bearcats won a semifinal game was in 2003 when they reached the final of the Conference USA event in Louisville.
// UP NEXT
Cincinnati and UCF will meet in the second semifinal game Sunday evening with the two teams set to tip at 6:30 p.m. live on ESPNU. The winner of the game will face the winner of the first semifinal between UConn and USF Monday at 7 p.m. for the American championship.
// GET CONNECTED
Stay up to date with the team by following the Bearcats on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook at @GoBearcatsWBB.
// TIP INS
• Cincinnati improved to 21-9 overall while Memphis fell to 14-1
• The win stands as the 700th in the history of the progra
• The #3 seed Bearcats advance to meet #2 UCF in the second semifinal Sunday at the Mohegan Sun Arena
• Cincinnati scored its second-highest point total of the season with 94 points, just four off the 98 scored against Miami (Ohio) earlier this season
• The Bearcats won by 42, their second-largest margin of the year behind the 46-point margin of victory over Coppin State in UC's 86-40 wi
• UC held UM to 25.9% shooting on the night, the second-lowest shooting of the year for an opponent behind the 25.0% Coppin State sho
• Cincinnati held a foe to under 10 points in a quarter for the 12th time this year as Memphis scored just seven points in the second quarter. The total is the second lowest in that quarter this year behind the five scored by ECU Monday night in the regular-season finale. Additionally, the 19 points the Tigers scored mark the fourth time this year that UC has held a team under 20 points in the opening half as well.
• All 13 players that saw minutes in the game scored at least two points with five scoring in double-figures, including IImar'I Thomas (17), Antoinette Miller (15), Sam Rodgers (14), Angel Rizor (10) and Chellia Watson (10)
• Rizor finished the game with five rebounds with her first of the night giving her 700 for her career and making her just the seventh UC player to reach the milestone
• The Bearcats connected on a season-high 10 three-pointers (10-of-20), surpassing the eight they hit Monday against ECU in the regular-season finale
• Of those 10 makes, Rodgers connected on four to mark the 18th time in her career and eighth time this season she has made three or more in a game
• Also connecting on three-pointers was Watson, who tied a career high with two makes to help her to 10 points her second career double-digit scoring night
• Miller nearly recorded a double-double as she finished the night with 15 points and added nine assists
• UC was balanced in its scoring on the night as 42 points came in the paint with 50 coming from mid to long-range (12 from the free throw line)
// THE GAME
Cincinnati jumped out to a quick start with a 6-0 run to open the game that saw the Bearcats score in transition off a pair of steals to get things started. The Bearcats built a 20-12 lead after the first quarter, but it was the second quarter where they took off as the out-scored the Tigers, 31-7, in the stanza to take a 51-19 lead into the break. The 51 points scored are the second-highest total of the season behind only the 52 scored against Coppin State earlier this year. Additionally, the seven points allowed in the second quarter are the second-fewest of the season in that quarter after holding ECU to five in Monday's regular-season finale. Also, the 19 points UC limited the Tigers to in the half marked the fourth time this year an opponent was held to 19 or fewer points in the opening half.
In the second half, the Bearcats continued to pull away as they outscored the Tigers, 22-18, in the third and 21-15 in the fourth. After shooting a blazing 71.4% from the floor in the second quarter, UC slowed a bit in the final half of the game as they connected on 64.3% in the third and 42.9% in the fourth. Regardless, UC finished shooting 56.3%, connecting on 50% or better for the third game in a row and the third time in the last five.
// 700 CLUB • PART 1
The number 700 was prominent on the night for the Bearcats. First, in early in the game, Rizor pulled down her first of five rebounds in the game to record the 700th of her career. With 704 to her credit, Rizor is the seventh UC woman to reach the milestone and the first to do sine Debbie Merrill joined the club in 2004.
// 700 CLUB • PART 2
With the victory, the Bearcats secured the 700th victory in program history, moving their all-time record to 700-661. UC began playing as a varsity team in the 1971-72 season.
// MOVING ON
The Bearcats have advanced to the semifinals for third year in a row and will face UCF for the second year in a row as well. All told, Cincinnati is 4-3 all-time in the semifinal round of a conference tournament, but has lost two in a row, including a 66-58 score to the Knights last year. The last time the Bearcats won a semifinal game was in 2003 when they reached the final of the Conference USA event in Louisville.
// UP NEXT
Cincinnati and UCF will meet in the second semifinal game Sunday evening with the two teams set to tip at 6:30 p.m. live on ESPNU. The winner of the game will face the winner of the first semifinal between UConn and USF Monday at 7 p.m. for the American championship.
// GET CONNECTED
Stay up to date with the team by following the Bearcats on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook at @GoBearcatsWBB.