TicketsUNCASVILLE, Conn. – For the first time in 17 years, the University of Cincinnati women's basketball team is headed to the final of a conference tournament as the Bearcats downed UCF, 57-51, Sunday night in the semifinals of the 2020 American Women's Basketball Championship at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The Bearcats (22-9), who came back from a 15-point deficit to claim victory over the Knights (20-10) will now face #4 UConn in Monday night's championship game.
// TIP INS
• Cincinnati, the #3 seed in the tournament, improved to 22-9 on the year while the #2 seed Knights fell to 20-10
• The Bearcats advanced to the championship game for the first time in the AAC, the fifth time in program history and the first time since the 2003 Conference USA Championship game played in Memphis
• The Bearcats are 1-3 all-time in tournament championship games, winning the 2002 Conference USA title while taking runner-up honors in the 1999, 2001 and 2003 CUSA events
• Cincinnati moved to 2-1 against UCF this year, winning the rubber match after falling at UCF, 49-42, in the most recent meeting (February 15)
• The 15-point deficit the Bearcats overcame tied for the second-best comeback in the history of the tournament, tying with UCF's 15-point comeback over Temple two years ago in the quarterfinals
• The deficit also is the largest overcome in the semifinal round, surpassing the 10-point deficit Louisville erased against USF in 2014
• On the comeback trail, the Bearcats outscored the Knights, 18-3, in the third quarter to take the lead and tie for the second-fewest points allowed in a quarter in tournament history with the three Tulsa held Houston to in the fourth quarter of their 2016 first round game
• The three points allowed also marked the 13th time this season UC has held an opponent to nine or fewer points in a quarter with the three points standing as the fewest allowed in a stanza this year, surpassing the four scored by UCF in the first quarter of the teams' February 15 game in Orlando
• The 108 combined points in the game stand as the fifth-lowest in an AAC tournament game and is the second time the two teams have added their names to the list after UC won, 54-52 (106 points), in the first round of 2014
• IImar'I Thomas scored 21 points and added eight rebounds and three blocks in the game, marking the 16th time this year she has scored 20+ points in a game and the 21st time in her career
• Angel Rizor nearly recorded her fifth double-double of the season as she finished 13 points and nine boards
• Antoinette Miller played the entire 40 minutes of the game and finished with 12 points and five assists while also stealing the ball three times
• Sam Rodgers also played the entire game and chipped in three points and a team-high seven assists
// THE GAME
Cincinnati got off to a slow start as UCF built a 4-0 lead before Rodgers' lone bucket of the night, a three-pointer, made it 4-3. From there, the Knights would build their lead to 10 points at 17-7 before the Bearcats trimmed it to a six-point deficit as Rizor connected on a pair of free throws at the end of the quarter to make it 17-11 for UCF. The Knights pushed their lead to 15 points twice in the second quarter, but the Bearcats responded again to cut it to an 11-point deficit at the halftime break (36-25).
After the break, it was truly a tale of two halves as the Bearcats came out shooting over 50% from the floor midway through the third quarter and cut the deficit to seven points (39-32) at the media timeout. From there, the Bearcats continued to take over and finished the quarter on an 18-1 run that took them from being seven down to ahead by four. The Bearcats continued to run from there as the went on a 6-0 run to open the quarter before a Kay Kay Wright bucket with 8:03 remaining ended the run at 24-3. Leading 49-41 at that point, the Bearcats held on for victory as UCF closed to within one point (52-51) with 1:39 remaining in the game before Thomas hit a layup (54-51), Miller scored one free throw (55-51) and Florence Sifa drained both of her free throws with 20 seconds remaining. In the final minute of play, UCF was 0-of-3 from the floor with Rizor blocking one of those shots and also committing one turnover.
// HEADING TO THE 'SHIP
When Cincinnati takes the floor Monday night, it will mark exactly 17 years to the day since the Bearcats last played for a conference title. On March 9, 2003, the Bearcats met TCU in the final of the Conference USA Championship in Memphis and lost in overtime, 85-76. On the sidelines for the Bearcats that night: current UC Head. Coach Michelle Clark-Heard, who was in her first season as an assistant coach with the program.
// MAKING HISTORY
With tonight's win, the Bearcats have advanced to their latest game in AAC tournament play, surpassing the semifinal rounds they played in each of the past two seasons. Overall in the American, the Bearcats are trending in the right way after falling in the first round in both 2016 and 2017 before falling in the semifinals in 2018 and 2019. Additionally, the Bearcats will become just the fifth different team to reach the final of the American tournament as UConn has reach the final all seven years with USF playing four times (2015-18) and UCF (2019) and Louisville (2014) rounding out the other finalists.
// COMEBACKS
The 15-point deficit overcome tonight by UC is the largest comeback of the season, surpassing the 13-point deficit the Bearcats erased February 2 at home against USF. In that game, the Bulls led by as many as 13 before the Bearcats held the visitors to just five points in the fourth quarter and scored 15 to win by five. That comeback spared a three-game winning streak to open February and keep the Bearcats in contention for second place in the league standings, which is where they finished after going 6-2 following the come-from-behind win.
// THOMAS TOPS
Thomas finished the night with 21 points, marking the 16th time she has gone for 20 or more in a game this year, a total that includes a pair of 30-point games as well. The last time Thomas reached 20-points in a game was at Wichita State one week prior when she dropped 29 in a big road win over the Shockers. She is no stranger to scoring against the Knights, however, as she scored a then-career-high 32 points in UC's home win over UCF.
// UP NEXT
Cincinnati and fourth-ranked UConn will meet for the American Championship and the league's automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament at 7 p.m. Monday night. The game will be aired live on ESPN2 with Roy Philpott and Brooke Weisbrod on the call and Christy Tomaskutty on the sideline. Matt Noonan will once again have the live radio call with BearcatsTV on GoBearcats.com.
// GET CONNECTED
Stay up to date with the team by following the Bearcats on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook at @GoBearcatsWBB.
// TIP INS
• Cincinnati, the #3 seed in the tournament, improved to 22-9 on the year while the #2 seed Knights fell to 20-10
• The Bearcats advanced to the championship game for the first time in the AAC, the fifth time in program history and the first time since the 2003 Conference USA Championship game played in Memphis
• The Bearcats are 1-3 all-time in tournament championship games, winning the 2002 Conference USA title while taking runner-up honors in the 1999, 2001 and 2003 CUSA events
• Cincinnati moved to 2-1 against UCF this year, winning the rubber match after falling at UCF, 49-42, in the most recent meeting (February 15)
• The 15-point deficit the Bearcats overcame tied for the second-best comeback in the history of the tournament, tying with UCF's 15-point comeback over Temple two years ago in the quarterfinals
• The deficit also is the largest overcome in the semifinal round, surpassing the 10-point deficit Louisville erased against USF in 2014
• On the comeback trail, the Bearcats outscored the Knights, 18-3, in the third quarter to take the lead and tie for the second-fewest points allowed in a quarter in tournament history with the three Tulsa held Houston to in the fourth quarter of their 2016 first round game
• The three points allowed also marked the 13th time this season UC has held an opponent to nine or fewer points in a quarter with the three points standing as the fewest allowed in a stanza this year, surpassing the four scored by UCF in the first quarter of the teams' February 15 game in Orlando
• The 108 combined points in the game stand as the fifth-lowest in an AAC tournament game and is the second time the two teams have added their names to the list after UC won, 54-52 (106 points), in the first round of 2014
• IImar'I Thomas scored 21 points and added eight rebounds and three blocks in the game, marking the 16th time this year she has scored 20+ points in a game and the 21st time in her career
• Angel Rizor nearly recorded her fifth double-double of the season as she finished 13 points and nine boards
• Antoinette Miller played the entire 40 minutes of the game and finished with 12 points and five assists while also stealing the ball three times
• Sam Rodgers also played the entire game and chipped in three points and a team-high seven assists
// THE GAME
Cincinnati got off to a slow start as UCF built a 4-0 lead before Rodgers' lone bucket of the night, a three-pointer, made it 4-3. From there, the Knights would build their lead to 10 points at 17-7 before the Bearcats trimmed it to a six-point deficit as Rizor connected on a pair of free throws at the end of the quarter to make it 17-11 for UCF. The Knights pushed their lead to 15 points twice in the second quarter, but the Bearcats responded again to cut it to an 11-point deficit at the halftime break (36-25).
After the break, it was truly a tale of two halves as the Bearcats came out shooting over 50% from the floor midway through the third quarter and cut the deficit to seven points (39-32) at the media timeout. From there, the Bearcats continued to take over and finished the quarter on an 18-1 run that took them from being seven down to ahead by four. The Bearcats continued to run from there as the went on a 6-0 run to open the quarter before a Kay Kay Wright bucket with 8:03 remaining ended the run at 24-3. Leading 49-41 at that point, the Bearcats held on for victory as UCF closed to within one point (52-51) with 1:39 remaining in the game before Thomas hit a layup (54-51), Miller scored one free throw (55-51) and Florence Sifa drained both of her free throws with 20 seconds remaining. In the final minute of play, UCF was 0-of-3 from the floor with Rizor blocking one of those shots and also committing one turnover.
// HEADING TO THE 'SHIP
When Cincinnati takes the floor Monday night, it will mark exactly 17 years to the day since the Bearcats last played for a conference title. On March 9, 2003, the Bearcats met TCU in the final of the Conference USA Championship in Memphis and lost in overtime, 85-76. On the sidelines for the Bearcats that night: current UC Head. Coach Michelle Clark-Heard, who was in her first season as an assistant coach with the program.
// MAKING HISTORY
With tonight's win, the Bearcats have advanced to their latest game in AAC tournament play, surpassing the semifinal rounds they played in each of the past two seasons. Overall in the American, the Bearcats are trending in the right way after falling in the first round in both 2016 and 2017 before falling in the semifinals in 2018 and 2019. Additionally, the Bearcats will become just the fifth different team to reach the final of the American tournament as UConn has reach the final all seven years with USF playing four times (2015-18) and UCF (2019) and Louisville (2014) rounding out the other finalists.
// COMEBACKS
The 15-point deficit overcome tonight by UC is the largest comeback of the season, surpassing the 13-point deficit the Bearcats erased February 2 at home against USF. In that game, the Bulls led by as many as 13 before the Bearcats held the visitors to just five points in the fourth quarter and scored 15 to win by five. That comeback spared a three-game winning streak to open February and keep the Bearcats in contention for second place in the league standings, which is where they finished after going 6-2 following the come-from-behind win.
// THOMAS TOPS
Thomas finished the night with 21 points, marking the 16th time she has gone for 20 or more in a game this year, a total that includes a pair of 30-point games as well. The last time Thomas reached 20-points in a game was at Wichita State one week prior when she dropped 29 in a big road win over the Shockers. She is no stranger to scoring against the Knights, however, as she scored a then-career-high 32 points in UC's home win over UCF.
// UP NEXT
Cincinnati and fourth-ranked UConn will meet for the American Championship and the league's automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament at 7 p.m. Monday night. The game will be aired live on ESPN2 with Roy Philpott and Brooke Weisbrod on the call and Christy Tomaskutty on the sideline. Matt Noonan will once again have the live radio call with BearcatsTV on GoBearcats.com.
// GET CONNECTED
Stay up to date with the team by following the Bearcats on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook at @GoBearcatsWBB.