TicketsMOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – IImar'I Thomas continued her torrid scoring pace to start the season, but the University of Cincinnati women's basketball team couldn't overcome a scoring lull and fell on the road to Central Michigan, 79-62, on Saturday afternoon at McGuirk Arena.
Thomas who tied for the game high with 25 points, on an 11-for-16 shooting day, has scored 23 or more in each of the Bearcats first four games, going for 34 against Northern Kentucky, 23 at Florida and 32 vs. Marquette.
Central Michigan (2-1) took control of the game over the second and third quarters, outscoring UC 35-23 and holding the Bearcats to a 10-of-33 shooting effort (.303) during that span.
Overall, UC finished 25-of-65 (.385) from the field, but only 6-of-9 (.667) from the charity stripe. CMU made one less field goal (24-of-56) but finished 18-of-22 (.818) from the free-throw line.
Cincinnati (1-3) and the Chippewas were knotted at 27-27 after the first quarter with the Bearcats mounting an 18-7 run over the final five minutes of the frame after trailing 20-9 with 5:17 left.
NOTES
• Thomas, the 2020 American Athletic Conference Preseason Player of the Year, had her 23rd career game scoring 20 or more points. She also had a team-best eight rebounds and two assists.
• Arame Niang finished with eight points, four rebounds and a pair of assists.
• Jillian Hayes totaled a career best eight points, grabbed a career high seven boards and had two blocks.
• Jadyn Scott blocked a pair of shots, tying her career high.
• CMU's Molly Davis finished with 25 points and seven rebounds, leading four Chippewas in double digits. Kyra Bussell had a double-double, scoring 19 points and grabbing 10 boards. Maddy Watters tallied 16 points and Micaela Kelly had 13.
WHAT'S NEXT?
Cincinnati opens American Athletic Conference play Wednesday at Houston. Tip off from the Fertitta Center is set for 8 p.m. ET with the game airing on ESPN+.
FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
For all the latest information on Cincinnati women's basketball, please visit GoBEARCATS.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow Cincinnati WBB (@GoBearcatsWBB) and Coach Clark-Heard (@CoachHeard) on Twitter. You can also find the Bearcats on Instagram and Facebook.
Thomas who tied for the game high with 25 points, on an 11-for-16 shooting day, has scored 23 or more in each of the Bearcats first four games, going for 34 against Northern Kentucky, 23 at Florida and 32 vs. Marquette.
Central Michigan (2-1) took control of the game over the second and third quarters, outscoring UC 35-23 and holding the Bearcats to a 10-of-33 shooting effort (.303) during that span.
Overall, UC finished 25-of-65 (.385) from the field, but only 6-of-9 (.667) from the charity stripe. CMU made one less field goal (24-of-56) but finished 18-of-22 (.818) from the free-throw line.
Cincinnati (1-3) and the Chippewas were knotted at 27-27 after the first quarter with the Bearcats mounting an 18-7 run over the final five minutes of the frame after trailing 20-9 with 5:17 left.
NOTES
• Thomas, the 2020 American Athletic Conference Preseason Player of the Year, had her 23rd career game scoring 20 or more points. She also had a team-best eight rebounds and two assists.
• Arame Niang finished with eight points, four rebounds and a pair of assists.
• Jillian Hayes totaled a career best eight points, grabbed a career high seven boards and had two blocks.
• Jadyn Scott blocked a pair of shots, tying her career high.
• CMU's Molly Davis finished with 25 points and seven rebounds, leading four Chippewas in double digits. Kyra Bussell had a double-double, scoring 19 points and grabbing 10 boards. Maddy Watters tallied 16 points and Micaela Kelly had 13.
WHAT'S NEXT?
Cincinnati opens American Athletic Conference play Wednesday at Houston. Tip off from the Fertitta Center is set for 8 p.m. ET with the game airing on ESPN+.
FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
For all the latest information on Cincinnati women's basketball, please visit GoBEARCATS.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow Cincinnati WBB (@GoBearcatsWBB) and Coach Clark-Heard (@CoachHeard) on Twitter. You can also find the Bearcats on Instagram and Facebook.