TicketsCINCINNATI – IImar'I Thomas poured in 32 points for her third 30-point outing of the season but Cincinnati (1-5, 0-2 American) couldn't keep up No. 20 USF (5-1, 2-0) in the fourth quarter, falling 73-61 Tuesday at Fifth Third Arena.
Thomas put together a complete performance against the Bulls, scoring 32 points, connecting on 13 of her 20 attempts from the field and making 6 of 10 from the free-throw line while compiling six rebounds, five assists and four steals.
With the effort, Thomas eclipses 1,500 points for her career at 1,525. Earlier this season, Thomas scored 34 points against Northern Kentucky (Nov. 25) and 32 points against Marquette (Dec. 10).
Arame Niang added 12 points on 6-of-7 shooting from the field with three rebounds against USF.
Sydni Harvey led USF with 21 points, including five 3-pointers. Bethy Mununga posted a double-double with 13 points and 14 rebounds. Elisa Pinzan handed out 11 assists for the Bulls, who won their fourth in a row.
USF built a 26-13 lead after one quarter thanks in part to a pair of threes from Harvey.
UC found a way back in the game in a hurry to start the second frame, scoring 14 of the first 16 points. Niang led UC with eight points during the quarter, including six during the spurt as the Bearcats pulled within 33-29 at the break.
The two teams battled back and forth in the third quarter. Milan Schimmel hit a 3-pointer at 5:56 to pull UC even at 40-40. Back-to-back layups from Thomas and Niang gave the Bearcats a 44-43 lead at 3:59. A Harvey 3-pointer, and baskets from Kristyna Brabencova and Elena Tsineke gave USF a 50-48 lead to close the quarter.
Thomas scored all of UC's 13 points in the final quarter, including a layup at 5:50 that pulled the Bearcats within 58-57. However, USF ended the game on a 15-4 run thanks to five points each from Harvey and Mununga.
UP NEXT
UC plays four of its next six games on the road, beginning with a trip to SMU on Wednesday, Dec. 30. Tipoff is 2 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
Thomas put together a complete performance against the Bulls, scoring 32 points, connecting on 13 of her 20 attempts from the field and making 6 of 10 from the free-throw line while compiling six rebounds, five assists and four steals.
With the effort, Thomas eclipses 1,500 points for her career at 1,525. Earlier this season, Thomas scored 34 points against Northern Kentucky (Nov. 25) and 32 points against Marquette (Dec. 10).
Arame Niang added 12 points on 6-of-7 shooting from the field with three rebounds against USF.
Sydni Harvey led USF with 21 points, including five 3-pointers. Bethy Mununga posted a double-double with 13 points and 14 rebounds. Elisa Pinzan handed out 11 assists for the Bulls, who won their fourth in a row.
USF built a 26-13 lead after one quarter thanks in part to a pair of threes from Harvey.
UC found a way back in the game in a hurry to start the second frame, scoring 14 of the first 16 points. Niang led UC with eight points during the quarter, including six during the spurt as the Bearcats pulled within 33-29 at the break.
The two teams battled back and forth in the third quarter. Milan Schimmel hit a 3-pointer at 5:56 to pull UC even at 40-40. Back-to-back layups from Thomas and Niang gave the Bearcats a 44-43 lead at 3:59. A Harvey 3-pointer, and baskets from Kristyna Brabencova and Elena Tsineke gave USF a 50-48 lead to close the quarter.
Thomas scored all of UC's 13 points in the final quarter, including a layup at 5:50 that pulled the Bearcats within 58-57. However, USF ended the game on a 15-4 run thanks to five points each from Harvey and Mununga.
UP NEXT
UC plays four of its next six games on the road, beginning with a trip to SMU on Wednesday, Dec. 30. Tipoff is 2 p.m. ET on ESPN+.