Women's Basketball Welcomes Memphis on Wednesday

MEMPHIS (2-7, 0-4 AAC)
at CINCINNATI (3-8, 2-5 AAC)
Wednesday, Jan. 20 // 6 p.m. ET
Fifth Third Arena // Cincinnati, Ohio
SERIES INFO: 58th Meeting; Memphis leads 35-22 overall; Memphis leads 12-11 in Cincinnati;
Memphis leads 18-7 in Memphis; Memphis leads 5-3 at neutral sites 
LAST SEASON'S MEETINGS: Cincinnati won 73-66 on Jan. 8, 2020 in Memphis and 94-52 on Mar. 7, 2020 in the quarterfinals of the AAC Championship
STREAK: Cincinnati - 8
COACHES: Michelle Clark-Heard is in her third season at Cincinnati (49-29); 11th season overall (227-109)
Melissa McFerrin is in her 13th season at Memphis (191-196); 17th season overall (241-266)
AP/USA TODAY RANKINGS: Cincinnati (--/--); Memphis (--/--)
TV: ESPN+; Matt Noonan and Betsy Ross
JOIN THE CONVERSATION (TWITTER, FACEBOOK & INSTAGRAM): @GoBearcatsWBB or GoBearcatsWBB

GAME PREVIEW 

• Cincinnati (3-8, 2-5 AAC) returns home to welcome Memphis (2-7, 0-4) to Fifth Third Arena on Wednesday, Jan. 20. Tipoff is 6 p.m. ET on ESPN+. 
• The Bearcats fell at UCF on Sunday, 57-41. IImar'I Thomas finished two rebounds shy of her fourth double-double in five games, tallying 13 points and eight rebounds. Destiny Haymer posted 10 points and a pair of 3-pointers. Caitlyn Wilson added eight points with a pair of threes. 
• Memphis last played at Tulsa on Jan. 9, falling 72-68. Four Tigers scored in double figures led by Jatyjia Jones, who tallied 19 points and eight rebounds. 
• UC won both meetings last season, including a 94-52 result in the quarterfinals of the AAC Tournament (3/7/20). 
• UP NEXT: The Bearcats play host to Wichita State on Wednesday, Jan. 27. Tipoff is 2 p.m. ET on ESPN+.

CINCINNATI HEADLINES

• Senior forward IImar'I Thomas has posted 20 or more points in nine of 11 games this season. She ranks among the nation's leaders in seven categories: minutes played per game (3rd at 38.99), field goals made (5th at 98), free throws made (10th at 66), total points (11th at 263), points per game (12th at 23.9), free throws attempted (16th at 78) and total minutes played (22nd at 429).
• Freshman guard Jillian Hayes is averaging 7.0 rebounds over the last four games, including a season-high nine boards against Tulsa (1/6). She has grabbed at least four rebounds in 10 of 11 games this season. She registered a career-high 20 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter in UC's win at league unbeaten Temple (1/13). 
• UC ranks among the AAC's top teams in free throw percentage (1st at .706), blocks (T1st at 4.3), rebounding defense (3rd at 35.5) and field goal percentage (4th at .408) this season.
• Cincinnati is coming off back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time since stringing together three consecutive 20-win campaigns from 2001-03.
• The Bearcats tied for second in the AAC regular-season standings a year ago with an 11-5 mark, the school's best finish in The American and its best league result since placing second in the Conference USA standings in 2004. 
• UC reached the championship game of the 2019 AAC Women's Championship, rallying from a 15-point deficit to post a 57-51 win over UCF. The effort resulted in the Bearcats first conference tournament championship game appearance since 2003 (Conference USA).
• Michelle Clark-Heard won more games (46) during her first two seasons at Cincinnati than any other head coach in program history. She is also the first coach in UC history to record 20-win seasons in each of her first two seasons on the job.

TOUTING THOMAS

• NATIONAL NUMBERS: Thomas entered Monday ranked 12th in the nation in scoring at 23.9 points per game.
• Thomas also entered the week ranked among the nation's leaders in seven categories: minutes played per game (3rd at 38.99), field goals made (5th at 98), free throws made (10th at 66), total points (11th at 263), points per game (12th at 23.9), free throws attempted (16th at 78) and total minutes played (22nd at 429).
• AAC NUMBERS: Thomas enters the week ranked among the AAC leaders in nine categories: scoring (1st at 23.9), field goal percentage (1st at .554), free throw percentage (1st at .846), minutes played (1st at 38.9), rebounds (5th at 8.4), offensive rebounds (5th at 2.8), defensive rebounds (6th at 5.5), assists (12th at 3.0) and blocks (T14th at 0.9). 
• THREE DOUBLE-DOUBLES: Thomas has registered three double-doubles in the past five games: 24 points and a career-high 17 rebounds at Wichita State (1/2); 24 points and 12 rebounds vs. Tulsa (1/6); and 24 points and 12 rebounds (1/13). Thomas has 19 double-doubles for her career, including 12 in AAC play. 

BEARCATS TIPINS

• BLOCK PARTY: UC is tied with Houston atop the AAC for most blocks per game at 4.3. UC's 47 total blocks this season ranked 50th in the nation entering Monday. 
• Arame Niang (6th at 1.2), IImar'I Thomas (T14th at 0.9) and Jillian Hayes (T14th at 0.9) rank among AAC leaders entering the week.
• Since the start of league play, Niang ranks tied for fourth in the AAC, averaging 1.4 blocks. She has at least one block in eight of 11 games this season. 
• Niang posted a career-high four blocks against Tulsa (1/6) while Thomas and Niang recorded three blocks each at Wichita State (1/2).   
• AMONG AAC LEADERS (ALL GAMES): UC also ranks among AAC team leaders in free throw percentage (1st at .706), rebounding defense (3rd at 35.5) and field goal percentage (4th at .408) and for all games. 
• HAYES' IMPACT INCREASING: Freshman Jillian Hayes put together back-to-back double-digit scoring performances recently. She registered a career-high 20 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter in UC's win at league unbeaten Temple (1/13). Prior to that, she posted 16 points with eight rebounds against Tulane (1/9). 
• On the glass, Hayes is averaging 7.0 rebounds over the last four games, including a season-high nine boards against Tulsa (1/6). She has grabbed at least four rebounds in 10 of 11 games this season. 
• In AAC games only, Hayes ranks among league leaders in defensive rebounds (8th at 5.0), rebounds per game (10th at 5.9) and minutes played (11th at 34.0), 
• HAYMER'S BIG EFFORT IN PHILLY: Junior guard Destiny Haymer has scored in double figures in three of the last four games highlighted by her performance at Temple (1/13). Haymer poured in 11 points to go with a game-best eight assists and seven rebounds against the Owls. 

SCOUTING MEMPHIS

• The Tigers enter Wednesday's contest having lost their last five games, including four against AAC foes. 
• Dulcy Mendjiadeu Fankam (15.2 points, 11.0 rebounds), Alana Davis (12.2 points, 4.1 rebounds) and Madison Griggs (9.2 points, 2.3 3-pointers per game) lead the Memphis attack. 
• Aerial Wilson entered Monday ranked seventh in the nation, averaging 6.9 assists. 
• Memphis has had six games affected by health and safety concerns related to COVID-19 this season, including Sunday's contest against USF.