TicketsFORT WORTH, Texas – Caitlyn Wilson and IImar'I Thomas scored 13 points each but No. 7-seed Cincinnati's run at the AAC Championship ended in the quarterfinals falling to No. 2 seed UCF, 53-43, on Tuesday at Dickies Arena.
UC (8-16) extended its win streak to four games, shooting 45 percent from the field in its win over Memphis in the first round Monday but ran into one of the nation's top defenses and was held to 43 points and 34 percent shooting from the field Tuesday.
Diamond Battles led UCF (15-3) with 13 points and a game-best five steals. Alisha Lewis added 12 points.
UC trailed 21-14 early in the second quarter before going on an 8-0 run to grab a 22-21 lead at 5:03 on a three-point play from Thomas. However, UCF ended the quarter on a 7-0 run to take a 28-22 halftime lead.
The Bearcats scored the first four points of the third quarter on a Jillian Hayes layup and two free throws from Thomas to pull within 28-26 at 6:47. However, the Knights answered with a 6-0 spurt to build at 34-26 advantage at 3:54 and never led by less than two possessions the rest of the way.
Wilson registered a trio of threes in scoring her 13 points to go with four rebounds and four steals. Thomas ws 5 of 12 from the field and had two steals and a pair of blocks.
Hayes finished with eight points, eight rebounds for the Bearcats. Milan Schimmel added a basket, five rebounds and a game-high seven assists.
UCF outrebounds UC 39-30, owns a 32-20 advantage in the paint and led 11-4 in second chance points.
UC hung tough throughout the contest, recording 11 steals and eight blocked shots.
UC (8-16) extended its win streak to four games, shooting 45 percent from the field in its win over Memphis in the first round Monday but ran into one of the nation's top defenses and was held to 43 points and 34 percent shooting from the field Tuesday.
Diamond Battles led UCF (15-3) with 13 points and a game-best five steals. Alisha Lewis added 12 points.
UC trailed 21-14 early in the second quarter before going on an 8-0 run to grab a 22-21 lead at 5:03 on a three-point play from Thomas. However, UCF ended the quarter on a 7-0 run to take a 28-22 halftime lead.
The Bearcats scored the first four points of the third quarter on a Jillian Hayes layup and two free throws from Thomas to pull within 28-26 at 6:47. However, the Knights answered with a 6-0 spurt to build at 34-26 advantage at 3:54 and never led by less than two possessions the rest of the way.
Wilson registered a trio of threes in scoring her 13 points to go with four rebounds and four steals. Thomas ws 5 of 12 from the field and had two steals and a pair of blocks.
Hayes finished with eight points, eight rebounds for the Bearcats. Milan Schimmel added a basket, five rebounds and a game-high seven assists.
UCF outrebounds UC 39-30, owns a 32-20 advantage in the paint and led 11-4 in second chance points.
UC hung tough throughout the contest, recording 11 steals and eight blocked shots.