TicketsPHILADELPHIA – IImar'I Thomas posted a double-double with 24 points and 12 rebounds and Jillian Hayes produced a career-high 20 points as Cincinnati (3-7, 2-4 American) earned a 71-65 win over Temple (4-4, 4-1) on Wednesday at McGonigle Hall.
Thomas and Temple's Mia Davis, sharing AAC Preseason Player of the Year accolades, didn't disappoint.
Thomas registered her ninth 20-point scoring game and third double-double of the season, coming alive for 17 second-half points. She shot 8-of-15 from the floor and made all eight of her free throw attempts.
Davis finished with 20 points, shooting 7 of 21 from the field with six rebounds.
Jasha Clinton led Temple with 23 points with four 3-pointers and five assists.
Destiny Haymer added 11 points with a career-high seven rebounds and game-best eight assists for the Bearcats, who handed the Owls their first league defeat.
In a back-and-fourth affair that saw 16 lead changes and neither team leading by more than six points throughout, Hayes stepped forward to help guide the Bearcats to victory with 10 fourth-quarter points.
UC found itself trailing 61-58 with 4:55 remaining when Hayes heated up. She connected on a jumper and scored on a fastbreak layup to give the Bearcats a 62-61 lead with 3:45 left.
Emani Mayo made a transition layup to give the Owls a 63-62 advantage at 2:41 remaining in what ended up being Temple's last basket.
Hayes hit a wide-open 17-footer and Thomas converted a three-point play as UC built a 67-63 with 52 seconds left.
After Temple pulled within 67-65 with 42 seconds to go on a pair of free throws by Kash Ayuso, Hayes answered back with a 12-foot jumper and Thomas hit a pair of free throws to seal the win.
UC won the battle of the boards 44-32 and registered four blocks. Temple proved dangerous from the outside with seven 3-pointers.
All eight UC players that entered the game scored, including freshman Riane Burton who made her collegiate debut, scoring two points with a rebound and an assist in 11 minutes.
UP NEXT
UC plays at UCF on Saturday at noon ET on ESPNU.
Thomas and Temple's Mia Davis, sharing AAC Preseason Player of the Year accolades, didn't disappoint.
Thomas registered her ninth 20-point scoring game and third double-double of the season, coming alive for 17 second-half points. She shot 8-of-15 from the floor and made all eight of her free throw attempts.
Davis finished with 20 points, shooting 7 of 21 from the field with six rebounds.
Jasha Clinton led Temple with 23 points with four 3-pointers and five assists.
Destiny Haymer added 11 points with a career-high seven rebounds and game-best eight assists for the Bearcats, who handed the Owls their first league defeat.
In a back-and-fourth affair that saw 16 lead changes and neither team leading by more than six points throughout, Hayes stepped forward to help guide the Bearcats to victory with 10 fourth-quarter points.
UC found itself trailing 61-58 with 4:55 remaining when Hayes heated up. She connected on a jumper and scored on a fastbreak layup to give the Bearcats a 62-61 lead with 3:45 left.
Emani Mayo made a transition layup to give the Owls a 63-62 advantage at 2:41 remaining in what ended up being Temple's last basket.
Hayes hit a wide-open 17-footer and Thomas converted a three-point play as UC built a 67-63 with 52 seconds left.
After Temple pulled within 67-65 with 42 seconds to go on a pair of free throws by Kash Ayuso, Hayes answered back with a 12-foot jumper and Thomas hit a pair of free throws to seal the win.
UC won the battle of the boards 44-32 and registered four blocks. Temple proved dangerous from the outside with seven 3-pointers.
All eight UC players that entered the game scored, including freshman Riane Burton who made her collegiate debut, scoring two points with a rebound and an assist in 11 minutes.
UP NEXT
UC plays at UCF on Saturday at noon ET on ESPNU.