TicketsCINCINNATI – The University of Cincinnati women's basketball team beat their crosstown rivals Xavier University 82-73 in the 43rd Annual Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout at Fifth Third Arena Sunday afternoon.
The Bearcats shot 42.4% from the field and 74% from the free throw line. The Bearcats tied their season-best six made three pointers with four coming from junior guard Caitlyn Wilson alone.
Sophomore forward Malea Williams had a career-day with 14 points, two rebounds, and two blocks in 18 minutes. Junior point guard Akira Levy continued to play well with 13 points, seven assists, four rebounds, a block, and a steal.
This was the first Crosstown Shootout since 2019 after COVID-19 canceled last season's meeting.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Xavier started out on a 5-0 run before graduate forward Arame Niang's lay-up got the Bearcats started. Cincinnati forced three turnovers following the start then went on an 8-0 run. Wilson and Williams hit back-to-back threes and Williams' smooth turnaround jumper got the game to within three, 18-15 Xavier with the lead.
The Bearcats forced five turnovers in the first five minutes to then go on an 8-2 run to tie the game at 23. Levy got her own miss and put it back in,Niang twisted her way for a well-earned lay-up and junior guard Jada Scott scored her first basket of the season to tie the game, 23-23. Xavier would go on a 5-0 run before Wilson hit back-to-back three's to cut the lead to one. Freshman point guard Lojain Elfatairy's first points of the season gave UC the lead 31-30 until Xavier hit a buzzer-beater to claim the 32-31 halftime lead.
Williams had nine of the first 19 Bearcat points after halftime.Niang had back-to-back jump shots fall before Williams' lay-up cut it to a one-point deficit for the home side. Sophomore guard Jillian Hayes scored her first basket of the day and Williams went on a 5-0 run. Despite the offense, Xavier would lead 53-50 at the end of the third quarter.
Cincinnati had an emphatic 6-0 run to start the fourth quarter punctuated by Niang's lay-up and one. Levy had a spinning lay-up to tie it at 61 and the Bearcats would never squander the lead, on the way to an 82-73 win. The Bearcats shot 60% in the final frame while holding Xavier to three made shots.
NOTABLES
UP NEXT
The University of Cincinnati women's basketball team travels to Tennessee to take on Chattanooga at 7 p.m on Wednesday, Nov. 15th
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 Michelle Clark-Heard (@Coachheard) on Twitter. You can also follow the team on Facebook and Instagram.
The Bearcats shot 42.4% from the field and 74% from the free throw line. The Bearcats tied their season-best six made three pointers with four coming from junior guard Caitlyn Wilson alone.
Sophomore forward Malea Williams had a career-day with 14 points, two rebounds, and two blocks in 18 minutes. Junior point guard Akira Levy continued to play well with 13 points, seven assists, four rebounds, a block, and a steal.
This was the first Crosstown Shootout since 2019 after COVID-19 canceled last season's meeting.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Xavier started out on a 5-0 run before graduate forward Arame Niang's lay-up got the Bearcats started. Cincinnati forced three turnovers following the start then went on an 8-0 run. Wilson and Williams hit back-to-back threes and Williams' smooth turnaround jumper got the game to within three, 18-15 Xavier with the lead.
The Bearcats forced five turnovers in the first five minutes to then go on an 8-2 run to tie the game at 23. Levy got her own miss and put it back in,Niang twisted her way for a well-earned lay-up and junior guard Jada Scott scored her first basket of the season to tie the game, 23-23. Xavier would go on a 5-0 run before Wilson hit back-to-back three's to cut the lead to one. Freshman point guard Lojain Elfatairy's first points of the season gave UC the lead 31-30 until Xavier hit a buzzer-beater to claim the 32-31 halftime lead.
Williams had nine of the first 19 Bearcat points after halftime.Niang had back-to-back jump shots fall before Williams' lay-up cut it to a one-point deficit for the home side. Sophomore guard Jillian Hayes scored her first basket of the day and Williams went on a 5-0 run. Despite the offense, Xavier would lead 53-50 at the end of the third quarter.
Cincinnati had an emphatic 6-0 run to start the fourth quarter punctuated by Niang's lay-up and one. Levy had a spinning lay-up to tie it at 61 and the Bearcats would never squander the lead, on the way to an 82-73 win. The Bearcats shot 60% in the final frame while holding Xavier to three made shots.
NOTABLES
- Head coach Michelle Clark-Heard is 3-0 against Xavier University and the Bearcats lead the Crosstown Shootout series 26-17.
- This was the most points scored by the Bearcats in a game this season (Previous high: 73 vs. Alabama A&M on Nov. 10)
- The Bearcats tied their season-best six made three pointers in a game, with four coming from Caitlyn Wilson alone. The four threes were also a season high for Wilson (previouslyhigh: two vs. Bellarmine on Nov. 12)
- Malea Williams had career-highs in points (14), made three-pointers (two), and blocks (two).
- Jada Scott scored her first basket of the season after battling with an injury to start the year.
- Lojain Elfatairy's free-throws were her first points of her freshman season.
- Caitlyn Wilson, Akira Levy, Arame Niang, and Malea Williams all scored in double-digits marking the second-time this season four Bearcats finished in double figures (11/12 vs Bellarmine).
UP NEXT
The University of Cincinnati women's basketball team travels to Tennessee to take on Chattanooga at 7 p.m on Wednesday, Nov. 15th
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 Michelle Clark-Heard (@Coachheard) on Twitter. You can also follow the team on Facebook and Instagram.