TicketsCINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati women's basketball team won in double-overtime over North Carolina A&T on Sunday afternoon at Fifth Third Arena. It is their third straight win as they improve to 7-4 on the season.
Akira Levy set season-highs in points (22) and assists (12) in a double-double effort, the first this season for the Bearcats.
Cincinnati shot a season-best 47.9% from the field and made 81% of their free-throws all while holding their opponents to 34.6% from the field.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Bearcats started as fast as they have all season when freshman guard Braylyn Milton made a lay-up seven seconds after tip-off for the fastest UC basket this season. Junior forward Jadyn Scott had two baskets off feeds from graduate forward Arame Niang and junior point guard Akira Levy which gave Cincinnati a 10-7 advantage.
Cincinnati went 7-for-7 during a stretch from 3:33 in the first quarter till 8:43 in the second quarter for a 24-19 lead. Sophomore guard Jillian Hayes made a strong move in the post before a wild attempt by junior point guard Akira Levy off a foul went in and produced a three-point play. Milton grabbed the offensive rebound and put it back in at the buzzer for a 35-27 lead at half.
Cincinnati started the second half on a 7-0 run, consisting of a Hayes jumper, sophomore center Nevaeh Dean lay-up and a Levy three pointer for the largest lead of the game, 42-29. Hayes would continue her scoring as she accounted for eight out of the first 17 points in the third quarter.
Levy would secure the first double-double on the season with her assist to Niang for a 64-59 lead in the fourth quarter. The visitors would fight back and their efforts rewarded on a last-second heave to tie the game at 66 and force overtime. It was the first overtime game of the season for the Bearcats.
Hayes made the first two baskets to start the extra period and Jadyn Scott's timely offensive rebound and basket gave the Bearcats the 72-70 lead. The visitors would tie it but miss the opportunity to win it at the buzzer as the game went to a second overtime.
Junior guard Caitlyn Wilson made a clutch three-pointer and Levy had a lay-up in traffic that pushed the Bearcats advantage to 78-72 in double overtime. Niang's emphatic and-one along with Levy's 6-6 from the free throw line put a bow on a 87-77 Bearcats victory.
Notables
UP NEXT
The Bearcats travel to Milwaukee, Wisconsin to face-off against Marquette University in the last game before the holiday season on Wednesday, Dec. 22. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. CT.
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
Akira Levy set season-highs in points (22) and assists (12) in a double-double effort, the first this season for the Bearcats.
Cincinnati shot a season-best 47.9% from the field and made 81% of their free-throws all while holding their opponents to 34.6% from the field.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Bearcats started as fast as they have all season when freshman guard Braylyn Milton made a lay-up seven seconds after tip-off for the fastest UC basket this season. Junior forward Jadyn Scott had two baskets off feeds from graduate forward Arame Niang and junior point guard Akira Levy which gave Cincinnati a 10-7 advantage.
Cincinnati went 7-for-7 during a stretch from 3:33 in the first quarter till 8:43 in the second quarter for a 24-19 lead. Sophomore guard Jillian Hayes made a strong move in the post before a wild attempt by junior point guard Akira Levy off a foul went in and produced a three-point play. Milton grabbed the offensive rebound and put it back in at the buzzer for a 35-27 lead at half.
Cincinnati started the second half on a 7-0 run, consisting of a Hayes jumper, sophomore center Nevaeh Dean lay-up and a Levy three pointer for the largest lead of the game, 42-29. Hayes would continue her scoring as she accounted for eight out of the first 17 points in the third quarter.
Levy would secure the first double-double on the season with her assist to Niang for a 64-59 lead in the fourth quarter. The visitors would fight back and their efforts rewarded on a last-second heave to tie the game at 66 and force overtime. It was the first overtime game of the season for the Bearcats.
Hayes made the first two baskets to start the extra period and Jadyn Scott's timely offensive rebound and basket gave the Bearcats the 72-70 lead. The visitors would tie it but miss the opportunity to win it at the buzzer as the game went to a second overtime.
Junior guard Caitlyn Wilson made a clutch three-pointer and Levy had a lay-up in traffic that pushed the Bearcats advantage to 78-72 in double overtime. Niang's emphatic and-one along with Levy's 6-6 from the free throw line put a bow on a 87-77 Bearcats victory.
Notables
- Braylyn Milton's lay-up at 9:53 was the quickest basket scored by the Bearcats this season. Milton had nine points and her five rebounds were a season-high.
- Akira Levy recorded 22 points, 12 assists and seven rebounds in the first double-double effort for Cincinnati this season. She came into the day second in the AAC and 19th in the NCAA in assists.
- The 12 assists by Levy is the first time a Bearcat recorded 12 since Antoinette Miller did versus Memphis on 1/26/19. She is now tied for third in the UC record book.
- Levy also finished 11-for-11 at the free throw line, the first time she finished perfect from the stripe. Last time a Bearcat went 11-for-11 from the free throw line was Tenishia Benson vs. Valparaiso, 11/16/07. She's now tied for fourth in the UC record book.
- Jillian Hayes contributed 18 points and eight rebounds. She had eight out of the first 17 points to start the second half.
- The Bearcats 87 points were the most scored in a game since their last home win vs. Xavier on 12/12.
- The last time the Bearcats played in a double-overtime game was on Jan. 7, 2015, where they beat Houston 76-73
- Two other Bearcats scored in double digits: Arame Niang (13) and center Clarissa Craig (10), which marks a new career high for the freshman.
- Nevaeh Dean scored her first points of the season, recording four in the game off two field goals.
UP NEXT
The Bearcats travel to Milwaukee, Wisconsin to face-off against Marquette University in the last game before the holiday season on Wednesday, Dec. 22. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. CT.
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