TicketsCINCINNATI – Jillian Hayes and Mya Jackson each finished in double figures to lead Cincinnati to a 68-57 win over Tennessee Tech in the home opener on Thursday.
Hayes turned in 15 of her game-high 19 points in the first half on 6-9 from the field, while Jackson finished in double figures for the second straight contest with 18 points. Hayes neared a double-double on the night, adding a team-high nine rebounds and three assists.
"We were really pleased with her ability to be aggressive early tonight," said head coach Michelle Clark-Heard on Hayes. "That was something myself and Coach Gordon talked about with her. We told her that she has a lot of big-time situations for us and tonight was her growing as a player and that's what we need from her."
Trailing 15-4 at the end of the first quarter, the Bearcats used a 15-2 run over a four-minute stretch and outscored the Golden Eagles 21-7 in the second period to command a 35-22 lead heading into the locker room.
The Bearcats showed no sign of let down after the half, increasing the advantage to 49-33 on a steal and finish from Jackson with 3:09 left in the third quarter. Cincinnati extended its lead to 17 points late in the fourth quarter to cruise to the eventual final.
Cincinnati held Tennessee Tech to 28.6 percent from the field, which ties the lowest field goal percentage allowed since the Bearcats' limited Alabama A&M to 26.8 in last season's opener.
The Bearcats scored 20 points off the Golden Eagles' 16 turnovers and outscored their opponent 32-18 in the paint.
Cincinnati continues its homestand when the Bearcats host Radford inside Fifth Third Arena on Sunday, Nov. 13 at 3 p.m.
Hayes turned in 15 of her game-high 19 points in the first half on 6-9 from the field, while Jackson finished in double figures for the second straight contest with 18 points. Hayes neared a double-double on the night, adding a team-high nine rebounds and three assists.
"We were really pleased with her ability to be aggressive early tonight," said head coach Michelle Clark-Heard on Hayes. "That was something myself and Coach Gordon talked about with her. We told her that she has a lot of big-time situations for us and tonight was her growing as a player and that's what we need from her."
Trailing 15-4 at the end of the first quarter, the Bearcats used a 15-2 run over a four-minute stretch and outscored the Golden Eagles 21-7 in the second period to command a 35-22 lead heading into the locker room.
The Bearcats showed no sign of let down after the half, increasing the advantage to 49-33 on a steal and finish from Jackson with 3:09 left in the third quarter. Cincinnati extended its lead to 17 points late in the fourth quarter to cruise to the eventual final.
Cincinnati held Tennessee Tech to 28.6 percent from the field, which ties the lowest field goal percentage allowed since the Bearcats' limited Alabama A&M to 26.8 in last season's opener.
The Bearcats scored 20 points off the Golden Eagles' 16 turnovers and outscored their opponent 32-18 in the paint.
Cincinnati continues its homestand when the Bearcats host Radford inside Fifth Third Arena on Sunday, Nov. 13 at 3 p.m.