TicketsThe Bearcats seek their first winning streak of the early season after rolling to a 68-57 win over Tennessee Tech in the home opener on Thursday. Jillian Hayes and Mya Jackson each finished in double figures against the Golden Eagles. Hayes neared her fourth career double-double with a game-high 19 points, 15 of which came in the first half, in addition to nine rebounds and three assists, while Jackson finished in double figures for the second straight contest in 18 points, six rebounds and a team-high five assists.
Cincinnati is converting on 48.4 percent (15-31) from three-point range through the first two games, which ranks eighth in the nation and first in the AAC. Braylyn Milton is leading the team with a 55.6 three-point percentage on 5-9 behind the arc. Milton is one of three double digit scorers for the Bearcats - Braylyn Milton (15.5), Mya Jackson (15.0), and Jillian Hayes (11.0).
Sunday will be the 2nd-ever meeting between Cincinnati and Radford. The Bearcats won the first meeting 79-51 in Cincinnati on Dec, 16, 2000. Cincinnati is 26-18 in regular season non-conference games and 42-22 at home in four seasons under head coach Michelle Clark-Heard. Clark-Heard is 1-0 against Big South opponents at Cincinnati, earning the 87-77 (2OT) win over former Big South member North Carolina A&T on Dec. 19, 2021. Radford is the only current Big South team that Cincinnati will face as a part of their non-conference schedule this season.
In the 10th season under head coach Mike McGuire, Radford is off to a 1-1 start after earning a 68-39 win over Emory & Henry on Thursday. The Highlanders are looking to improve on a 7-23, 3-15 in the Big South record last season with the addition of nine newcomers, including freshman Ashlyn Traylor. Traylor has opened her collegiate career with back-to-back double-digit point performances, turning in a career-high 21 points against Emory & Henry. The Golden Eagles also welcome back Rachel LaLonde, who is nearly averaging a double-double this season with 14.5 points and 9.0 rebounds in 29.5 minutes per game.
EARLY SEASON CONTRIBUTIONS
Cincinnati has three players - Braylyn Milton (15.5), Mya Jackson (15.0), and Jillian Hayes (11.0) - who are averaging double figures scoring through the first two games. Mya Jackson has scored in double figures in her first two games as a Bearcat since transferring from Seton Hall. Cincinnati is converting on 15-31 for 48.4 percent from three point range through the first two games, which ranks eighth in the nation and first in the AAC. Milton leads the team with a 55.6 three-point percentage and is one of four Bearcats connecting on or above 50.0 percent this season. Jackson has logged 36.9 minutes per game through the first two contests, which ranks first in the AAC.
BOUNCE BACK FOR JILLIAN HAYES
After an 0-9 performance in 19 minutes at Louisville, junior guard Jillian Hayes posted a game-high 19 points on 8-15 from the field, 15 of which came in the first half, in additon to nine rebounds, three assists, a block and steal. Hayes is averaging 11.0 points per game and a team-high 6.0 rebounds through the first two games.
DANGEROUS FROM BEHIND THE ARC
Cincinnati is converting on 15-31 for 48.4 percent from three point range through the first two games, which ranks eighth in the nation and first in the AAC. Braylyn Milton is leading the team with a 55.6 three-point percentage (5-9). Milton is one of four Bearcats who are shooting at or above 50.0 percent from three through the first two games (min. 3 made) - Mya Jackson, Caitlyn Wilson and Dais'Ja Trotter at 50.0 percent. Cincinnati connected on 9-13 for 69.2 percent from three in the season opener at Louisville, the best mark under head coach Michelle Clark-Heard. Cincinnati improved to 13-2 when shooting above 50.0 percent from three under Clark-Heard.
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