TicketsCINCINNATI – Junior guard Jillian Hayes recorded her 10th double-double of the season, but the University of Cincinnati women's basketball team fell 85-55 to South Florida in its regular season finale inside Fifth Third Arena on Wednesday.
Cincinnati enters the postseason 9-19 overall, 2-13 in the AAC.
Junior guard Jillian Hayes finished with 20 points on 9-14 from the field, her third 20-plus point game this season, 10 rebounds and three assists. Senior forward Jadyn Scott added seven points and four rebounds.
The Bearcats opened a 7-2 lead two minutes into the contest on a three from senior guard Mya Jackson and four straight points from Hayes. The two teams settled in and headed to the first media timeout tied at 12.
South Florida used a 9-0 spurt on three straight triples to command a 22-14 lead. Senior guard Jada Scott halted the run with a tough finish through contact with 39 seconds remaining in the opening period. Bulls' Sammie Puisis turned in 15 points on 5-5 from behind the arc to secure the Bulls a 25-16 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The Bearcats held their visitors without a field goal for a stretch of 3:46-minutes to cut into the margin and make it 31-18 midway through the second quarter. Junior forward/center Malea Williams knocked down a three from the top of the key to cut the score to 38-25 with 1:18 minutes left before the half. The Bulls added the final five points of the period to take a 43-25 lead into the locker room.
Freshman guard A'riel Jackson turned in four of the Bearcats' first six points out the break to trim the margin to 46-31 in the early moments out the break.
A turn-around finish in the paint from Jada Scott and a pullup jumper from Jadyn Scott made it 73-48 with 5:13 minutes remaining in regulation. The Bearcats went on a stretch where they connected on six of seven from the field, but the Bulls maintained the momentum for the remainder of the contest to secure the road win.
Cincinnati will be back in action at 2023 American Athletic Women's Basketball Championship inside Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas from March 6-9.
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For all the latest information on Cincinnati women's basketball, visit GoBEARCATS.com and follow @GoBearcatsWBB on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
Cincinnati enters the postseason 9-19 overall, 2-13 in the AAC.
Junior guard Jillian Hayes finished with 20 points on 9-14 from the field, her third 20-plus point game this season, 10 rebounds and three assists. Senior forward Jadyn Scott added seven points and four rebounds.
The Bearcats opened a 7-2 lead two minutes into the contest on a three from senior guard Mya Jackson and four straight points from Hayes. The two teams settled in and headed to the first media timeout tied at 12.
South Florida used a 9-0 spurt on three straight triples to command a 22-14 lead. Senior guard Jada Scott halted the run with a tough finish through contact with 39 seconds remaining in the opening period. Bulls' Sammie Puisis turned in 15 points on 5-5 from behind the arc to secure the Bulls a 25-16 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The Bearcats held their visitors without a field goal for a stretch of 3:46-minutes to cut into the margin and make it 31-18 midway through the second quarter. Junior forward/center Malea Williams knocked down a three from the top of the key to cut the score to 38-25 with 1:18 minutes left before the half. The Bulls added the final five points of the period to take a 43-25 lead into the locker room.
Freshman guard A'riel Jackson turned in four of the Bearcats' first six points out the break to trim the margin to 46-31 in the early moments out the break.
A turn-around finish in the paint from Jada Scott and a pullup jumper from Jadyn Scott made it 73-48 with 5:13 minutes remaining in regulation. The Bearcats went on a stretch where they connected on six of seven from the field, but the Bulls maintained the momentum for the remainder of the contest to secure the road win.
Cincinnati will be back in action at 2023 American Athletic Women's Basketball Championship inside Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas from March 6-9.
FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
For all the latest information on Cincinnati women's basketball, visit GoBEARCATS.com and follow @GoBearcatsWBB on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.