TicketsCINCINNATI – The University of Cincinnati women's basketball team hits the road for the first time in 2023-24, traveling to Toledo on Sunday, Nov. 19. Tip-off between the Bearcats and Rockets is scheduled for 2 p.m. on ESPN+ and Fox Sports 1360 AM.
// THE RUNDOWN
Cincinnati earned its first win of the 2023-24 season and Katrina Merriweather era on Wednesday, defeating Lindenwood, 81-62, inside Fifth Third Arena.
The Bearcats shot 47.1 percent from the field (32-68 FG) despite not making a three-point field goal (0-10 3FG). Cincinnati owned a +19 advantage on the glass (48-29) which resulted in 23 second-chance points. UC also owned a plus-36 advantage in points in the paint (60-24).
The Bearcats set a new program Education Day attendance record with 4,673 fans packed inside Fifth Third Arena. The attendance also ranks fifth in Cincinnati women's basketball history.
Four Bearcats finished in double figures: Destiny Thomas (13), Jillian Hayes (13), Malea Williams (11) and A'riel Jackson (10). Hayes and Thomas pulled down 14 and 12 rebounds, respectively, to record the first double-doubles of the season. Freshman Reagan Jackson chipped in nine points, including a mark of 5-of-6 from the charity stripe.
Hayes is averaging 16.5 points and 11.5 rebounds per game through two games this season. She is shooting 61.9% from the field, and 75.0% from the charity stripe.
// DOUBLE THE TROUBLE
Sophomore Destiny Thomas recorded her first career double-double versus Lindenwood, finishing with personal bests in points (13) and rebounds (12). She went a perfect 6-of-6 from the field and pulled down six offensive boards. She also led the team in assists with three.
Senior Jillian Hayes recorded her first double-double of the season, 14th of her career, with 13 points and 14 rebounds – a rebound shy of her career high.
It marked the first time Cincinnati had two players post double-doubles in the same game since IImar'I Thomas and Angel Rizor did so against Houston on Feb. 18, 2020. IImar'I Thomas and Rizor recorded double-doubles in the same game three times during the 2019-20 season.
// MILESTONE WATCH
Senior Jillian Hayes is 81 points away from 1,000 in her career. She is looking to become the 29th player in program history to surpass 1,000 career points.
Hayes currently ranks fourth all-time at UC in career blocks with 103. She is 14 blocks away from a third-place tie with Anita Tersigni (1981-84) with 117.
Hayes is also chasing top-10 marks in rebounds and free throws made. With 598 career boards, she is 76 away from a 10th-place tie with Joy Roberts (1980-83) with 674. She has made 250 free throws and needs 43 more to crack into UC's all-time top-10 list for the category.
Senior Malea Williams ranks ninth all-time at UC in blocks with 67 in three seasons with the Bearcats. She has 69 total blocks in her career after recording two blocks during her freshman season at Louisville.
// UP NEXT
Cincinnati will participate in the 2023 U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam tournament on Nov. 23-25 in St. Thomas, USVI. The Bearcats will face Colorado and NC State – both 2023 NCAA Tournament teams – in addition to Kentucky in the tournament.
// THE RUNDOWN
Cincinnati earned its first win of the 2023-24 season and Katrina Merriweather era on Wednesday, defeating Lindenwood, 81-62, inside Fifth Third Arena.
The Bearcats shot 47.1 percent from the field (32-68 FG) despite not making a three-point field goal (0-10 3FG). Cincinnati owned a +19 advantage on the glass (48-29) which resulted in 23 second-chance points. UC also owned a plus-36 advantage in points in the paint (60-24).
The Bearcats set a new program Education Day attendance record with 4,673 fans packed inside Fifth Third Arena. The attendance also ranks fifth in Cincinnati women's basketball history.
Four Bearcats finished in double figures: Destiny Thomas (13), Jillian Hayes (13), Malea Williams (11) and A'riel Jackson (10). Hayes and Thomas pulled down 14 and 12 rebounds, respectively, to record the first double-doubles of the season. Freshman Reagan Jackson chipped in nine points, including a mark of 5-of-6 from the charity stripe.
Hayes is averaging 16.5 points and 11.5 rebounds per game through two games this season. She is shooting 61.9% from the field, and 75.0% from the charity stripe.
// DOUBLE THE TROUBLE
Sophomore Destiny Thomas recorded her first career double-double versus Lindenwood, finishing with personal bests in points (13) and rebounds (12). She went a perfect 6-of-6 from the field and pulled down six offensive boards. She also led the team in assists with three.
Senior Jillian Hayes recorded her first double-double of the season, 14th of her career, with 13 points and 14 rebounds – a rebound shy of her career high.
It marked the first time Cincinnati had two players post double-doubles in the same game since IImar'I Thomas and Angel Rizor did so against Houston on Feb. 18, 2020. IImar'I Thomas and Rizor recorded double-doubles in the same game three times during the 2019-20 season.
// MILESTONE WATCH
Senior Jillian Hayes is 81 points away from 1,000 in her career. She is looking to become the 29th player in program history to surpass 1,000 career points.
Hayes currently ranks fourth all-time at UC in career blocks with 103. She is 14 blocks away from a third-place tie with Anita Tersigni (1981-84) with 117.
Hayes is also chasing top-10 marks in rebounds and free throws made. With 598 career boards, she is 76 away from a 10th-place tie with Joy Roberts (1980-83) with 674. She has made 250 free throws and needs 43 more to crack into UC's all-time top-10 list for the category.
Senior Malea Williams ranks ninth all-time at UC in blocks with 67 in three seasons with the Bearcats. She has 69 total blocks in her career after recording two blocks during her freshman season at Louisville.
// UP NEXT
Cincinnati will participate in the 2023 U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam tournament on Nov. 23-25 in St. Thomas, USVI. The Bearcats will face Colorado and NC State – both 2023 NCAA Tournament teams – in addition to Kentucky in the tournament.