TicketsTip-off between the Bearcats and Wildcats is scheduled for 3:15 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
// BEARCATS' PARADISE
Cincinnati will participate in the 2023 U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam tournament. The 24th installment of the three-day event will be held at the University of Virgin Islands Sports and Fitness Center from Nov. 23-25 in St. Thomas and televised on ESPN networks. This marks Cincinnati's first-ever appearance in the Thanksgiving holiday tournament.
Cincinnati will face Colorado and NC State – both 2023 NCAA Tournament teams – in addition to Kentucky in round-robin action on the Island Tournament side of the bracket.
// THE RUNDOWN
Cincinnati fell to 10th-ranked NC State on Friday at the Sports and Fitness Center at the University of the Virgin Islands. The Bearcats (2-3) battled early foul trouble and could never regain momentum in the 79-45 loss.
Senior Malea Williams led the Bearcats with season highs in points (15), rebounds (7) and steals (2). She went a career-best 3-of-6 from three-point range. Freshman Brianna Byars gave the Bearcats valuable minutes off the bench. She pulled down a season-high and team-high eight rebounds to go along with two blocks in 26 minutes of action.
Senior Jillian Hayes registered her 49th career game in double figures vs. Colorado. She led the Bearcats with a game-high 17 points on 6-of-10 shooting. She tied her career high with two three-pointers made (2-5 3FG). Hayes is averaging 11.6 points and 8.2 rebounds through five games. She is shooting 50.0% from the field and 37.5% from behind the arc.
Graduate student Mya Jackson finished with 11 points, including a pair of three-pointers, vs. Colorado. She is shooting 47.6% from three-point range (10-21 3FG) this season.
Cincinnati will play 12 games against 10 programs that advanced to the 2023 NCAA Tournament. The Bearcats will play four of those games - Louisville, Toledo, Colorado and NC State - in the first five contests.
// SERIES HISTORY VS. THE FIELD
Cincinnati will face both Colorado and NC State for the first time in history.
UC and Kentucky have met 26 times in program annals, with the Wildcats owning a 20-6 all-time advantage. The two teams will be meeting for the first time in 14 years. Cincinnati is looking for its first win over Kentucky since 2004.
In the last meeting between the two teams, Kentucky defeated UC, 68-57, on Dec. 4, 2009 in Cincinnati. UC is 1-0 vs. Kentucky when playing on a neutral floor. The Bearcats defeated the Wildcats 57-38 in the Baptist Health Systems Women's Fab Four Classic on Dec. 22, 2000 in Miami, Fla.