TicketsCINCINNATI – The University of Cincinnati women's basketball team fell to No. 17-ranked Louisville, 77-59, in Monday night's season opener inside Fifth Third Arena.
Cincinnati could not overcome a big second quarter from Louisville as the Cardinals outscored the Bearcats 22-7 in the period.
Senior Jillian Hayes finished with a game-high 20 points on 7-of-9 shooting. She was a rebound shy of a double-double with a team-high nine boards. It marked her eighth career game with 20-plus points.
Graduate student Mya Jackson added 10 points including a pair of three-pointers while junior Braylyn Milton dished out five assists.
The Bearcats shot 37.7 percent from the field (20-53 FG) and 23.1 percent from behind the arc (3-13 3FG).
The Cardinals finished 39.0 percent from the floor (23-5 FG) and made five three-pointers (.294). Louisville won the rebounding battle, 41-28, and forced 21 Bearcat turnovers.
The Bearcats went on a 7-0 run over 3:19 minutes to lead 9-7 at the first quarter media timeout. During the run, UC forced four turnovers and held Louisville scoreless for nearly four minutes. The Cardinals responded with five straight points to reclaim the lead (12-9). Cincinnati finished the quarter 3-for-3 to own a 15-14 advantage – highlighted by a layup from Jackson with seven seconds remaining.
Louisville went on an 8-0 run to start the second quarter (22-15). Jackson hit a jumper, followed by an and-one from Hayes to cut the deficit to two with 5:39 on the clock (22-20). The Cardinals then went on a 7-0 run over a minute to force a UC timeout with 3:05 remaining (29-22). In total, Louisville used a 14-2 run to own a 14-point lead at halftime (36-22). UC was held without a field goal for the final five minutes of the period.
Cincinnati pulled within 10 after a Jackson three-pointer with 8:28 on the clock in the third quarter (39-29). Hayes then registered a pair of and-ones to cut the deficit to seven (44-37). The Bearcats held the Cardinals without a field goal for nearly four minutes until giving up a layup with 30 seconds remaining (52-40).
UC pulled within 10 with 6:40 on the clock in the fourth quarter (59-49) but would not get any closer for the remainder of the game, falling 77-59. Malea Williams had eight points on 3-of-4 shooting in the final period.
// UP NEXT
The Bearcats welcome Lindenwood to Fifth Third Arena for Education Day on Wednesday, Nov. 15. Tip-off is scheduled for 11 a.m. inside Fifth Third Arena.
Cincinnati could not overcome a big second quarter from Louisville as the Cardinals outscored the Bearcats 22-7 in the period.
Senior Jillian Hayes finished with a game-high 20 points on 7-of-9 shooting. She was a rebound shy of a double-double with a team-high nine boards. It marked her eighth career game with 20-plus points.
Graduate student Mya Jackson added 10 points including a pair of three-pointers while junior Braylyn Milton dished out five assists.
The Bearcats shot 37.7 percent from the field (20-53 FG) and 23.1 percent from behind the arc (3-13 3FG).
The Cardinals finished 39.0 percent from the floor (23-5 FG) and made five three-pointers (.294). Louisville won the rebounding battle, 41-28, and forced 21 Bearcat turnovers.
The Bearcats went on a 7-0 run over 3:19 minutes to lead 9-7 at the first quarter media timeout. During the run, UC forced four turnovers and held Louisville scoreless for nearly four minutes. The Cardinals responded with five straight points to reclaim the lead (12-9). Cincinnati finished the quarter 3-for-3 to own a 15-14 advantage – highlighted by a layup from Jackson with seven seconds remaining.
Louisville went on an 8-0 run to start the second quarter (22-15). Jackson hit a jumper, followed by an and-one from Hayes to cut the deficit to two with 5:39 on the clock (22-20). The Cardinals then went on a 7-0 run over a minute to force a UC timeout with 3:05 remaining (29-22). In total, Louisville used a 14-2 run to own a 14-point lead at halftime (36-22). UC was held without a field goal for the final five minutes of the period.
Cincinnati pulled within 10 after a Jackson three-pointer with 8:28 on the clock in the third quarter (39-29). Hayes then registered a pair of and-ones to cut the deficit to seven (44-37). The Bearcats held the Cardinals without a field goal for nearly four minutes until giving up a layup with 30 seconds remaining (52-40).
UC pulled within 10 with 6:40 on the clock in the fourth quarter (59-49) but would not get any closer for the remainder of the game, falling 77-59. Malea Williams had eight points on 3-of-4 shooting in the final period.
// UP NEXT
The Bearcats welcome Lindenwood to Fifth Third Arena for Education Day on Wednesday, Nov. 15. Tip-off is scheduled for 11 a.m. inside Fifth Third Arena.