EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Picking up its fifth straight victory, the University of Cincinnati women's basketball team held on in the final minute to defeat Southern Indiana on Sunday afternoon in Evansville, Ind.
Despite a big third quarter by Southern Indiana, the Bearcats escaped with a 58-56 win to improve to 7-3 on the year.
Coming off a 20-point performance on Wednesday, senior Jillian Hayes turned in her 17th career double-double with 16 points (5-7 FG, 6-6 FT) and a career-high 16 rebounds. She pulled down seven offensive boards in the victory.
Senior Malea Williams was two points shy of a double-double with career-high 14 rebounds and eight points. She added two blocks and two assists in the performance.
UC pulled down a season-high 52 rebounds (52-34) which resulted in 24 second-chance points. In a critical fourth quarter, the Bearcats were plus-eight in rebounds (13-5) and grabbed six offensive boards. The Bearcats also blocked a season-high six shots.
Cincinnati shot 32.2 percent from the floor (19-59 FG) and made three three-pointers (.200). UC went 17-of-24 from the charity stripe (.708).
The Screaming Eagles finished 35.0 percent from the field (21-60 FG) and 24.0 percent from behind the arc (6-25 3FG).
Cincinnati got off to a 9-0 start in the game. The Bearcats extended their lead to 12 after six straight points (16-4). Cincinnati went 8-of-10 from the charity stripe in the first quarter to lead by nine (19-8).
Southern Indiana scored back-to-back baskets before Hayes made a layup with 5:48 on the clock (25-14). Hayes went on to score six points in the quarter to have 12 at the half (34-22).
Out of the break, USI rattled off 11 straight points to cut UC's lead to three with 5:36 in the quarter (36-33). The run featured a trio of three-pointers. The Screaming Eagles outscored the Bearcats 21-10 in the third quarter to trail by three (44-43).
USI took its first lead of the game with 6:05 in the fourth quarter (52-50). The Bearcats responded with an 8-1 run to own a five-point advantage with less than two minutes remaining (58-53). The Screaming Eagles hit a 3-pointer with 59 seconds remaining and had a chance to win on two occasions, but the Bearcats held on for 58-56 victory.
// UP NEXT
Cincinnati wraps up its non-conference slate with a home contest against Siena on Thursday, Dec. 21. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. inside Fifth Third Arena.
Cincinnati Holds On for 58-56 Win over Southern Indiana
Picking up its fifth straight victory, the University of Cincinnati women's basketball team held on in the final minute to defeat Southern Indiana on Sunday afternoon in Evansville, Ind.
