TicketsCINCINNATI – Led by double-double performances from Malea Williams and Brianna Byars, the Cincinnati women's basketball team raced past Siena, 71-51, on Thursday afternoon at Fifth Third Arena.
Cincinnati (8-3) shot a blistering 56% from the field in the first quarter, matching its season high for points in a quarter to take a 25-10 lead and never looked back.
Williams, a senior forward, scored 10 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, tallying her second double-double in three games. She added two blocks.
Byars scored 11 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in 12 minutes off the bench for her first career double-double.
Junior post Clarissa Craig made her first appearance of the season after missing the first 10 games due to injury. She made all four of her shot attempts and finished with 11 points and six rebounds.
Led by the trio of Williams, Byars and Craig, the Bearcats held a 44-22 edge in points in the paint and held the Saints to just 32% shooting from the field and 19% from 3.
Cincinnati started the game red hot, making four of their first six shot attempts to take a 12-5 lead behind a 3-pointer and a layup from freshman guard Reagan Jackson.
Siena closed UC's lead to four – 12-8, but UC responded with a 13-0 run highlighted by a three-point play from redshirt junior guard Ta'Ziah Jenks, who made her free throw after being fouled while converting a layup.
Craig made her presence felt immediately in her first action of the season. The Cincinnati native's first shot attempt was a putback that capped the game-breaking 13-0 run and put the Bearcats in front 25-8.
Craig made both of her attempts in the second quarter as UC extended its lead to 43-28 at halftime.
Junior guard Braylon Milton began the second half by making back-to-back layups before Williams buried a 3-pointer to give the Bearcats a 50-29 lead in the opening minutes of the third quarter.
Williams' putback with six minutes left put UC in front 65-45 and secured her double-double.
UP NEXT
Cincinnati hosts Kansas State in its first-ever Big 12 game on Saturday, Dec. 30, inside Fifth Third Arena.
Cincinnati (8-3) shot a blistering 56% from the field in the first quarter, matching its season high for points in a quarter to take a 25-10 lead and never looked back.
Williams, a senior forward, scored 10 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, tallying her second double-double in three games. She added two blocks.
Byars scored 11 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in 12 minutes off the bench for her first career double-double.
Junior post Clarissa Craig made her first appearance of the season after missing the first 10 games due to injury. She made all four of her shot attempts and finished with 11 points and six rebounds.
Led by the trio of Williams, Byars and Craig, the Bearcats held a 44-22 edge in points in the paint and held the Saints to just 32% shooting from the field and 19% from 3.
Cincinnati started the game red hot, making four of their first six shot attempts to take a 12-5 lead behind a 3-pointer and a layup from freshman guard Reagan Jackson.
Siena closed UC's lead to four – 12-8, but UC responded with a 13-0 run highlighted by a three-point play from redshirt junior guard Ta'Ziah Jenks, who made her free throw after being fouled while converting a layup.
Craig made her presence felt immediately in her first action of the season. The Cincinnati native's first shot attempt was a putback that capped the game-breaking 13-0 run and put the Bearcats in front 25-8.
Craig made both of her attempts in the second quarter as UC extended its lead to 43-28 at halftime.
Junior guard Braylon Milton began the second half by making back-to-back layups before Williams buried a 3-pointer to give the Bearcats a 50-29 lead in the opening minutes of the third quarter.
Williams' putback with six minutes left put UC in front 65-45 and secured her double-double.
UP NEXT
Cincinnati hosts Kansas State in its first-ever Big 12 game on Saturday, Dec. 30, inside Fifth Third Arena.