Cincinnati Clashes with UCF Wednesday

CINCINNATI – The University of Cincinnati women's basketball team takes on UCF in a midweek matchup on Wednesday in Orlando, Fla. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.
 
// THE RUNDOWN

• Cincinnati (11-10, 3-7 Big 12) outscored Texas Tech 24-7 in the fourth quarter to run away with a 74-56 win on Saturday afternoon in Fifth Third Arena. UC earned its third Big 12 victory and eighth overall home win.
• The Bearcats owned a commanding plus-17 advantage on the glass vs. TTU (43-26) and pulled down 21 offensive boards which resulted in 23 second-chance points and 44 points in the paint.
• Cincinnati has outrebounded its opponent in 15 games this season and has either won or matched the rebounding battle in nine of its 10 Big 12 contests. UC sits second in the league and 21st in the country in offensive rebounds per game (15.0). The Bearcats averaged 20.5 offensive boards in two games last week – the second-best average in the nation (Jan. 29-Feb. 4).
• Cincinnati had a season-high 13 steals – its second time reaching double-digits in the category this season – and scored 23 points off Texas Tech's 19 turnovers. 
• Senior Jillian Hayes led the Bearcats vs. TTU with her sixth double-double of the season, 19th of her career. She finished with team highs in points (18) and rebounds (12) and added season highs in blocks (3) and steals (3) in the all-around performance. She averaged a double-double last week with 14.0 points, 10.5 rebounds and 7.0 offensive boards per game. She ranked fourth in rebounds and 16th in points for the week in the Big 12. 
• The Bearcats are No. 92 in the NET rankings, updated as of February 5 – their highest-ever ranking in the NET era. UC picked up its highest NET win against Oklahoma State (No. 57) on Jan. 24.
• Sophomore A'riel Jackson is averaging 12.0 points and 2.3 assists and is shooting 41.2% from the floor over the last three games. She has scored in double figures in three straight games, including back-to-back season-high 13-point outings.
• Freshman Reagan Jackson is averaging 9.6 points and 4.2 rebounds and is shooting 43.6% from the field and 41.2% from 3-point range over the last three games. Reagan Jackson and A'riel Jackson have led the team in scoring in three of the last five games.
• Hayes is averaging nearly a double-double with 12.2 points and 8.3 rebounds and is shooting 44.2% from the field this season. She sits fifth in the Big 12 and 88th nationally in rebounds per game (8.3).
• Senior Malea Williams sits sixth in the Big 12 in blocks per game (1.1). She has recorded six multi-block performances and has led the team in blocks 10 times this season. She currently ranks sixth in blocks (88) in program history.
• Cincinnati and Texas lead the Big 12 and country with eight different leading scorers apiece. Big 12 teams have had a total of 84 different players lead a team in scoring, the most of any D-1 conference this season.
• With three blocks vs. TTU, Hayes moved into third all-time at UC in career blocks with 118. She is 13 blocks away from a second-place tie with II'mar'I Thomas (2018-21) with 131. She also ranks sixth in rebounds (749), seventh in free throws made (335) and eighth in steals (169) in program history. She has made 99 consecutive starts in 103 games played.
• Cincinnati has made 442 trips to the free throw line this season, making 321 of its attempts (.726). The Bearcats sit second in the Big 12 and 22nd nationally in free throws made per game (15.3). UC has made more free throws than its opponent in 13 games this season and is 9-4 when holding the advantage.
• Hayes is getting to the free throw line at a high rate, making the third-most foul shots in the Big 12 (91-117 FT). She sits ninth in the league in free throw percentage (.778). She has now made 90-plus free throws in three straight seasons. 
• Cincinnati is 11-0 when leading at the half, and 9-0 when leading with five minutes remaining. Conversely, the Bearcats are 0-10 when trailing at the break, and 1-10 when trailing with five minutes to go.
• The Bearcats committed just 11 turnovers vs. Oklahoma State on Jan. 24 – their second-lowest total of the season and fewest in Big 12 play. UC has a +2.0 turnover margin in wins. Conversely, the Bearcats are -5.4 in turnover margin in losses.
• UC ranks 14th in the nation in three-point field goal defense, holding its opponents to 25.8% from behind the arc.

 
// A WIN WOULD...

• Give Cincinnati its first season sweep of UCF since 2014
• Be Cincinnati's second straight win
• Give Cincinnati its first road victory in Big 12 action
• Be Cincinnati's 12th win of the season – its most since the Bearcats won 22 in 2019-20

 
// UP NEXT
Cincinnati hosts BYU at noon on Saturday, Feb. 10 inside Fifth Third Arena.