Cincinnati Travels to Face Texas Tech Saturday

CINCINNATI – The University of Cincinnati women's basketball team plays its penultimate regular season road game when the Bearcats travel to Texas Tech on Saturday. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET in Lubbock, Texas.
 
// THE RUNDOWN

• Cincinnati (12-14, 4-11 Big 12) went on a 13-2 run over the final 2:30 minutes to nearly complete the comeback against Big 12 leader, 23rd-ranked Oklahoma on Wednesday night, 95-87. The Bearcats tied their season high in points (87) and scored 30 in the fourth quarter – their most in a quarter this season. 
• The Bearcats will look to snap a four-game losing skid on Saturday. UC is minus-35 in the third quarter over the last four games (88-53). Conversely, they are plus-21 in the final 10 minutes of play (95-74).
• Cincinnati has outrebounded its opponent in 18 games this season and has either won or matched the rebounding battle in 12 of its 15 Big 12 contests (+3.5 margin). The Bearcats were plus-16 in rebounding vs. OU (49-33) and pulled down 18 offensive boards.
• Jillian Hayes (20), Malea Williams (18) and A'riel Jackson (18) combined for 56 points vs. Oklahoma.
• Hayes scored a team-high 20 points on 7-of-14 shooting. It marked her 10th career 20-point outing and 20th time in double figures this season. She is averaging 16.0 points, 10.5 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.3 blocks over the last six games. She became just the fifth player in program history to reach 800 career rebounds with seven boards vs. the Sooners. She also added a season-high five assists.
• Williams posted a career-high 18 points (6-9 FG) vs. Oklahoma, with 10 coming in the first quarter. She has come alive offensively for the Bearcats in the last two games, averaging 14.5 points per game.
• Sophomore A'riel Jackson has scored in double figures six times in the last eight games and is averaging 12.0 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists during the stretch. She tied her career high 19 points vs. TCU (Feb. 17) and followed it up with 18 vs. Oklahoma (Feb. 20). She has made 20 trips to the free throw line over the last two games, making 18 of the attempts (.900). She now sits ninth in the league in free throw percentage (.789).
• Junior Braylyn Milton has drained eight three-pointers over the last two games (61.5% FG).
• Hayes is averaging nearly a double-double with 12.8 points and 8.7 rebounds and is shooting 43.2% from the field this season. She sits fifth in the Big 12 and 66th nationally in rebounding (8.7).
• Senior Malea Williams sits ninth in the Big 12 in blocks per game (1.0). She has recorded seven multi-block performances and has led the team in blocks 13 times this season. She currently ranks sixth in blocks (92) in program history.
• UC sits second in the league and 19th in the country in offensive rebounds per game (14.8). In Big 12 games only, the Bearcats lead the league with 13.7 offensive boards per game. Cincinnati has recorded 20-plus offensive rebounds in three Big 12 games.
• Cincinnati has made 566 trips to the free throw line this season, making 411 of its attempts (.726). The Bearcats lead the Big 12 and rank 14th nationally in free throws made per game (15.8). UC has made more free throws than its opponent in 16 games this year. 
• Hayes is getting to the free throw line at a high rate, making the most foul shots in the Big 12 (123-68 FT). She sits 11th in the conference in free throw percentage (.732).
• Cincinnati is 11-0 when leading at the half, and 10-0 when leading with five minutes remaining. Conversely, the Bearcats are 1-14 when trailing at the break, and 1-14 when trailing with five minutes to go. The Bearcats overcame a first-half deficit for the first time this season at UCF (Feb. 7).

 
// A WIN WOULD...

• Snap a four-game losing skid
• Give Cincinnati the season sweep of Texas Tech

 
// UP NEXT
Cincinnati will play its final regular season home game on Tuesday night against No. 24 Baylor. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. inside Fifth Third Arena.