TicketsCINCINNATI – The University of Cincinnati women's basketball team held on to defeat UCF, 67-61, on Wednesday night in Orlando, Fla.
The Bearcats (12-10, 4-7 Big 12) completed the season sweep of the Knights for the first time since 2014. The victory also marked UC's first road win in Big 12 action.
Senior Jillian Hayes, who made her 100th consecutive start, finished with her second straight double-double with team highs in points (13) and rebounds (11). It was her seventh double-double of the season, and 20th of her career.
Junior Clarissa Craig (12) and redshirt junior Ta'Ziah Jenks (10) also finished in double figures for the Bearcats. Craig was a perfect 4-of-4 from the field while Jenks hit a turnaround jumper with 50 seconds to go to seal the victory.
Cincinnati shot 41.8% from the floor (23-55 FG) – its best in Big 12 play. The Bearcats' defense held UCF to 32.2% from the field (19-59 FG) and 15.8% from 3-point range (3-19 3FG).
The Bearcats went 19-of-28 from the free throw line (.679). The two teams attempted a combined 55 free throws in the contest.
Cincinnati jumped out to a 12-5 lead at the first quarter media timeout. Hayes accounted for six of the Bearcats' first 12 points. UCF responded with a 6-1 spurt to end the quarter (14-11).
The Bearcats pushed their advantage to seven twice in the second quarter before UCF used a 10-0 run to take the lead into the break (30-27). Cincinnati, who ranks second in the league in offensive boards per game, had just one in the first half.
Both teams battled foul trouble in the third quarter, taking a combined 27 free throws. The Bearcats made six consecutive free throws to reclaim the lead at 4:23 (39-37). In total, UC went on a 9-0 run over nearly three minutes, highlighted by a driving layup from Nia Clark (43-37). UCF used another scoring run to tie the game with one quarter to go (47-47). Cincinnati went 7-of-13 from the free throw line in the third while UCF made 10 of its 14 attempts.
Hayes scored UC's first five points of the final quarter (52-49). UCF reclaimed the lead at 7:34 (53-52) before Craig and Reagan Jackson made back-to-back buckets (56-53). The Knights pulled within one on three more occasions, but the Bearcats never relinquished the lead. Jenks made a turnaround jumper with 50 seconds to make it a three-point game (62-69). UC made five free throws down the stretch to hold on for the win, 67-61.
// UP NEXT
Cincinnati hosts BYU at noon on Saturday, Feb. 10 inside Fifth Third Arena.
The Bearcats (12-10, 4-7 Big 12) completed the season sweep of the Knights for the first time since 2014. The victory also marked UC's first road win in Big 12 action.
Senior Jillian Hayes, who made her 100th consecutive start, finished with her second straight double-double with team highs in points (13) and rebounds (11). It was her seventh double-double of the season, and 20th of her career.
Junior Clarissa Craig (12) and redshirt junior Ta'Ziah Jenks (10) also finished in double figures for the Bearcats. Craig was a perfect 4-of-4 from the field while Jenks hit a turnaround jumper with 50 seconds to go to seal the victory.
Cincinnati shot 41.8% from the floor (23-55 FG) – its best in Big 12 play. The Bearcats' defense held UCF to 32.2% from the field (19-59 FG) and 15.8% from 3-point range (3-19 3FG).
The Bearcats went 19-of-28 from the free throw line (.679). The two teams attempted a combined 55 free throws in the contest.
Cincinnati jumped out to a 12-5 lead at the first quarter media timeout. Hayes accounted for six of the Bearcats' first 12 points. UCF responded with a 6-1 spurt to end the quarter (14-11).
The Bearcats pushed their advantage to seven twice in the second quarter before UCF used a 10-0 run to take the lead into the break (30-27). Cincinnati, who ranks second in the league in offensive boards per game, had just one in the first half.
Both teams battled foul trouble in the third quarter, taking a combined 27 free throws. The Bearcats made six consecutive free throws to reclaim the lead at 4:23 (39-37). In total, UC went on a 9-0 run over nearly three minutes, highlighted by a driving layup from Nia Clark (43-37). UCF used another scoring run to tie the game with one quarter to go (47-47). Cincinnati went 7-of-13 from the free throw line in the third while UCF made 10 of its 14 attempts.
Hayes scored UC's first five points of the final quarter (52-49). UCF reclaimed the lead at 7:34 (53-52) before Craig and Reagan Jackson made back-to-back buckets (56-53). The Knights pulled within one on three more occasions, but the Bearcats never relinquished the lead. Jenks made a turnaround jumper with 50 seconds to make it a three-point game (62-69). UC made five free throws down the stretch to hold on for the win, 67-61.
// UP NEXT
Cincinnati hosts BYU at noon on Saturday, Feb. 10 inside Fifth Third Arena.