Cincinnati Opens Phillips 66 Big 12 Women's Basketball Championship Thursday vs. UCF

CINCINNATI – The 11th-seeded University of Cincinnati women's basketball team (13-16, 5-13) opens the 2024 Phillips 66 Big 12 Women's Basketball Championship with a first round matchup against No. 14 UCF (12-16, 3-15) on Thursday at 9 p.m. ET inside the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo.
 
// COVERAGE
Thursday's game will be broadcast nationally on Big 12 Now on ESPN+, featuring commentary from Tyler Denning and Andrea Lloyd. In addition, Anthony Mazzini will call the game on Cincinnati's The Project, with coverage beginning at 8:45 p.m. ET.
 
// THE RUNDOWN

• With a victory Thursday, Cincinnati would move on to the second round on Friday at 9 p.m. ET vs. No. 6 seed West Virginia.
• Cincinnati has won 13 games under first year head coach Katrina Merriweather – its most wins in a single season since the Bearcats won 22 in 2019-20. Merriweather arrived after a 9-21, 2-14 AAC season and in just one year, has ushered a new wave of success into the program. 
• The Bearcats posted their best non-conference winning percentage (72.7%) in 15 years. UC won six consecutive games for its longest win streak since 2019-20. The non-conference slate also featured UC's first win over an SEC opponent since 2004.
• After winning just three games at home in 2022-23, UC went 8-7 in Fifth Third Arena this season, including a stretch of five consecutive games across November and December.
• Cincinnati is led by senior Jillian Hayes, who is the first player in program history to earn All-Big 12 honors. She was named All-Big 12 Honorable Mention on Tuesday. She leads the Big 12 in free throws made (139) and ranks third in offensive rebounding (3.3), fourth in rebounding (8.4), 11th in free throw percentage (.728), 13th in blocks (0.8) and 18th in scoring (12.9).
• Most recently, the Bearcats relinquished a halftime lead for the first time this season in a 76-60 loss to Iowa State on March 2. Senior Malea Williams led the Bearcats offensively and tied her career highs in points (18), field goals (7) and 3-pointers (4).
• One of the Big 12's best rebounding teams all season, the Bearcats have struggled of late, losing the boards battle over the past two games.
• Sophomore A'riel Jackson has been a spark for the Bearcats in Big 12 action, averaging 10.7 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.0 assists during the stretch.
• In Cincinnati's record books, Hayes ranks third in blocks (124), fifth in rebounds (818) and free throws made (383), eighth in steals (177) and 14th in scoring (1,259). She is the only player in UC history to record over 1,000 points, 800 rebounds, 300 free throws, 170 steals and 120 blocks in their career. 
• Williams is one block away from 100 in her career (97 at UC, two at Louisville). She sits eighth in the Big 12 in blocks per game (1.1). She has recorded nine multi-block performances and has led the team in blocks 16 times this season.
• Williams is averaging 6.1 rebounds per game, a +1.6 improvement from the 2022-23 season – good for the second-largest improvement among Big 12 players (played in 75% of team games for both seasons).
• Cincinnati has outrebounded its opponent in 19 games this season and has either won or matched the rebounding battle in 13 of its 18 Big 12 contests (+3.2 margin). UC has totaled 1,139 rebounds in 2023-24 and would need 215 more boards to break the single season program record (1,354).
• UC sits first in the league and 21st in the country in offensive rebounds per game (14.7). The Bearcats also paced the league with 13.7 offensive boards/contest in Big 12 play.
• The Bearcats lead the Big 12 and sit 13th nationally in free throws made per game (15.8). Hayes ranks in the top-15 nationally in free throws made (12th) and free throws attempted (10th). Her 139 free throws rank fifth for a single season in UC history.
• Cincinnati is 12-1 when leading at the half, and 11-0 when leading with five minutes remaining. Conversely, the Bearcats are 1-15 when trailing at the break, and 1-15 when trailing with five minutes to go. The Bearcats overcame a first-half deficit for the first time this season at UCF (Feb. 7).
• Defensively, UC is 8-1 when holding its opponent to 59 points or fewer. 
• Seven Bearcats have missed at least one game this season due to injury or an illness. Posts Destiny Thomas and Clarissa Craig have missed a combined 17 games for the Red & Black. 

 
// UP NEXT
With a victory Thursday, Cincinnati would move on to the second round on Friday at 9 p.m. ET vs. No. 6 seed West Virginia.