Cincinnati Welcomes Oklahoma State to Fifth Third Wednesday

CINCINNATI – The University of Cincinnati women's basketball team will host Oklahoma State on Wednesday night in Fifth Third Arena. Tip-off between the Bearcats and Cowgirls is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
 
// THE RUNDOWN

• Cincinnati (9-8, 1-5 Big 12) suffered a 72-43 loss to West Virginia on Saturday in Fifth Third Arena. The Bearcats committed a season-high 29 turnovers which resulted in 35 points for the Mountaineers. UC is averaging 20.3 turnovers per game in Big 12 play.
• The Bearcats were plus-6 on the glass vs. West Virginia (33-27). Cincinnati has won the rebounding battle in five of its six Big 12 games (+2.8).
• Senior Jillian Hayes pulled down a game-high seven boards to go along with eight points vs. WVU. She had led the team in scoring nine times and rebounding 11 times this season.  
• Sophomore Destiny Thomas made her return to the court vs. West Virginia (Jan. 20) after missing six games due to injury. She scored four points in 11 minutes off the bench. 
• Hayes is one game away from 100 games played in her career. She has made 95 career starts in 99 games - all starts consecutive. She made her first career start against East Carolina on Dec. 20, 2020.
• Hayes is averaging nearly a double-double with 12.5 points and 8.4 rebounds and is shooting 46.5% from the field this season. She sits fifth in the Big 12 and 75th nationally in rebounds per game (8.4). She has recorded a team-high five double-doubles in 2023-24, with the most recent coming against West Virginia on January 3 (18 points and 11 rebounds).
• Senior Malea Williams is averaging 9.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.1 blocks and is shooting 44.2% from the field this season. She sits seventh in the Big 12 in blocks per game (1.1) and 15th in rebounding (6.8). She has recorded six multi-block performances and has led the team in blocks nine times this season.
• With nine rebounds vs. UCF, Hayes became the eighth player in program history to record over 1,000 points and 700 rebounds in their career. She currently ranks fourth in blocks (113), sixth in rebounds (718), seventh in free throws made (319) and 10th in steals (162) in program history.
• Cincinnati has outrebounded its opponent in 12 of 17 games this season. The Bearcats are 8-4 when they own the advantage on the glass. UC sits 24th in the country in offensive rebounds per game (14.9).
• Cincinnati has made 366 trips to the free throw line this season, making 270 of its attempts (.738). The Bearcats sit first in the Big 12 and 15th nationally in free throws made per game (15.8). UC has made more free throws than its opponent in 12 of 17 games this season and are 8-4 when holding the advantage.
• Hayes is getting to the free throw line at a high rate, making the second-most foul shots in the Big 12 (75-93 FT). She also sits seventh in the league in free throw percentage (.806).
• UC ranks 19th in the nation in three-point field goal defense, holding its opponents to 25.5% from behind the arc.
• The Bearcats finished non-conference play with an 8-3 record for their best non-conference winning percentage (72.7%) in 15 years. UC won six consecutive games during the stretch for its longest win streak since 2019-20.

 
// A WIN WOULD...

• Be Cincinnati's 10th win of the season
• Be Cincinnati's seventh home win
• Be Cincinnati's first-ever win over Oklahoma State

 
// UP NEXT
Cincinnati begins a two-game road swing in Texas, starting with the Texas Longhorns on Saturday, Jan. 27. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET in Austin.