CINCINNATI – The University of Cincinnati women's basketball team came out victorious in the Crosstown Shootout, defeating rival Xavier 60-48 on Sunday at the Cintas Center.
The Bearcats (7-2) retained the Kendle Cup for the second consecutive season and have now won four of the last five matchups. Head coach Katrina Merriweather remains unbeaten in the Crosstown Shootout, improving her career record to an impressive 11-0 vs. Xavier.
Locked in a one-point contest heading into the fourth quarter, Cincinnati outscored Xavier 23-10 in the final frame. The rivalry game featured seven lead changes and six ties.
Cincinnati native Jillian Hayes delivered a standout performance with her sixth double-double of the season and 29th of her career. She finished with 18 points and a season-high 16 rebounds, including seven on the offensive glass. She also contributed two blocks and two steals.
A balanced attack saw 10 Bearcats contribute to the scoring. Cincinnati shot 38.8% from the field and converted 24-of-30 free throws (80%). UC forced 19 turnovers, which translated into 19 points, and dominated the boards with a +11-rebounding margin (40-29).
The Bearcats' defense set the tone early, forcing six turnovers in the first quarter. However, offensive struggles limited them to just two points off those opportunities, and Xavier held a narrow 13-12 lead after 10 minutes.
In the second quarter, Ramiyah Byrd's back-to-back buckets gave Cincinnati a 16-12 edge, while four consecutive free throws from Tineya Hylton extended the lead to six. A late scoring drought allowed Xavier to cut the deficit to 24-21 at halftime. Hayes led the Bearcats at the break with six points and seven rebounds.
Xavier went ahead in the third quarter, briefly taking the lead at 31-30 with just over three minutes remaining. Cincinnati shot just 26% in the period and trailed 38-37 entering the final quarter.
The Bearcats opened the fourth quarter with a 6-0 run to regain the lead. Their defense held Xavier without a field goal for a three-minute stretch. Abby Holtman came through with a clutch bucket to push the lead to 50-46 with 3:35 remaining. Mann added six points in the final 81 seconds, while A'riel Jackson iced the game with a pair of free throws to secure the 60-48 victory.
Fourth Quarter Rally Propels Bearcats in Crosstown Shootout Win
The University of Cincinnati women's basketball team came out victorious in the Crosstown Shootout, defeating rival Xavier 60-48 on Sunday at the Cintas Center.
