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Cincinnati Faces Western Illinois Friday

The University of Cincinnati women's basketball team continues its homestand with a Friday night contest against Western Illinois. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. inside Fifth Third Arena.

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Cincinnati Faces Western Illinois FridayCincinnati Faces Western Illinois Friday
CINCINNATI – The University of Cincinnati women's basketball team continues its homestand with a Friday night contest against Western Illinois. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. inside Fifth Third Arena.
 
THE RUNDOWN
  • Cincinnati bounced back in dominant fashion with a 78-49 victory over Central Connecticut State on Tuesday. The win marked the 170th of Merriweather's career.
  • Fifth year forward Jillian Hayes delivered her fifth double-double of the season and the 28th of her career, recording a game-high 26 points and 10 rebounds. She has set a career high in free throws made twice in the last three games, with 12 made each time—leading the league for the most in a single game.
  • Hayes has reached the 20-point mark in four games this season, setting a new career high for 20-point games in a single season.
  • Tineya Hylton (14 points) and Reagan Jackson (12 points) joined Hayes in double figures against CCSU. It marked the third time this season with three-or-more double-digit scorers. 
  • The Bearcats capitalized on their opportunities at the free throw line, converting a season-high 31-of-38 attempts (.816). The 31 made free throws lead the Big 12 for a single game this season and are tied for ninth nationally.
  • Defensively, Cincinnati forced 24 turnovers against CCSU, which resulted in 30 points. The Bearcats have forced 20 or more turnovers in four games this season.
  • Hayes is averaging nearly a double-double with 20.1 points and 9.7 rebounds while shooting 52.6% from the field. Her five double-doubles in seven games lead the Big 12 and rank eighth in the nation.
  • Nationally, Hayes ranks 12th in scoring, 14th in free throws made, 38th in rebounding and 83rd in field goal percentage.
  • Redshirt junior Alliance Ndiba ranks 10th in the conference in blocking (1.3) and 13th in rebounding (6.9). She has led the team in rebounds twice and blocking five times.
  • Hylton is averaging 14.0 points, while also ranking fifth in the Big 12 in free throw percentage (.875) and 16th in assists (3.8). She has five double-digit scoring performances and has led the team in scoring three times this season. 
  • Among active career leaders in Division I, Hayes is fourth in FT made (448), 17th in rebounds (902) and 29th in doubles-doubles (27).
  • Cincinnati leads the Big 12 in free throw percentage, shooting 78.8% from the charity stripe. The Bearcats are 5-1 when outshooting opponents at the line. The Bearcats average 20 free throw attempts per game, with Hayes leading at eight per game. 
  • The team's turnover margin highlights a key trend: 8.0 turnovers per game in wins, but 20.5 turnovers per game in losses.
  • Head coach Katrina Merriweather recently signed a historic 2025 recruiting class, ranked No. 7 nationally by ASGR Hoops—the highest in program history.
  
MILESTONE WATCH
  • Hayes is 10 blocks away from becoming UC's career blocked shots leader.
  • Hayes recently surpassed 900 career rebounds, becoming just the third player in program history to reach the milestone. She is 65 rebounds away from moving into second on Cincinnati's all-time career rebounds list with 977.
  • Hayes is 55 free throws away from becoming UC's career free throws made leader.