TicketsCINCINNATI – The University of Cincinnati women's basketball team staged an electrifying comeback to defeat Colorado 65-59 on Saturday night at Fifth Third Arena.
Trailing by as many as 12 points, the Bearcats erupted in the fourth quarter, outscoring Colorado 28-14. Senior guard Tineya Hylton spearheaded the rally, delivering a career-high 27 points, with 18 in the final frame. Hylton went a perfect 5-for-5 from the field and 7-of-10 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter alone.
Freshman Chloe Mann recorded her second consecutive double-figure scoring performance (11). She set a career-high with three three-pointers, going 3-for-8 from deep.
Redshirt junior Alliance Ndiba made a crucial impact after Jillian Hayes fouled out with nine minutes left in the game. Ndiba posted career highs with 13 rebounds and four blocks, along with nine points.
Cincinnati forced 21 turnovers and converted them into 18 points. The Bearcats improved to 9-1 this season when committing fewer turnovers than their opponents.
Despite shooting just 32% from the field, Cincinnati made up for it by hitting 19-of-26 free throws, including 11-of-15 in the second half.
Colorado opened with an 11-2 run before Mann sparked the Bearcats with three three-pointers, including back-to-back shots. The Bearcats' full-court press forced nine turnovers in the first quarter, resulting in 10 points.
After scoring the first five points of the second period, Cincinnati was held scoreless for the final 5:13, trailing by five at halftime.
Colorado extended its lead to 12 with two minutes to go in the third quarter. However, Hayes' four quick points in the final moments trimmed the deficit to eight (45-37).
Cincinnati opened the fourth quarter on a 10-1 run, capped by Hylton's and-one play that gave the Bearcats their first lead since early in the second quarter (47-46). Colorado responded with an 8-0 run, but Hylton's heroics —15 of Cincinnati's next 18 points—secured the victory.