TicketsCINCINNATI – The University of Cincinnati women's basketball team wraps up its homestand against 14th-ranked Kansas State on Wednesday night. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. inside Fifth Third Arena.
THE RUNDOWN
A WIN WOULD...
THE RUNDOWN
- Cincinnati is looking for its first win over a ranked opponent since Feb. 28, 2011, when it defeated No. 20 Marquette, 65-62, at home.
- The Bearcats have a tough road ahead, facing four teams in the top six of the Big 12 standings, including three ranked inside the AP Top 25.
- Cincinnati battled to a thrilling 78-74 overtime win against Kansas on Saturday. The Bearcats scored the first five points of the extra period and held Kansas scoreless until the 1:37 mark to seal the win. It marked Cincinnati's first overtime victory since Feb. 11, 2023. The Bearcats have now surpassed last season's Big 12 win total and matched their overall win total.
- Senior Tineya Hylton took over in the second half, scoring all 21 of her points after the break (7-12 FG, 3-4 3FG). She stepped up in the absence of Jillian Hayes, who fouled out with six minutes left in regulation. Hylton was one of four Bearcats to score in double figures. Cincinnati is now 7-1 this season when at least three players hit double digits.
- The Bearcats shot 40.6% from the field and recorded a Big 12 season-high 17 assists on 26 made baskets. Both Cincinnati and Kansas entered the game as the Big 12's top teams in free throw attempts, but the Bearcats won the battle at the line, knocking down 19 of 25 (.760).
- Jillian Hayes delivered another strong performance with 16 points, nine rebounds, four assists, and a block. She has led the Bearcats in scoring 10 times, rebounding 19 times, and blocks seven times this season. Hayes is just one block away from tying the program record and two blocks away from becoming Cincinnati's all-time leader in blocked shots (143), surpassing Bev Obringer's mark of 142 set from 1984-89.
- A'riel Jackson has averaged 4.5 assists over the last two games and returned to the starting lineup against Kansas. She tallied 13 points and four assists in the win.
- Reagan Jackson has found her rhythm, scoring 15 points in back-to-back games. Over the last two contests, she has shot 39.1% from the field and drained seven three-pointers (.368). She also logged a career-high 39 minutes against Kansas.
- Cincinnati leads the Big 12 and ranks second nationally in free throws made per game (17.7). The Bearcats are 14-4 when making more free throws than their opponent, averaging 21.4 per game in wins compared to 11.4 in losses.
- Defensively, the Bearcats rank second in the Big 12 in turnover margin (+5.9, 26th nationally) and fourth in turnovers forced (18.2 per game). They forced 18 turnovers against Kansas and improved to 12-3 when winning the turnover battle.
- Hayes is nearly averaging a double-double with 16.3 points and 9.4 rebounds per game while shooting 42.2% from the field. Her nine double-doubles rank third in the Big 12 and 36th nationally, while she also sits second in the league in rebounding and 11th in scoring.
- Tineya Hylton is averaging 13.7 points on 40% shooting. The Bearcats are 10-3 when she scores in double figures.
- Among active career Division I leaders, Hayes ranks first in FT attempts (763), second in FTs made (533), 13th in rebounds (1,051) and 28th in double-doubles (32).
- The Bearcats secured their best non-conference winning percentage (.800, 8-2) since the 2005-06 season (.909, 10-1).
- Cincinnati is ranked 78th nationally in the Feb. 5 NET, while Kansas State comes in at eighth.
A WIN WOULD...
- Give Cincinnati its most home wins (10) since the 2019-20 season (14)
- Mark the Bearcats' first win over a ranked opponent since Feb. 28, 2011