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Cincinnati Hosts Utah on Sunday

The University of Cincinnati women's basketball team will host Utah at 2 p.m. on Sunday inside Fifth Third Arena.

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Cincinnati Hosts Utah on SundayCincinnati Hosts Utah on Sunday
CINCINNATI – The University of Cincinnati women's basketball team will host Utah at 2 p.m. on Sunday inside Fifth Third Arena. In addition to the game, the Bearcats will celebrate the 35th anniversary of the 1988-89 team, UC's first NCAA Tournament squad.
 
THE RUNDOWN
  • Cincinnati grinded out a 59-56 road win over Texas Tech on Wednesday night in Lubbock, securing its most conference road victories since the 2020-21 season. In just the second year of the Merriweather era, the Bearcats have already surpassed last season's win total and remain undefeated against the Lady Raiders, improving to 3-0 all-time in the series.
  • The game featured five ties and 13 lead changes, but UC took control with a decisive 7-0 run in the fourth quarter. Tineya Hylton iced the game with a clutch bucket in the final 16 seconds, lifting the Bearcats to 13-1 when leading with five minutes to play and 10-1 when holding opponents to 59 points or fewer.
  • Cincinnati's defense held Texas Tech without a field goal the entire fourth quarter (0-10 FG) — a first for the Lady Raiders this season. The Bearcats also recorded a season-high nine blocks, tied for the fourth-most in a single game in program history.
  • Hylton powered the offense with 21 points, marking her ninth 20-point game of the season, while Reagan Jackson added a Big 12 season-high 16 points and a team-high four three-pointers in her home state of Texas. The duo combined for 37 of UC's 59 points.
  • Hylton scored 19 of her 21 points in the second half. In Big 12 play, she has scored 127 of her 192 total points (66.1%) after halftime, posting double figures in the second half five times this season.
  • Reagan Jackson has reached double figures in four of the last five games, averaging 12.8 points while shooting 34% from beyond the arc during the stretch.
  • Fifth year forward Jillian Hayes cemented her legacy as UC's all-time leader in blocked shots, now with 145 in her career. She shattered a 35-year-old record previously held by Bev Obringer (142, 1984-89)—a fitting milestone as the 1988-89 team, UC's first NCAA Tournament squad, will be honored on Sunday for its 35th anniversary.
  • Despite missing starters Ndiba and Mann, the Bearcats got major contributions from their supporting cast at Texas Tech. Brianna Byars pulled down a career-high 11 rebounds, while Delaney Snyder chipped in seven points, five boards and two blocks and Daylee Dunn logged 20 minutes in the win.
  • Hayes' six 20-point, 10-rebound games this season are the most by a Bearcat since Debbie Merrill had six in 2002-03. She's one of just four Big 12 players to reach that mark this season.
  • Cincinnati leads the Big 12 and ranks fourth nationally with 17.2 made free throws per game. The Bearcats have outscored opponents at the line in 19 games this season (14-5), averaging 20.5 makes in wins compared to just 12.1 in losses. With three more free throws from Hylton, UC will have two players with 100+ made free throws in a season for the first time since 2002-03.
  • The Bearcats have recorded 10 or more offensive rebounds in four straight games. They rank second in the Big 12 with 13.5 offensive boards per game and lead the conference in league play with 13.2.
  • Defensively, the Bearcats rank second in the Big 12 in turnover margin (+4.3, 45th nationally) and fifth in turnovers forced (17.1 per game).
  • Hayes is nearly averaging a double-double with 15.9 points and 9.7 rebounds per game while shooting 42.7% from the field. Her 11 double-doubles rank second in the Big 12 and 29th nationally. She also ranks second in the conference in rebounding and 11th in scoring.
  • Hylton is averaging 13.3 points per game on 39% shooting. The Bearcats are 11-3 when she scores in double figures and 7-2 when at least three players reach double digits.
  • Among active career Division I leaders, Hayes ranks first in FT attempts (781), third in FTs made (545), 12th in rebounds (1,087) and 25th in double-doubles (34).
  • The Bearcats secured their best non-conference winning percentage (.800, 8-2) since the 2005-06 season (.909, 10-1).
  • Cincinnati is ranked 84th nationally in the Feb. 19 NET, while Utah sits at 22nd. 
 
A WIN WOULD...
  • Be UC's first Quad 1 win of the season
  • Give Cincinnati its most home wins (10) since the 2019-20 season (14)