Women's Basketball Hosts Kansas on Saturday

CINCINNATI – The University of Cincinnati women's basketball team hosts Kansas at noon on Saturday for its annual Play4Kay game.
 
THE RUNDOWN

• Cincinnati looks to snap a two-game skid when the Bearcats host Kansas at noon on Saturday inside Fifth Third Arena.
• Sophomore Reagan Jackson led the Bearcats against Iowa State on Wednesday, draining a Big 12 season-high four three-pointers. She racked up 15 points, marking her sixth double-digit scoring performance of the season.
• Last year's matchup with the Jayhawks brought a unique story for Jillian Hayes. Fresh off a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit shoot in Belize, Hayes flew directly to Lawrence, Kansas, rejoining her team on the eve of the game. She then delivered a double-double with 15 points and 17 rebounds.
• With Alliance Ndiba sidelined, sophomore Delaney Snyder has stepped up in the frontcourt. Snyder has started the last three games and grabbed five or more rebounds in four straight contests. Her minutes have jumped from 6.5 per game through the first 18 outings to 17.1 over the last three.
• Fellow sophomore Abby Holtman has been an offensive spark, shooting 63.6% from the field (7-11 FG) and 42.9% from beyond the arc (4-7 3FG) over her last three games.
• Cincinnati leads the Big 12 and ranks second nationally in free throws made per game (17.7). The Bearcats are 13-4 when making more free throws than their opponent, averaging 21.2 per game in wins compared to 11.4 in losses.
• Defensively, the Bearcats rank second in the Big 12 in turnover margin (+5.8, 25th nationally) and fourth in turnovers forced (18.2 per game). They are 11-3 when committing fewer turnovers than their opponent.
• Hayes remains one of the conference's most impactful players, nearly averaging a double-double with 16.3 points and 9.4 rebounds per game while shooting 41.9% from the field. Her nine double-doubles rank second in the Big 12 and 30th nationally, while she also sits second in the league in rebounding and 11th in scoring.
• Since arriving in Clifton, Hayes' numbers have steadily climbed — from 7.6 points per game as a freshman to 16.3 this season, with her shooting percentage improving from .311 to .419 and her rebounding nearly doubling from 5.3 to 9.4 per game. She has led the Bearcats in scoring 10 times, rebounding 18 times, and steals eight times.
• Tineya Hylton has been a steady contributor as well, averaging 13.3 points on 39.1% shooting. The Bearcats are 9-3 when she scores in double figures.
• Known as the 'heartbeat' (Hayes) and 'engine' (Hylton) of the Bearcats, the duo has led Cincinnati in scoring 17 times this season. Against Houston, they both scored 20+ points, marking the third time this season they have accomplished the feat together. It was also the first time since 2014 that two Bearcats recorded at least 20 points and seven rebounds in the same game.
• Freshman Chloe Mann poured in a career-high 26 points vs. Baylor last Sunday — the most by a Cincinnati freshman since Shelly Bellman's 26-point performance on Jan. 25, 2006. Mann is on the verge of double-digit scoring for the season, averaging 9.4 points per game.
• Among active career Division I leaders, Hayes ranks first in FT attempts (756), second in FTs made (527), 13th in rebounds (1,042) 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 comes in at 79th.  

 
A WIN WOULD...

• Give UC its most home wins (9) since 2021-22
• Be UC's first win over Kansas