TicketsCINCINNATI – The University of Cincinnati women’s basketball team came up just short in a 66-64 loss to Howard on Tuesday night at Fifth Third Arena.
Cincinnati (5-7) tied the game with 13 seconds remaining when Reagan Jackson knocked down a three-pointer. Howard answered with a layup on the ensuing possession, and the Bearcats’ final look at the buzzer was off the mark.
Senior Mya Perry recorded her 12th straight double-figure scoring performance, leading the Bearcats with 19 points to go along with four three-pointers and four assists. Freshman Joya Crawford posted the first double-digit outing of her career, finishing with 11 points, four assists and three rebounds.
Cincinnati shot 40% from the field but struggled with ball security, committing 20 turnovers, including eight in the fourth quarter. The Bearcats were without starting point guard Caliyah DeVillasee for the second consecutive game.
Back-to-back buckets from Kali Barrett and Crawford gave UC an early 7-6 advantage at the first-quarter media timeout. The Bearcats defense held Howard scoreless for nearly three minutes, but the Bison responded to take an 18-15 lead after one. Barrett scored six points on a perfect 3-for-3 shooting before exiting the game with an injury.
Howard opened the second quarter on a 6-0 run to push the lead to 24-17, forcing a UC timeout. Cincinnati answered, pulling within three on a Perry three-pointer, and later broke a three-minute scoring drought with another trey from the senior. The Bearcats entered halftime trailing 36-32.
Crawford scored a pair of driving layups early in the third quarter to give Cincinnati a 39-38 lead. Howard countered with a 6-0 run, but UC stayed within striking distance after Perry completed an and-one play to end the period (54-50).
The Bearcats opened the fourth quarter with back-to-back baskets to tie the game at 54-all. Both teams endured scoring droughts of more than four minutes before Crawford drained a three-pointer at the 3:28 mark to put UC back in front. The teams traded baskets before Howard scored four straight to regain the lead.
Paige Whitted subbed in for the injured Kylie Torrence and knocked down a pair of free throws for the first points of her career. After Howard went 1-of-2 at the line, UC had the ball with 22 seconds remaining. Jackson buried a contested three to tie the game with 13 seconds left but missed the ensuing free throw. Howard scored with three seconds remaining, and Cincinnati’s final attempt fell short.