TicketsCINCINNATI – The University of Cincinnati women’s basketball team fell to Xavier, 77-70, in the Crosstown Shootout on Sunday inside Fifth Third Arena.
After trailing by double digits, Cincinnati (4-6) stormed back with an 11-0 run to tie the game with five minutes remaining. The rally ultimately fell short as Xavier closed on a 12-5 push.
Three Bearcats finished in double figures: Caliyah DeVillasee, Mya Perry and Kali Barrett. DeVillasee led UC with 20 points to go with four rebounds and four assists. It marked her fourth 20-point outing of the season.
Mya Perry added 14 points, three rebounds and a career-high five assists, extending her double-figure scoring streak to 10 games. Freshman Kali Barrett notched a career-high 12 points with a pair of three-pointers.
Cincinnati finished 39% from the field and made seven three-pointers (.292). Xavier countered with a 46% mark from the floor and seven threes of its own (.304).
Cincinnati fell into an early 9-2 hole, committing five first-quarter turnovers that led to nine Xavier points. The Musketeers carried an eight-point lead into the first break, 19-11.
The Bearcats quickly responded in the second. DeVillasee and Barrett each buried a three to pull UC within 22-17. Cincinnati then erupted for a 7-0 run highlighted by a Barrett triple and a DeVillasee and-one. DeVillasee later gave UC its first lead on a driving layup inside the final minute. Cincinnati headed into halftime up one, 39-38, after outscoring Xavier 28-19 in the second quarter.
UC extended its lead to four early in the third on a Perry three (46-42), but Xavier answered with a 7-0 spurt to regain control, 53-47, with under five minutes left in the frame. Perry ended the drought with a fading jumper at the 3:58 mark, and Cincinnati entered the fourth quarter trailing by five.
Xavier took its largest lead of the day with 6:15 remaining in the game (65-54). Cincinnati didn’t score in the quarter until a Perry three at 6:04, which ignited an 11-0 Bearcats run, highlighted by two and-ones from DeVillasee and Alliance Ndiba.
UC had a chance to cut into the deficit with 31 seconds remaining (71-68), but the shot didn’t fall. Xavier held on to secure a 77-70 victory.
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Cincinnati hosts UNLV on Saturday, Dec. 13 at 2 p.m. inside Fifth Third Arena.