Saturday, Feb. 22
Highlights
Cincinnati 87, Tulane 63
Angel Rizor scored 18 points to reach 1,000 for her career while both Ilmar'I Thomas (25) and Antoinette Miller (20) hit for at least 20 to help the University of Cincinnati women's basketball team run past visiting Tulane Sunday afternoon inside Fifth Third Arena, 87-63. The Bearcats, winners of 12 in a row at home, improved to 18-8 on the year and moved into sole possession of second place in the American Athletic Conference with a 9-4 league record while handing the Green Wave (12-15, 7-7 AAC) their fifth-consecutive loss.
Cincinnati game out fast to start as they connected on their first three shots and forced a pair of turnovers for a quick 6-0 lead that forced Tulane to call timeout. From there, the Bearcats never trailed and continued to build their lead as they were ahead by eight after one and four at the half. In the second half, however, UC started clicking, outscoring the visitors, 28-18, in the third before pulling further away with a 25-15 fourth quarter.
UC passed the scoring around in the first quarter with Miller leading the way with six while Rizor and Thomas both had four. It was more of the same in the second as five players scored at least two points with Sifa's six pacing the team. In the third, however, Miller started to hit her stride as she poured in 10 points while Rizor (8), Thomas (6) each connected on at least three made field goals. The fourth quarter saw Thomas take over as she was 3-of-4 from the field and a perfect 5-of-5 from the line for a team-best 11 points.
Rizor's career has seen her score 1,000 points while adding 685 rebounds as well. The 29
th member of the 1,000 Point Club at Cincinnati, Rizor reached her milestone by hitting both free throws in the fourth quarter to land exactly on the number. Earlier this year, Thomas joined the club when she scored 21 points against Coppin State while Miller made the mark with 21 points in win over Temple.
The Bearcats muscled up in the paint as they scored 52 of their 87 points in the paint. That total ranks as the second-highest output of the season after the Bearcats scored 60 against visiting Miami (Ohio).
Wichita State 70, Tulsa 61
Seraphine Bastin logged just the second double-double of the season for Wichita State to lead the Shockers past Tulsa, 70-61, Sunday afternoon at the Donald W. Reynolds Center.
Wichita State (15-12, 7-7) sweeps the regular season series with Tulsa for the first time since joining the American Athletic Conference, while improving to 19-4 all-time against the Hurricane.
Ashley Reid scored a team-high 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting and a 3-for-4 mark from long range. Bastin registered her first double-double of the season and second career with 12 points and a personal-best 15 rebounds. DJ McCarty also added 12 points on a perfect 5-of-5 shooting.
The Shockers and Golden Hurricane posted similar shooting numbers on the afternoon, as they both shot 42 percent from the field. Tulsa will look back at the missed opportunities from the free throw line where the Golden Hurricane went just 14-of-29.
Rebecca Lescay scored a game-high 23 points, while Wichita native Kendrian Elliott just missed a double-double with eight points and 15 boards.
Wichita State held a four-point lead, 17-13, at the end of quarter No. 1 behind 12 points in the paint.
Five straight points from Reid followed by a pair of Mariah McCully free throws gave the Shockers their largest lead, 26-19, with 5:55 remaining until halftime. After building its margin, a scoreless drought covering 4:58 allowed Tulsa to retake the lead behind an 8-0 run.
With time running out in the period, Reid fired up a three-pointer from the right wing to put the Shockers on top 32-29 at the half. She scored all eight of her team-high eight points in the second period.
The Shockers finished the first 20 minutes shooting a shade under 40 percent from the field, and outrebounded the Hurricane by seven. Tulsa hit three of its four triples and shot 46 percent overall.
The first 2:16 of the second half could not have been much worse for Wichita State. Five turnovers and four fouls allowed Tulsa to score the first seven points and regain the lead, 36-32.
A coast-to-coast driving layup by McCully and a wide-open McCarty three-pointer put Wichita State back on top, 39-38, forcing Tulsa to call a timeout with 5:29 left in the third. Both teams would trade six-point spurts in the final three minutes before the Shockers took a 51-49 lead into the final period.
Wichita State grabbed a four-point advantage on the heels of a Maya Brewer putback and McCarty's transition bucket, leading to a Tulsa timeout with 5:19 to go.
The Shockers stretched the margin to seven with 1:33 to go and Tulsa would not be able to recover.