Friday, December 9
Xavier 48, Cincinnati 35 – Box Score
Saturday, December 10
(RV) Rice 91, Houston 88 (2OT) – Box Score
(RV) Middle Tennessee 69, Memphis 53 – Box Score
Recaps
Xavier 48, Cincinnati 35 – Box Score
CINCINNATI – The University of Cincinnati women's basketball team fell 48-35 to Xavier inside Cintas Center on Friday night.
Cincinnati is now 5-5, 0-0 in The American on the season.
Junior guard Jillian Hayes finished with her fourth double-double this season with a game-high 18 points and 11 rebounds. The Cincinnati native has now led the team in scoring in the last six games.
Hayes surpassed her season-high in free throw makes and attempts, converting on 8-10 from the free throw line.
Cincinnati rushed out to a 6-2 lead through the first four minutes of the game, while Hayes turned with 8 of the Bearcats' first 10 points. Cincinnati forced 11 turnovers in the first half and held Xavier without a field goal for over 4:31-minute stretch in the second quarter, but trailed entering at the break.
The Bearcats were active on the defensive end throughout the contest, recording a season-high 13 steals and six blocks. Cincinnati converted on 9 of its first 10 from the free throw line, finishing 14-22 on the night.
Cincinnati went on a quick 6-0 spurt and held their opponents scoreless over 4:49 minutes in the fourth quarter to spark a late run. The Bearcats outscored the Musketeers 13-9 in the fourth quarter and held their opponent to no field goals over the final 6:30 of regulation, but could not complete the comeback attempt.
(RV) Rice 91, Houston 88 (2OT) – Box Score
HOUSTON – Despite double-digit scoring from five different Cougars, the University of Houston women's basketball team fell in double overtime 91-88 at Rice on Saturday in Tudor Fieldhouse.
Houston (2-8) led by 10 points at halftime, posted a season-high 14 assists and received six-or-more points from seven different scorers but ultimately fell to Rice (8-0) who is off to its best start in school history.
Junior Laila Blair led Houston with 17 points and a season-best five assists. The guard received scoring help from senior Bria Patterson's season-high 16 points, senior Tiara Young's 15 points and graduate Tatyana Hill's 10 points in 21 minutes of play.
The Cougars thought they had won the game on a beautiful euro-step layup by Young at the buzzer of overtime where the ball was halfway down and then rattled back out, sending the game to a second overtime. It marked the first double overtime game for Houston since 2018.
Rice was led by senior Destiny Jackson's game-high and career-high 33 points. The Owls had two other scorers in double figures with 21 from senior Ashlee Austin and 12 from senior India Bellamy.
Redshirt senior Britney Onyeje ignited the Cougar bench when she hit a buzzer beater at the end of the third quarter to push Houston's lead back to five points.
The Cougars shot 40.7 from the field but allowed 55.2 percent from the Owls.
(RV) Middle Tennessee 69, Memphis 53 – Box Score
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Looking for their second consecutive win, the Memphis Tiger women's basketball team welcomed the Blue Raiders of Middle Tennessee State University to the Elma Roane Fieldhouse. A fast start from MTSU would down the Tigers as they suffered the 69-53 loss.
Following today's game, Memphis moves to 5-5 overall.
The Blue Raiders jumped out to a fast start, gaining an 11-4 lead just three minutes into the game. While the Memphis defense struggled to stop the MTSU offense, the Tigers would fight back with a three-pointer from Destyne Jackson and a putback lay-up from Shelbee Brown to cut their deficit to just four.
The fast-paced Blue Raider offense continued to push, getting up by as much as 11 with less than a minute left in the quarter. Tanuyel Welch would drain a three-pointer at the top of the key with 24 seconds left to make it a 21-13 score headed into the second quarter.
It was all MTSU in the second quarter; the Blue Raiders would go for 21 points while holding Memphis to just four points in the 10-minute span to take the 42-17 lead into halftime.
Memphis came out with a vengeance in the third quarter.
Hannah Riddick scored six quick points for the Tigers to start their scoring run. Jada Wright added to Memphis' comeback, draining a transition three-pointer from the top of the key. She, along with Lanetta Williams, would add in free throws to get within 13 of the Blue Raiders with one minute left in the quarter.
The Tigers would take the 51-37 score into the final 10 minutes of the game.
Despite Memphis making a comeback in the third quarter, they would not be able to catch the Blue Raiders.
After Riddick sank another jumpshot with 32 seconds left in the game to get within 13, MTSU would add in seal the deal with three points in the final four seconds to take the 69-53 win.
Jamirah Shutes and Hannah Riddick led the team with 13 and 12 points, respectively, while Jada Wright pulled down a team-high eight rebounds.