WBB: Bearcats handle UCF on Senior Day, 73-60
Perry, Thomas and Ndiba get Senior Day win versus UCF
Per GoBearcats:
The University of Cincinnati women’s basketball team rolled to a 73-60 victory over UCF on Saturday inside Fifth Third Arena.
The win marked the Bearcats' sixth straight over the Knights. Cincinnati improve to 11-17 overall and 6-10 in Big 12 play, while UCF falls to 10-17 and 2-14 in conference action.
Cincinnati honored seniors Mya Perry, Destiny Thomas and Alliance Ndiba as part of Senior Day festivities.
Four Bearcats scored in double figures, led by Thomas, who went a perfect 5-of-5 from the field to finish with a season-high 12 points. Perry added a game-high 15 points and four rebounds while freshmen Caliyah DeVillasee (12) and Dee Alexander (11) combined for 23 points in the victory.
Cincinnati shot 42% from the field and went 17-of-20 from the free throw line (.850). UCF shot 50% from the floor but was held without a three-pointer (0-for-7). The Bearcats once again controlled the glass, outrebounding the Knights 39-25.
UCF used a 9-0 run to take a 13-8 lead midway through the first quarter, but Cincinnati answered with a 7-2 stretch to pull within two at the end of the period. Thomas paced the Bearcats with seven first quarter points.
Cincinnati seized control in the second quarter, opening with seven straight points to take the lead, highlighted by an Alexander three-pointer.
Six consecutive free throws pushed the lead to double digits. A Perry three-pointer followed by a DeVillasee buzzer-beater sent the Bearcats into halftime with a 41-27 edge. Alexander and DeVillasee combined for 16 first half points.
Back-to-back buckets from Torrence gave UC its largest lead of the game early in the third quarter (47-31). UCF responded with a 12-0 run to trim the deficit to six late in the frame, but Perry converted three free throws to send Cincinnati into the fourth quarter with a 52-43 advantage.
Cincinnati put the game away in the final period as back-to-back baskets from Thomas and Alexander, along with an and-one from Thomas, pushed the lead back to 16 (65-49). The Bearcats closed it out from there, rolling to the 73-60 Senior Day victory.