Jan. 27, 2012

Game Notes

CINCINNATI – The University of Cincinnati women’s basketball team (9-11, 0-7 BIG EAST) continues its road swing when it travels to Syracuse to battle the Orange (13-8, 2-5 BIG EAST) on Saturday at 4 p.m. The game can be heard live on GoBEARCATS.com with Tom Gelehrter on the call.

Last Time Out
Bjonee Reaves led the Bearcats with 20 points – all of which were scored in the second half – but it wasn’t enough for the University of Cincinnati women’s basketball team to overcome a 15-point halftime deficit as it was defeated by Villanova, 62-53, on Tuesday, January 24 at the Pavilion. Reaves and Dayeesha Hollins combined for more than half of UC’s output, as Hollins finished with 17 points.

After trailing 33-18 at halftime, the Bearcats outscored the Wildcats, 35-29, in the second half, and brought it within three, 52-49, with five minutes remaining. But Villanova iced all its shots from the stripe to hand UC its sixth-straight loss of the season.

Bearcats Against The Orange
Syracuse and Cincinnati are tied, 4-4, in the all-time series. The Orange won last year’s battle, 55-53, on Feb. 22, 2011, despite a game-high 20 points from graduated senior Shareese Ulis. The Bearcats outrebounded the taller Orange, 35-34. Syracuse entered the game as the No. 1 team in the nation in rebounding margin at +15.5 rebounds per game.

The last three contests between UC and Syracuse have been decided by four points or fewer. UC has the 2-1 advantage in games played in Syracuse.

Scouting Syracuse
Syracuse enters Saturday’s contest with a 13-8 overall record and 2-5 BIG EAST mark. Syracuse is 7-3 at home this season. The Orange were defeated by No. 3 Connecticut, 95-54, on Jan. 25. Three Orange players are averaging in double-figures, including Iasia Hemingway (16.0), Kayla Alexander (15.4) and Carmen Tyson-Thomas (11.3). Tyson-Thomas has a team-best 7.7 rpg. Syracuse was picked to finish eighth in the BIG EAST in the preseason polls.