Ignatius L Hoops
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QUICK TURNAROUND
Thursday night, homestanding Cincinnati (22-10 (12-4 in the AAC)) defeated Youngtown State 76-62 advancing to host the Golden Gophers Sunday afternoon in the WNIT’s second round. Trailing 17-15 at the end of one, the Bearcats outscored the Penguins (I love the nicknames of Northeast Ohio schools) 20-8 in the second quarter and kept YSU at bay the rest of the way. This was Cincinnati’s first post season win since 2012.
Cincinnati started little used center, I’Layah Green, as part of a plan to contain Penguins center Mary Dunn. It seemed to work as Dunn was held to 10 points and 5 rebounds. Offensively, the Bearcats were led by guard Andeija Pucket who was 7-9 with a career high 16 points. There was a scary moment in the third quarter when Bearcat Senior guard Nikira Goings ran hard into a screen and laid on the court for several minutes. Goings eventually returned; but there could be lingering effects.
Cincinnati head coach, Michelle Clark-Heard, is in her first season. Clark-Heard replaced Jamelle Elliot whose dismissal, you may recall, brought angry protestations from Geno Auriemma. Elliot is now back at UConn working in the AD’s office for David Benedict (remember him?). Meanwhile, Clark-Heard got to face UConn twice this season. The first game against UConn, in Storrs, was a 82-38 Huskie rout. The second game, in Cincinnati, was a UConn 65-55 win. Trailing 38-23 at the half, the Bearcats cut the lead to eight before losing.
Before taking over Cincinnati, Michelle Clark-Heard posted a successful seven year run at Western Kentucky where she won two Sun Belt Conference titles, 4 conference tourney titles and made four NCAA tournament appearances. Previously, she spent 2007-2012 at an assistant to Jeff Walz at Louisville. It is a return to the Queen City for Clark-Heard whom was a Bearcat assistant from 2002-2005 under Laurie Pirtle.
Clark-Heard mixes up her rotation and juggles the starting lineup from time to time. I expect she'll have a plan for Kenisha Bell.
Common Opponents:
Ohio State defeated Cincinnati 69-56 in Columbus; but not before the Bearcats who trailed 41-24 at half and fell behind by 23 in the third mounted a comeback closing within three 59-56.
Like the Gophers, Cincinnati defeated Xavier 79-61. Ilmari Thomas led the Bearcats with a 20 point and 18 rebound effort.
Starters (Conference Stats):
G 5’6” Jr Antoinette Miller (14.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 34.9 minutes/game)
F 6’-0” Jr Angel Rizor (9.9 points, 6.2 rebounds in 31.4 minutes)
G 5’10” Jr Sam Rodgers (7.8 points, 3.9 rebounds in 34.6 minutes)
G 5’7” Jr Florrence Sifa (7.6 points, 3.6 rebounds in 20.8 minutes)
F 5’10” So Ilmari Thomas (14.4 points, 7.1 rebounds in 31.1 minutes)
Others:
C 6’2” So Andeija Puckett (4.4 points, 2.8 minutes in 10.8 minutes)
G 5’8” Sr Nikira Goings (8.2 points, 1.9 rebounds in 23.1 minutes)
F 5’9” Sr Chelsea Warren (.8 points, 1.3 rebounds in 8.4 minutes)
C 6’2” So I’Liyah Green (.7 points, 1.5 rebounds in 6.5 minutes)
Thursday night, homestanding Cincinnati (22-10 (12-4 in the AAC)) defeated Youngtown State 76-62 advancing to host the Golden Gophers Sunday afternoon in the WNIT’s second round. Trailing 17-15 at the end of one, the Bearcats outscored the Penguins (I love the nicknames of Northeast Ohio schools) 20-8 in the second quarter and kept YSU at bay the rest of the way. This was Cincinnati’s first post season win since 2012.
Cincinnati started little used center, I’Layah Green, as part of a plan to contain Penguins center Mary Dunn. It seemed to work as Dunn was held to 10 points and 5 rebounds. Offensively, the Bearcats were led by guard Andeija Pucket who was 7-9 with a career high 16 points. There was a scary moment in the third quarter when Bearcat Senior guard Nikira Goings ran hard into a screen and laid on the court for several minutes. Goings eventually returned; but there could be lingering effects.
Cincinnati head coach, Michelle Clark-Heard, is in her first season. Clark-Heard replaced Jamelle Elliot whose dismissal, you may recall, brought angry protestations from Geno Auriemma. Elliot is now back at UConn working in the AD’s office for David Benedict (remember him?). Meanwhile, Clark-Heard got to face UConn twice this season. The first game against UConn, in Storrs, was a 82-38 Huskie rout. The second game, in Cincinnati, was a UConn 65-55 win. Trailing 38-23 at the half, the Bearcats cut the lead to eight before losing.
Before taking over Cincinnati, Michelle Clark-Heard posted a successful seven year run at Western Kentucky where she won two Sun Belt Conference titles, 4 conference tourney titles and made four NCAA tournament appearances. Previously, she spent 2007-2012 at an assistant to Jeff Walz at Louisville. It is a return to the Queen City for Clark-Heard whom was a Bearcat assistant from 2002-2005 under Laurie Pirtle.
Clark-Heard mixes up her rotation and juggles the starting lineup from time to time. I expect she'll have a plan for Kenisha Bell.
Common Opponents:
Ohio State defeated Cincinnati 69-56 in Columbus; but not before the Bearcats who trailed 41-24 at half and fell behind by 23 in the third mounted a comeback closing within three 59-56.
Like the Gophers, Cincinnati defeated Xavier 79-61. Ilmari Thomas led the Bearcats with a 20 point and 18 rebound effort.
Starters (Conference Stats):
G 5’6” Jr Antoinette Miller (14.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 34.9 minutes/game)
F 6’-0” Jr Angel Rizor (9.9 points, 6.2 rebounds in 31.4 minutes)
G 5’10” Jr Sam Rodgers (7.8 points, 3.9 rebounds in 34.6 minutes)
G 5’7” Jr Florrence Sifa (7.6 points, 3.6 rebounds in 20.8 minutes)
F 5’10” So Ilmari Thomas (14.4 points, 7.1 rebounds in 31.1 minutes)
Others:
C 6’2” So Andeija Puckett (4.4 points, 2.8 minutes in 10.8 minutes)
G 5’8” Sr Nikira Goings (8.2 points, 1.9 rebounds in 23.1 minutes)
F 5’9” Sr Chelsea Warren (.8 points, 1.3 rebounds in 8.4 minutes)
C 6’2” So I’Liyah Green (.7 points, 1.5 rebounds in 6.5 minutes)