Per GoBearcats:
IImar’I Thomas scored a game-high 32 points, but the University of Cincinnati women’s basketball team dropped a nonconference game to Marquette, 86-75, in a Thursday matinee inside Fifth Third Arena.
Thomas, the 2020 American Athletic Conference Co-Preseason Player of the Year, had her 22nd career game scoring 20 or more points, third of the season and second 30-plus point game of the campaign as Cincinnati fell to 1-2 on the young season. She finished 9-of-11 from the field, 14-of-16 from the line, grabbed eight rebounds, dished out two assists, had two steals and blocked a shot.
Marquette (3-1) started the game on a 16-0 run and led by 20, 22-2, with 2:54 left in the first quarter. The Bearcats chipped away but were not able to make a significant dent in the score until after halftime.
UC started the second half on a 14-5, six-minute run, pulling the deficit down to nine, 55-46, with 3:33 to go in the third quarter. Marquette answered with an 8-0 over next two-plus minutes which pushed the lead back to 17 at 63-46 with 1:38 left in the stanza.
The Bearcats got it down to 11 with four early points to start the fourth quarter but would get no closer until the waning seconds of the contest.
UP NEXT
Cincinnati plays at Central Michigan on Saturday at Noon ET. The game will be available on ESPN3.
Check out the Bearcats' highlights from the 86-75 loss to Marquette at home in Fifth Third Arena. pic.twitter.com/UvxbqtuPDP
— Cincinnati W. Hoops (@GoBearcatsWBB) December 10, 2020
