Per GoBearcats:
IImar’I Thomas posted her first double-double of the season, collecting 24 points and 17 rebounds, while Destiny Haymer and Arame Niang posted 10 points each as Cincinnati (2-5, 1-2 American) snapped a five-game losing streak Saturday with a 65-59 win at Wichita State (3-4, 0-2).
Asia Strong and Mariah McCully led the Shockers with 15 points each. Carla Bremaud had 12 points and Seraphine Bastin added eight points and registered a double-double with 10 rebounds and 10 assists for Wichita State, who suffered its fourth consecutive loss.
UC limited the Shockers to 36.5 percent shooting from the floor (23 of 63), won the battle on the boards 42-35, matched a season-best with seven blocks and recorded 16 assists on its 24 field goals.
Thomas, who entered the day second in the nation in scoring at 28.2 points per game, has produced at least 23 points in every game this season. Her 17 rebounds were one shy of matching a career high.
The Bearcats started strong out of the gate, running off 14 consecutive points after an early Shocker basket to grab a 14-2 lead at 5:57 of the opening quarter. A Milan Schimmel 3-pointer, four points from Niang and five points from Thomas keyed the run.
However, Wichita State answered with a 21-6 run of its own thanks to eight points from McCully and seven from Strong to grab a 23-20 lead with 6:10 left in the second quarter.
The Bearcats responded with two baskets inside from Thomas, a 3-pointer from Sofia Gritzali and jumpers from Haymer and Jadyn Scott to take a 31-27 lead into intermission.
The Shockers wrestled the lead back at 37-35 following a layup by Strong with 6:08 left in the third quarter.
But a 12-3 run by the Bearcats that featured a pair of three-point plays by Thomas gave UC a 47-40 advantage at 2:12 in the third frame.
UC’s lead grew to as many as 10 in the final quarter on a pair of free throws from Thomas with 8:13 left and Wichita State never was able to pull within more than six points the rest of the way.
UP NEXT
UC plays its next two games at home beginning with Wednesday’s contest with Tulsa. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. on ESPN+.
