Today the women’s team traveled to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to take on the Temple Owls 4-3, (4-0 AAC). The Bearcats are looking to snap a two game losing streak and get back in the win column. Today looked to be a matchup based on the two AAC Preseason Co-Players of the Year with the Bearcats Ilmar’i Thomas and the Owls Mia Davis.
The Bearcats really controlled the pace for the first half as they outscored the Owls 18-15 after the first quarter. They were looking to get everyone involved early as a total of seven different Bearcats scored in the first quarter led by Destiny Haymer’s team high six points in the first quarter. Temple’s Jasha Clinton got off to a hot start with 10 points on 3-of-4 from the field (3-of-3 from deep) in the first quarter. The reason the Owls were able to stay in the game was the hot shooting from Clinton. The second quarter was all Bearcats again as senior Ilmar’i Thomas started to get hot as she finished the half with seven points. The Bearcats had a pretty balanced scoring attack in the first half as Destiny Haymer had eight points. Thomas had seven points and Jillian Hayes also had seven points. The Bearcats were very active on the offensive side of the ball as they out rebounded the Owls in the first half by seven.
The second half it was a matchup between the AAC Co-Players of the Year Thomas and Davis from Temple. The Bearcats senior forward took over and really started to get hot as she shot 4-of-5 from the field with 10 points in the 3rd quarter. Mia Davis from Temple didn’t go down without a fight as she had nine points on 3-of-7 from the field in the 3rd quarter. The high energy game showed why it has circled around those two Co-Players of the Year. The game was so fast paced it all came down to who would gas out first. The Owls fought hard until the end, but the Bearcats came away with the victory. The freshman Jillian Hayes had a massive day as she scored 20 points which is her new career high. The freshman shot 9-of-16 from the field. She has shown as of late the player she is capable of being over the last two games. The last tow games the freshman has scored 36 points (16,20). The Bearcats seemed to find their playmaker in Hayes. They are struggling with injuries as of late with only eight eligible players so the roles for everyone is expanding and the freshman surely is making the best of her moment. The Owls could not stop the midrange shot from the freshman all day as Hayes seemed to show off multiple aspects of her game as a guard. The Bearcats out rebounded the Owls 44-32 in today’s game which is a big reason to this win as the Bearcats hand the Temple Owls their first loss in conference play.
Along with the Hayes, Ilmar’i Thomas also had a big game as she had a massive double-double with 24 points and 12 rebounds. Thomas also shot 100% from the free throw line in today’s contest (8-of-8) including some key free throws down the stretch. Destiny Haymer also finished with 11 points, seven rebounds and eight assists. This is what the Bearcats needed to do to get back in the win column, get that spark in the locker room to be able to fight and finish games as of late.
The Bearcats will stay on the road as they travel to Orlando, Florida to take on UCF this Sunday at 12 pm live on ESPNU.
