Today the woman’s basketball team welcomed Ohio University to Fifth Third Arena for an early day game, as they honored education day, as they welcomed the younger students from the greater Cincinnati area to come watch the Bearcats. The Bearcats are off to a great start to their 2021-2022 season as they are 2-0 following victories over Alabama A&M and Bellarmine.
The Bearcats are led by junior guard Akira Levy, who was just named AAC Player of the Week after leading the Bearcats in their two wins last week, where she scored a team high 30 points in those two games. Levy, leads the AAC in assists with 15, as well as steals with eight and has been a huge part of the Bearcats early success. The Bearcats are also lead by graduate student Arame Niang, as she finished with 14 points in last weeks victory over Bellarmine. The Bearcats are looking to jump out to a early 3-0 start as they take on Ohio University for the early in state battle here today.
The Bearcats starting 5 for today’s matchup with Ohio University: Jillian Hayes, Akira Levy, Arame Niang, Jadyn Scott and Taziah Jenks.
The Bobcats got the scoring started as Erica Johnson comes down and hits a big early 3, but the Bearcats responded right back as Akira Levy hit a dagger of her own. The Bearcats followed with six straight points from graduate student Arame Niang, to give the Bearcats an early 9-5 lead. The Bearcats didn’t look back as they kept finding ways to attack the basket, as they went on a 9-0 run to take a huge 14-5 lead early over the Bobcats. However, the Bobcats responded right back as they went on a 9-0 run to tie this game up, before taking a 19-16 lead after a huge 3, from Ella Pope. The Bearcats early run was quickly erased as the Bobcats caught fire going on a 17-2 run the final 4:48 of the first quarter, that included a 8-0 run from the Bobcats in the final 1:18 of the first quarter.
The Bobcats came out with back to back three pointers from Erica Johnson to start the 2nd quarter and the Bobcats had a big 28-16 lead after that run to end the first quarter, The Bearcats were looking to find a way to stop the momentum as the Bobcats were 5-12 from three in the first 12 minutes of play, as they seemed to find their rhythm after a slow start. They Bobcats jumped out to a big 35-20 lead halfway through the second quarter as they were seeing everything drop in early, The Bearcats got a big three from freshman Braylyn Milton to stop the run, cutting the Bobcats lead to 12. The Bearcats started to find some momentum after Malea Williams followed Milton, with another huge 3, as they were looking to make a run here at the end of the half. Junior Guard Akira Levy knocked down a 3 pointer with 15 seconds left in the first half, but the Bobcats responded with a bucket of their own at the buzzer as they took a 45-29 lead over the Bearcats heading into the half.
The Bearcats got off to a hot start, but they had really no answer for the Bobcats as they were starting to knock down most of the shots they took, as the Bobcats shot 46% from the field in the first half, including 33% from deep, while the Bearcats shot 26% from the field in the first half. The Bearcats were led by graduate student Arame Niang with eight points, followed by Akira Levy with six points. The Bearcats were going to have to make some adjustments here at the half and find a way to get the ball in the hands of Akira Levy, Jillian Hayes, as well as find Arame Niang inside to change the pace of this game, as well as defend the three point line, as the Bobcats were very comfortable shooting the deep ball as they attempted 18 threes, in the first half.
The Bearcats came out attacking the basket, but the Bobcats were just dominating as they were getting easy buckets inside, as they went on a 11 point run to take a 56-32 lead over the Bearcats. The Bobcats have controlled all the momentum after that 17-2 run to end the first quarter, and they never once looked back. The Bearcats found some momentum late in the 3rd quarter as they hit four straight field goals to end the quarter, but the Bobcats still held a 59-43 lead over the Bearcats following a Akira Levy layup.
The Bearcats seemed to have some momentum going before the Bobcats got to the free throw line as they forced Bearcats guard Akira Levy to pick up her fifth foul with 6 minutes remaining, trailing 66-50. The Bearcats would be without one of their key contributors down the stretch as they were looking to make a late push. The Bearcats were starting to turn up the tempo as they went the length of the court and got back to back layups from Hayes and Niang to cut the deficit to 14. Hayes took over in the 4th quarter, However it was just too late as the Bobcats had a big 20 point lead at one point and the Bearcats couldn’t overcome the early deficit. The Bobcats had massive performances from Erica Johnson and Cierra Hooks, as Johnson finished with 27 points, on 9-of-21 from the field, with five threes, as well as six rebounds and six assists. Hooks, finished with 21 points, 10 of those being from the foul line, Hooks also recorded eight rebounds, three assists for the Bobcats.
The Bearcats got off to a quick start as they led 14-5 before the Bobcats went on a 17-2 run and never looked back from there as they controlled the game after that 17 point run. The Bearcats couldn’t a way to overcome the Bobcats 20 point lead, despite a late fourth quarter comeback attempt that was led by Jillian Hayes, as she finished with 17 points, 16 of those coming in the 2nd half. Hayes, also recorded five rebounds, two steals, two blocks and five assists. Akira Levy finished with 13 points, three rebounds, two assists, two blocks and two steals, before fouling out in the fourth quarter. Arame Niang finished with 12 points on 4-of-7 from the field, with five rebounds. The Bearcats showed a lot today though, as they showed they are a team that is looking to push the tempo, and they have so much depth as they had another game with three players scoring in double digits. The Bearcats feed off the energy and Akira Levy brings that energy for this Bearcats team, as she can do it all, she has that “it” factor to her game, she can do everything, and coach Heard has a lot of trust and praise for the junior guard.
The Bearcats drop a tough one to instate rival Ohio University 73-62, as they are now 2-1 to start the season. The Bearcats will be back in action this Friday at 8 pm when they travel to Utah for their first road game of the 2021-2022 season.
