The Cincinnati Bearcats were back home for the first time this year as they welcomed in the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles. The Bearcats were looking to bounce back from an opening loss at No. 7 Louisville. The Bearcats came in a perfect 4-0 in coach Heard’s home openers and were looking to continue that success against a tough Golden Eagles team. The Golden Eagles last year made the Ohio Valley Conference final and went to the Women’s NIT Tournament. The Golden Eagles came into this one 1-0 after opening with a win over Ball State. The Starting 5 for the Bearcats were Braylyn Milton, Jillian Hayes, Mya Jackson, A’riel Jackson and Jadyn Scott. This would come on the news of Taziah Jenks not playing leading to freshman A’riel Jackson earning her first career start. Would the Bearcats bounce back and get in the win column for 2022?
The Bearcats and Golden Eagles traded baskets early as Mya Jackson and Jillian Hayes both got to the basket to give the Bearcats an early 4-3 lead. The Bearcats continued to push it inside, but the Golden Eagles were not going away. The Golden Eagles shot 3-of-5 from behind the arc to give them a 1-point lead at 9-8. Both teams struggled after this going on a 3-minute scoring drought in the first quarter. The Bearcats were held scoreless for 5 minutes which was able to help the Golden Eagles claim a 13-9 lead with 1:30 to go in the quarter. Hayes was able to muscle through and cut the lead to 2. The Bearcats then found their groove in the paint and claimed a lead of their own after another Hayes layup. The Golden eagles got a late bucket in the quarter to take a 15-14 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The Bearcats started the second quarter with a quick 5-0 run after a Jackson 3-point basket. This gave the Bearcats an early 19-15 lead in the second. In the second the Bearcats continued the Hayes show as she got two quick baskets with one being an and 1 to give the Bearcats a double-digit lead at 29-19. The Bearcats increased the lead to 12 after a Jackson layup. This would spark the Bearcats to end the half on a 14-3 run and take a 35-22 lead into the half. The Bearcat’s leading scorer was Jillian Hayes with 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting. The Bearcats shot 43% from behind the arc to gain the large lead and switched to a tough zone defense to throw the Golden Eagles. The Bearcats went into the half feeling good, but would they be able to finish it?
