This afternoon the Bearcats (9-16, 2-10 AAC) were looking to complete the series sweep over Tulane (15-11, 5-8 AAC) for an early afternoon showdown at Fifth Third Arena. The Bearcats were looking to get back in the win column heading into the final week of the season, as they would look to build momentum heading into the American Athletic Conference Tournament in just two weeks. A huge opportunity, at hand for the Bearcats after defeating the Green Wave 53-50 back on February 4th, to pick up their first conference win of the season.
However, the Green Wave got off to a huge start from Dynah Jones, who had 10 of the Wave’s 17 first quarter points. As it seemed like the graduate guard was going to be the difference maker in this one after setting the tone early. The Bearcats would trail 17-12 at the end of the first quarter as the Green Wave were looking to contain Bearcats leading scorer Jillian Hayes early as they held her to zero points in the first ten minutes of play.
Coach Clark-Heard and the Bearcats then turned on the burners to start the second quarter after a huge 7-0 run to make this a 19-19 game with just over six minutes remaining in the first half. A huge spot where the Bearcats had the Wave on the ropes early but answered immediately to stop the Bearcats run and regain their early lead. The Bearcats would claw back into this one as Caitlyn Wilson would lead the way with five second quarter points after knocking down a huge three to give the Bearcats a 28-27 lead, their first and only lead of the game. However, the Green Wave stormed back to take a 30-28 lead at the break, behind a huge made three points shot from Marta Garlic with fourteen seconds left in the first half.
The Green Wave along with the Bearcats got off to a slow start offensively after both teams shot just 31% from the field in the first half. The Bearcats had the chance to take a lead heading into the half but they struggled immensely from the foul line in the first half as they shot just 44% from the line in the first half. A free opportunity to score some points, and the Bearcats just failed to convert and that is what set the tone in the first half. The Bearcats knew they would need Jillian Hayes to get going, after shooting just 1-of-6 from the field in the first half, Hayes would need a huge second half to flip the momentum for the Bearcats as everyone knows how dominant Hayes has been during the course of her Bearcat career.
