This evening Katrina Merriweather and the Bearcats improved to 6-3 on the season following their dominant 87-62 victory over Howard. The Bearcats would now be winners of four straight, as Katrina Merriweather and the Bearcats were looking to find their stride over the last two or so weeks. The Bearcats have been riding the wave after an incredible win over Kentucky in their final game of the Paradise Jam back on November 25th really set the tone.
The Bearcats were led by senior Jillian Hayes, who finished with a game high 20 points while grabbing six rebounds along the way. A night where Hayes would score her 1,000th career point in the third quarter after driving through traffic for the tough bucket.
Malea Williams finished with her first career double-double after finishing with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Williams set the tone early after knocking down her first four three point shot attempts. Williams continues to be a significant impact for the Bearcats as the senior forward continues to use her length and size to her advantage. Something that has been substantial for Katrina Merriweather and the Bearcats as they are still without Center Clarissa Craig who recovers from injury.
Braylyn Milton finished with a season high 17 points and six assists for the Bearcats on 6-14 shooting. Milton has saw her role increase with Mya Jackson still sidelined with due to injury and has embraced her opportunity here as of late.
Reagan Jackson finished with 10 points on 3-7 shooting, her fifth straight game in double digits. The freshman guard has continued to be an exciting piece for the Bearcats as she continues to improve each and every game.
The Bearcats shot 44% from the field, 42% from 3FG, while the Bisons on the other hand struggled offensively shooting just 39% from the field, and 29% from 3FG. The Bearcats dominated the glass, as they outrebounded the Bisons 46-25 as they utilized their size and took advantage of that right away.
The Rundown.
The Bearcats took a huge 10-0 following a made three-point shot from Malea Williams, and from there on the Bearcats were all gas, no brakes. The Bison would respond with a seven to zero run of their own to cut the lead to single digits, with the Bearcats leading 15-11 with three minutes remaining in the first quarter. A Bison run that sparked a lot of fire under the Bearcats as they sparked a 9-2 run of their own to end the first quarter as they held a 22-13 lead after the first 10 minutes of play.
Howard was not shying away from the Bearcats after trailing by nine to end the first quarter, the Bison would then cut the Bearcats lead to 24-20 after a Nyla Cooper made three. The Bearcats would rattle off another 10-0 swing and just like that the floodgates were open for the Bearcats. Jillian Hayes continued to do what she does best and that is get downhill and attack as the Bearcats carried a 43-26 lead into the half.
The Bison would come out of the half with great energy, but they just couldn’t overcome the Bearcats early lead as the Bearcats quickly pulled away after a huge 3rd quarter from Jillian Hayes. The senior forward racked up 11 of her 20 points there in the third quarter and was quickly becoming a problem for the Bisons on the defensive aspect. The Bearcats controlled the game from their as they carried an eighteen-point lead, 65-48 heading to the fourth quarter.
The Bearcats simply dominated the Bison on all aspects of this one after setting the tone in the opening minutes of this one. The Bearcats would hold on and cruise to a dominating victory as the Bison were disgruntled early but could never regain any sort of momentum in the second half to slow the Bearcats down on the offensive side tonight.
The Bearcats now improve to 6-3 on the season as they prepare to wrap up non-conference play here in the next week as they currently ride a four-game winning streak along the way.
Up Next
The Bearcats (6-3) will be back in action this Sunday when they travel to Evansville, Indiana to take on Southern Indiana as they prepare to make it five straight.
