Per GoBearcats:
The University of Cincinnati women’s basketball team pulled within five in the fourth quarter before ultimately falling to BYU, 69-57, on Saturday afternoon in Fifth Third Arena.
Cincinnati (12-11, 4-8 Big 12) could not overcome a third quarter in which the Cougars outscored the Bearcats 19-9.
Senior Jillian Hayes led the Bearcats with 16 points, seven rebounds, two steals and a block while freshman Reagan Jackson added 14 points for her ninth double-digit scoring performance of her freshman campaign.
Sophomore A’riel Jackson chipped in 11 points. She has scored in double figures four times in the last five games. The Bearcats fell to 9-4 when three-or-more players finish in double figures.
Cincinnati finished 28.8% from the field (19-66 FG) and 33.3% from 3-point range (5-15 3FG). BYU shot 47.5% from the floor (28-59 FG) and made eight three-pointers (.364).
The Bearcats used a 7-0 run to take an early 9-4 lead. Cincinnati pushed its advantage to six with 2:12 remaining (15-9) before BYU ended the quarter on a 6-0 run (15-15).
BYU hit a trio of three-pointers to take a five-point lead in the second (24-19). Reagan Jackson accounted for seven points as UC trailed by three at the media timeout (28-25). Clarissa Craig pulled the Bearcats within one before BYU made its fourth trey of the quarter (33-27). Hayes scored the final three points of the half to cut UC’s deficit to three (33-30).
The Cougars scored the first six points of the second half. A’riel Jackson ended the scoring run with her second three-pointer. BYU then went on to outscore UC 19-9 in the third quarter (52-39).
The Bearcats got off to an 10-2 start to cut their deficit to five in the fourth quarter (54-49). The Cougars silenced the run with six straight (62-51). Cincinnati could not get any closer for the remainder of the game as the comeback attempt fell short, 69-57. Ta’Ziah Jenks had four points and two steals in the quarter.
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Cincinnati hits the road for a midweek tilt against Kansas at 7:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday in Lawrence, Kan.
