Per GoBearcats:
The 11th-seeded University of Cincinnati women’s basketball team came from behind to defeat No. 14 UCF in the first round of the Phillips 66 Big 12 Women’s Basketball Championship.
The Bearcats overcame a 10-point halftime deficit and outscored the Knights by 19 in the third quarter (29-10). Sophomore A’riel Jackson fueled the second-half comeback with 13 of her team-high 14 in the third quarter.
Cincinnati earned its first-ever Big 12 Championship victory, and first tournament win since 2021. The Bearcats now advance to the second round on Friday at 9 p.m. ET vs. No. 6 seed West Virginia.
Senior Jillian Hayes, who was recently named All-Big 12 Honorable Mention, registered her 10th double-double of the season with 11 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. Senior Malea Williams (12) and freshman Reagan Jackson (11) also finished in double figures. In addition, Williams surpassed 100 career blocks with two in the contest.
Cincinnati shot a much-improved 48.1% in the second half and finished 40% overall from the field. The Bearcats made eight three-pointers, including six in the final 20 minutes (.545).
A back-and-forth first quarter saw three ties and three lead changes. UCF scored six straight to take a four-point lead after 10 minutes (13-9). UC shot just 27.3% from the field in the opening period (3-11 FG).
A Reagan Jackson three-pointer brought UC within two at 7:57 (17-15). Brianna Byars scored two straight buckets, followed by a Hayes layup to tie the game (21-21). UCF finished the first half on an 8-0 run to take a 10-point lead into the break (35-25).
The Bearcats committed eight turnovers and shot 32.1% in the first half. Williams paced the Bearcats with seven points, five rebounds and two blocks.
Cincinnati came out firing on all cylinders in the third quarter, scoring the first 10 points (35-35). A’riel Jackson had five during the stretch and finished with 13 in the quarter. A’riel Jackson gave the Bearcats the lead after back-to-back jumpers (39-37) and beat the buzzer with a corner three (54-45). The Bearcats outscored the Knights 29-10 in the decisive quarter.
Reagan Jackson and Nia Clark drained back-to-back threes to push the advantage to 12 in the final period (63-51). UCF pulled within five with less than a minute remaining (63-58), but Cincinnati never relinquished the lead. Clark knocked down a pair of three-pointers in the second half and provided valuable defense off the bench for the Bearcats.
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Cincinnati advances to the second round on Friday at 9 p.m. ET vs. No. 6 seed West Virginia.
