By Hunter Tickel | The News Record The Bearcats won their second-straight game with a crucial 11-0 run late in the second half.
The University of Cincinnati defeated Valparaiso 62-50 Monday, Dec. 21, at Fifth Third Arena. Senior guard Kahla Roudebush led the Bearcats with 22 points and nine rebounds on 4-of-5 shooting from three-point land, while junior guard Carla Jacobs contributed 17 points.
UC (6-5) had a positive start to the game, scoring on the first two possessions for a 4-0 lead that ended up being the Bearcats largest lead of the half. Valparaiso (3-6) led by as many as five points with 3:54 remaining in the half.
Photos: UC vs. Valparaiso - 12.21.09
Jacobs caught fire early in the first half, scoring eight points in the first 11 minutes, including two 3-point buckets.
Junior forward Ashley Varner for the Crusaders led all scorers in the first half with 16 points, knocking down 4 of 5 from three-point range.
In a close first half, there were 10 lead changes and four ties. The Bearcats gained some momentum with 3:45 remaining with a 8-0 run taking a three-point lead.
Valparaiso nullified the run with a three-pointer with two seconds left by freshman guard Raegan Moore, knotting the halftime score at 31. The halftime score was fitting for the tightly contested first half.
The start of the second half was very sluggish. The teams combined for 13 points in the first 10 minutes. The Bearcats shot 1 of 10 from the field, and committed five turnovers after only 10 the first half.
The Bearcats went exactly 10 minutes without scoring, after their first field goal of the half at 18:50.
“How many games do you see teams go 10 minutes without a field goal and end up winning the game by twelve, not very often,” said head coach Jamelle Elliott.
Valparaiso led 41-37 with 9:10 remaining before a barrage of threes from Roudebush gave the Bearcats the lead, one they would not lose.
Roudebush took over with 8:50 left going 3 for 3 from 3-point range on three-consecutive possessions. The Bearcats sustained the lead with clutch free throws down the stretch, going 12-12 from the line in the last three minutes.
“It was all the play calling and people getting me the ball. To their [UC] credit, they got me open,” Roudebush said.
Junior guard Shareese Ulis led the team with eight assists, while only going 1 of 8 from the field.
“My shots weren’t falling tonight,” Ulis said. “I know in order for us to play well, I have to be involved on offense and defense. I just wanted to get to the hole and get people open.”
UC finished 24 of 27 from the free-throw line, with 19 turnovers and a rebound margin of plus 18.
“I feel like it was key for us to make our free throws,” Jacobs said. “We work on free throws in practice, like situational free throws, and I just stepped up to the line like practice.”
The Bearcats defense stunted the Crusader offense down the stretch limiting them to four points in the final 2:39.
“One thing that has been consistent throughout the year is our defense,” Elliott said. “Our defense has really allowed us to stay in every ball game this year with the exception of Xavier. Tonight we were able to guard them really well.”
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