Women’s Basketball Clinches 4th Place in AAC

The Cincinnati Bearcats women’s basketball team clinched fourth place in the American Athletic Conference this evening, posting a 61-57 victory over the Houston Cougars at home at St. Ursula Academy this evening.

The victory improved Cincinnati to 18-11 overall and 10-6 in the AAC. The defeat dropped Houston to 20-10 overall and 9-7 in the AAC.

Cincinnati won this de facto fourth place game, which secured them a bye in the preliminary round of this weekend’s AAC Women’s Basketball Tournament at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. Fifth seeded Houston will have to play the twelfth seed, which will be either Temple or Tulsa, on Saturday, March 3rd.

The Bearcats will face the winner of this game on Sunday, March 4th.

Cincinnati broke open a big lead in second quarter, taking a 30-17 lead into the break. UC extended the lead to as much as 17 in the third quarter, but Houston battled back in the second half, keeping the game close until the final buzzer.

Senior co-captain and forward Shanice Johnson carried the load in her home finale, grabbing 8 rebounds and posting 17 points.

Sophomore guard Sam Rodgers added 16 points in the win. Point guard Ana Owens, the other co-captain, added 11 points in her last home game with the Bearcats.

Check back with Down the Drive later this week for a full preview of the AAC Women’s Basketball Tournament.