Tulsa Holds Off Cincinnati, 62-57

Wednesday, January 6

Cincinnati, Ohio

1:00 pm

Tulsa

2-3,1-3AAC

Cincinnati

2-6,1-3AAC

Tulsa

Cincinnati

Tulsa Holds Off Cincinnati, 62-57

1/6/2021 3:18:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Wyvette Mayberry, Jessika Evans and Maya Mayberry all scored in double figures to lead Tulsa to a 62-57 win over Cincinnati on Wednesday afternoon at Fifth Third Arena in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Golden Hurricane moved to 2-3 on the season and 1-3 in American Athletic Conference play, while the Bearcats fell to 2-6 overall and 1-3 in the league.

Wyvette Mayberry had a team-best and career-high 20 points, while freshman Jessika Evans added personal-bests of 13 points and nine rebounds. Junior-transfer Maya Mayberry tallied 11 points, Rebecca Lescay recorded five assists, and Desiree Lewis and Kayla Moutry both had four steals.

"I thought our guys handled adversity well," Head Coach Matilda Mossman said. "We jumped out to the 16-point lead and they came back on us, but we didn't relinquish the lead. In the first quarter we won the transition game, they did in the second quarter and it all evened out in the second half. I'm proud of the way our kids defended them and held Iimar'I Thomas to her second-lowest scoring game this season. Kayla Moutry took three charges, two of which were off of Thomas, and our team defense was really good."

Cincinnati pulled to within two points, 53-51, with 3:01 left to play in the contest, but the Golden Hurricane held on and earned the five-point victory.

Tulsa owned a 14-12 lead in assists and a 13-6 advantage in steals, while the Bearcats had a 42-35 lead in rebounds and a 5-2 advantage in blocks.

The Bearcats took an early 6-2 lead with 7:20 on the clock, but the Golden Hurricane went on a 12-0 run to own a 14-6 advantage with 2:17 to play. TU had a 16-8 lead at the end of the frame and shot a solid 46-percent from the field and 40-percent from behind the arc in the first 10 minutes.

Tulsa climbed to a 16-point advantage (26-10) at the 6:03 mark of the second quarter, but the Bearcats closed out the period with a 15-7 run. Wyvette Mayberry hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to give the Hurricane a 33-25 lead at the break.

TU inched ahead to take a 13-point lead, 42-29, with 7:40 on the clock in the third quarter, but Cincinnati cut their deficit in half to end the frame down just six points (46-40).

Tulsa shot 36-percent from the field, 35-percent from behind the arc and 91-percent from the free throw line, while Cincinnati shot 37-percent from the field, 25-percent from behind the arc and 69-percent from the line.

Thomas scored 24 points and pulled down 12 rebounds, while Arame Niang, Jillian Hayes and Jada Scott all added eight points.

Tulsa will return to action on Saturday, January 9 against Memphis. Game time is set for 6:00 pm at the Donald W. Reynolds Center.