WBB Game 8: Cincinnati (5-3) vs ODU (1-6)
This Sunday the ODU Monarchs will try to push their win streak to two games against the Bearcats of Cincinnati. This will be the second time that ODU has ever played the Bearcats. I'm sure we all remember the first time. November 27th 1987 at Cincinnati, we won 59-49 in the first round of the Hall of Fame Tournament. We then lost to some team called Tennessee as part of the tournament. (That was an interesting season for the Lady Monarchs. We had an exhibition game against the Soviet Union and we ended up losing to the Lady Vols during the regular season match-up as well.)
The Nov 27th game is also important as this was the first game the Lady Monarchs played under headcoach Wendy Larry.
It is my guess that we are playing Cincinnati for the first time in Norfolk because our freshman Victoria Morris is from Cincinnati, Ohio. We will probably have a return game where we will play in front of her friends and family. I could be wrong, but that would be logical.
The Bearcats play in the American Athletic Conference. It's a tough conference to win because of UCONN. Of course no one would know that better than University of Cincinnati's head coach Jamelle Elliott. Elliott is a former UCONN player who is entering her 9th season as head coach of UC. Playing for UCONN she had 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in her career. She coached in the Big East before the team (school) moved to the AAC.
Cincinnati Record: 5-3 (4-3 against D-I teams) RPI: 238 SOS: 236
@ E Tennessee L 77-87 Record: 5-4 RPI: 118
Vs Sippery Rock University W 85-52 (non D-I team, no RPI rankings)
Vs SE Louisiana W 82-43 Record: 1-6 RPI: 301
Vs Miami (OH) W 73-62 Record: 3-3 RPI: 151
Vs Pittsburgh L 46-66 Record: 5-2 RPI: 191
Vs E Kentucky W 64-53 Record: 2-4 RPI: 214
Vs St Francis (PA) L 73-77 Record: 2-3 RPI: 170
Vs SE Missoui ST W 65-52 Record: 2-4 RPI: 149
@ ODU Record: 1-6 RPI: 305
Well....UC and ODU have both lost to St Franics (PA) if you are looking at common opponents.
Bearcats Starting Five
#21 Shanice Johnson F 6'0" Sr 12.1 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 3.6 apg, 2.0 tpg, 3.8 spg, 42.4 FG%, 16.7 3P%, 70.0 FT%, 25.9 mpg
#3 Ana Owens G 5'6" So 10.9 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 4.4 apg, 2.5 apg, 1,1 spg, 41.9 FG%, 35.1 3P%, 92.3 Ft%, 31.9 mpg
#2 Nikira Goings G 5'8" Jr 10.9 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 1.6 apg, 2.4 tpg, 41.7 FG%, 37.0 3P%, 55.6 Ft%, 30.0 mpg
#4 Angel Rizor F 6'1" So 7.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 0.9 apg, 2.3 tpg, 57.9 FG%, 66.7 FT%, 19.1 mpg
#11 Sam Rodgers G 5'11" So 3.4 ppg, 1.0 rpg, 1.0 apg, 35.7 FG%, 55.6 3P% 1.000 FT%, 13.6 mpg
Key Bench
#22 Iimar'i Thomas F 5'11" Fr 12.8 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 0.9 apg, 1.4 tpg, 63.3 FG%, 33.3 3P%, 69.4 Ft%, 22.6 pg
This is a very unselfish team, averaging 15.8 assists per game. They have two floor leaders though, Johnson averages 4.4 assists per game and Johnson averages 3.6 apg. So they like to spread the ball around.
The team's leading scorer is a freshman who comes off the bench. She is really effective too, shooting 63.3 % from the floor, which is fantastic shot selection for a freshman. (or any player really)
Johnson has interesting backstory. She played for Delaware as a freshman. And then did a rare inter conference transfer, going to JMU and reshirting for a season. She then went to CC for a season. Last season she won the AAC Newcomer of the year award for UC. She averaged 15.2 ppg and 9.7 rpg. She was a double double machine and almost had the first triple double in school history last season. Her 3.75 steals per game places her at number 10 in the nation.
From beyond the arc, Goings, Owens, and Rodgers are major three point threats. This team will play inside and out. They have about three players that they sub in and out.
Inside the numbers.
.....................UC.............ODU
PPG...............70.6..........57.6
OPPG............61.5...........69.4
FG%..............45.4...........39.2
OFG%............37.3..........43.5
3P%...............30.8..........33.5
O3P%.............32.3..........38.0
3MPG............5.6.............7.7
FT%...............66.7...........57.0
FTMPG..........14.0...........8.1
RPG.............. 37.9..........31.6
OffPG............11.3.........10.6
DefRPG.........26.6..........21.0
OppRPG........33.1..........37.0
APG...............15.8.........12.6
TPG...............16.3.........14.4
SPG..............8.5............5.3
BPG..............2.5............1.9
Ast/TO ratio:
UC: 1.0 ODU: 0.9
It is important to note improvement during a season. Look at the first three games played by ODU. Turnovers 19, 17, 19. The next four games: 8, 13, 13, 12. Assist per game. First three: 14, 9, 8 The next four games: 16, 12, 7, 22. Yes this is a complete team stat. The coach is having the players pass the ball more. But let's look at ODU's PG MaKayla Timmons.
Her first three games. A: 4, 2, 1. 7 assists total. T: 3, 4, 4. 11 turnovers.
Her next four games. A: 8, 5, 2, 5. 20 assists total. T: 2, 1, 3, 1. 7 turnovers.
This is the kind of improvement you want from a point guard and shows that we are going in the right direction. The Bearcats will be a challenge for Timmons since Johnson will be looking to steal every chance she gets.
Overall the Bearcats will be a big challenge for ODU.
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WBB Game 8: Cincinnati (5-3) vs ODU (1-6)
