UC women’s basketball goes 1-2 in Paradise Jam

UC Women’s Basketball traveled this past weekend to St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands to play in the 2023 Paradise Jam. Cincinnati went 1-2 during that stretch, winning against Kentucky and falling to ranked teams No. 3 Colorado and No. 10 NC State. 

UC opened up their basketball tournament against No. 3 Colorado—the first time the two teams had met. Colorado started the game with a strong 10-2 lead which led to the first timeout. Graduate student Mya Jackson and sophomore A’riel Jackson would respond with back-to-back three pointers (14-8). Colorado followed up with a 6-0 run to take a nine-point lead at the end of the first quarter (21-12). 

Mya Jackson and senior Jillian Hayes drained three-pointers to start the second quarter. A three-pointer by freshman Reagan Jackson would cut UC’s deficit to 10 (34-24). Hayes made her second three pointer, which tied her career high, to end the first half (41-28). 

In the second half, the Buffaloes took the largest lead of the game (64-39). The Bearcats came back behind a 13-2 run to pull within 14 (66-52). They would not get any closer and dropped the game 77-60 against Colorado. 

On Friday, Nov. 24, UC played No.10 North Carolina State for their second game of the 2023 Paradise Jam. Cincinnati had early foul trouble and shot a season-low 24.2 percent from the field (16-66) in a tough matchup against the Wolfpack. 

Senior Malea Williams scored all of Cincinnati’s first 10 points to start the game, including two three-pointers to even the score at 10 apiece. NC State answered with a 12-2 run to take the lead at the end of the first quarter (26-14). 

The Bearcats were scoreless for nearly five minutes in the second quarter until Williams made her third three-pointer. The Wolfpack outscored the Bearcats 24-8 to lead at the half (50-22). 

Reagan Jackson and A’riel Jackson combined for 17 points in the second half, but the Bearcats would not get any closer and fell to NC State 79-45. NC State had a 12-rebound advantage in rebounds (51-39) and 24-point advantage in the paint (34-10). 

On Saturday, Cincinnati defeated Kentucky in their 2023 Paradise Jam finale. This was the Bearcats’ first win against Kentucky since 2004, which was also the last time they defeated a SEC opponent. 

The Bearcats got off to a fast start behind a 6-0 run in the first quarter (8-5). Kentucky reclaimed the lead (9-8), but the Bearcats were able to go on an 8-0 run to answer. 

A’riel Jackson knocked down a three as time expired in the quarter.

Reagan Jackson drained back-to-back three-pointers as Cincinnati continued to dominate in the second quarter. Nine first-half points from sophomore Destiny Thomas would give Cincinnati an 11-point lead to end the half (31-20).

Back-to-back scores from Thomas and Hayes would give UC a 13-point lead with 5:58 left in the third quarter. The Bearcats would once again go on a large scoring run, recording the final 11 points of the third (52-31).

The Bearcats outscored the Wildcats 13-10 to cruise to victory, 65-41. The Bearcats shot 38.3 percent from the field (23-60) and 4-10 from beyond the arc. Cincinnati had the advantage in nearly every statistical category and eight different Bearcats scored a point in the victory as UC held a 17-point advantage on the bench (21-4).

UC women’s basketball now holds a record of 3-3. Cincinnati returns to Fifth Third Arena on Dec. 1 to face Tennessee State at 6 p.m.