Joe Petrosino | Staff Reporter
The Cincinnati Bearcats women’s basketball team took the floor for the first time tonight at the beautiful newly-renovated, Fifth Third Arena.
After a slow start in the first quarter, the Bearcats never looked back.
Led by Junior guard Anntoinette Miller, their defense took the intensity to another level: picking the Governors up full court, putting pressure on their ball handlers, and forcing turnover after turnover including five steals and a two 10-second violations, while only giving up nine points in the second quarter.
The Bearcats jumped out to a 40-24 lead at the half.
The second half proved no different.
The Bearcats continued to assert their dominance on defense forcing 24 turnovers, which led to easy baskets at the rim in transition. They also fedthe ball down low, taking advantage of the size of junior forward Angel Rizor and sophomore forward IImar’I Thomas.
With five players scoring in double figures, the Bearcats showed both the depth of their team and their ability to score in many different ways.
The Bearcats gave up just sixpoints in the fourth quarter and held the Governors to an astounding 30 percent from the field for the game, winning 69-48.