Bearcats Knock Off Davidson

CINCINNATI - Kahla Roudebush (Noblesville, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern) scored 24 points and added eight rebounds to lead the University of Cincinnati women's basketball team to a 60-42 win against Davidson on Sunday (Dec. 21) at Fifth Third Arena.

Jill Stephens (Mineral Wells, W.Va./Parkersburg South) chipped in 13 points and five rebounds for the Bearcats (9-3), who rebounded after a 65-50 loss at Michigan on Friday night.

Davidson (4-8) was led by Mercedes Robinson, who tallied fifth double-double of the season with 21 points and 13 rebounds.

The Bearcats held the Wildcats to 24.5 percent shooting, a season-low for an opponent. UC has allowed less than 60 points in 11 of 12 games this season.

Davidson started hot, jumping out to an 11-3 lead at the 13:12 mark of the first half on a pair of free throws from Mandy Halbersleben.

A three from Stephanie Stevens (Pickerington, Ohio/Pickerington Central) cut the lead to 11-6 and back-to-back threes from Stephens gave UC a 9:50 lead.

After Davidson took an 18-14 lead, a Shanasa Sanders (Jacksonville, Fla./Ribault Senior) and a Roudebush three gave UC a 19-18 lead and UC ended the half on a 14-2 run to take a 28-20 lead into the locker room.

Davidson took its first lead since the 5:00 minute mark of the first half, 33-32, on a Robinson layup with 12:33 to play.

After an Angel Morgan (Springfield, Ohio/Springfield North) three, Ashley Lax scored to tie it at 35 with 11:28 to go.

UC took control from there. The Bearcats ripped off 13 straight points over a four minute span, going 5-of-6 from the field and forcing four Davidson turnovers.

A Robinson three cut the lead to 10 at the 6:02 mark, but UC finished off the game with a 12-4 run to pull away.

The Bearcats will have nine days of rest before returning to Fifth Third Arena for a 7:00 p.m. tip against St. Francis (PA) in the non-conference finale on Tuesday, Dec. 30.