Dec. 15, 2007

First-Half  Bearcat Run Topples Penguins, 79-56

    Cincinnati, Ohio -- Junior Kelsey Gurganus scored a career-high 14 points and senior Heather Karner led the Penguins with 15 but Cincinnati made 10 3-pointers en route to a 79-56 win over the Youngstown State women's basketball team (4-5) on Saturday afternoon at Fifth Third Arena.

    Junior Tiara Scott also reached double figures with 12 points.

    Cincinnati's Jill Stephens led all scorers with 27 points on 11-of-19 shooting, including five 3-pointers, and grabbed 14 rebounds.

    Cincinnati benefited from eight straight missed shots by the Guins and used an 18-0 run over the last seven minutes of the first half to turn a one-point deficit, 19-18, into a 17 point advantage, 36-19. Kelsey Gurganus stopped the run with a basket with 20 seconds remaining.

    Karner , who made her first four 3-point attempts, gave the Penguins their largest lead of the half, 16-11 with her fourth triple at the 11:30 mark.

    A free throw and a jumper by Ashley Pendleton put the Penguins back ahead, 19-18, with 7:20 left.

    Karner started the scoring with a 3-pointer and scored the Penguins first nine points - all on treys - to keep the Penguins in the game at 9-9 with 13 minutes remaining. Two jumpers by Tiara Scott gave YSU a 13-11 edge at the 11:57 mark. 

    The Bearcats outscored the Penguins, who shot 50 percent in the second half, 43-35 in the second half.

    UC also outrebounded the Guins, 44-27.
    The Guins continue their three-game, in-state road swing against nationally-ranked Ohio State, Wednesday, Dec. 19. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at Value City Arena.