Cincinnati, OH (January 15, 2006) ? The University of South Florida women's basketball team's struggles continued as the Bulls dropped their third straight game, and their fourth game in their last five outings, with a 89-87 loss to Cincinnati this afternoon at the Fifth Third Arena at Shoemaker Center.
The loss was the USF's third straight setback determined by two points or less and in the final four seconds of the game. The win was UC's first BIG EAST win of the year
The Bulls (11-6, 1-3 BIG EAST), who were without the services of leading rebounder (8.1 rpg) and fourth leading scorer (8.6 ppg) Ezria Parsons who suffered a bruised tailbone against Rutgers on Jan. 11, went back and forth with the Bearcats during the opening stages of the first half until taking an 8-6 lead on a Nalini Miller (Capital Heights, MD) lay up with 15:13 left.
USF would hold the lead until Cincinnati (11-5, 1-3 BIG EAST) would use an 8-0 run to lake a 26-21 lead with 7:06 left in the first half.
The Bulls would retaliate with their own 12-5 run to regain the edge, 34-31, when Shantia Grace (Sarasota, FL) connected on a three-pointer with 3:57 remaining.
USF would eventually take a 40-39 lead into the locker room at the intermission.
All-America candidate Jessica Dickson (Ocala, FL) and Miller entered the half in double figures netting 14 and 12 points respectively.
After going back and forth with the Bearcats, UC would put together a 16-0 run, to take a 63-50 lead with 11:56 left, as the Bulls seemingly imploded during the second half.
Cincinnati would take as much as a 15-point lead with 7:14 left in the second stanza and would not be threatened by the Bulls until they scored six straight points cutting the lead to seven, 79-72 with 3:05 left in the game.
USF would then cut the lead to six on five-footer by Miller 2:50 left.
Cincinnati's Bellva May would hit four straight free throws on two consecutive possessions to extend the lead back to 10, 84-74 with 2:30 left.
After a three-pointer by Dickson and a lay up by Rachael Sheats (Marietta, GA), which cut the lead to five, May would connect on two more free throws with 48 seconds left in the contest.
The Bulls would then get some help from the Bearcats from the charity stripe. Cincinnati would go 2-6 from the line in the last 37 seconds allowing USF to make it interesting down the stretch.
Miller would hit a lay up with 13 seconds left cutting the lead to two points, 87-85. Cincinnati's Shelly Bellman would then hit two free throws to bring the edge back to four.
After what seemed to be a Bulls turnover by Dickson, May would call a Bearcat time out, however UC called its last with 3:16 left.
Dickson would go the line and hit the two technical free throws with five second left. USF would get the ball back with a chance to tie or win the game with a trey; however a Dickson jumper ? a three point attempt ? bounced off the side of the rim.
Cincinnati's bench dominated outscoring the Bulls 47-3. Of the 47 points 22 came from freshman Jill Stephens and 10 apiece from May and Kahla Roudebush.
For USF, Dickson would finish with a game high 30 points, her second straight game of 30 or more, and the sixth 30-point effort of the season.
Miller had 21 points and Rachael Sheats 18 in the loss.
The Bulls will get back to work on Wednesday for the first of two straight at home when they face Syracuse on Wednesday, Jan. 18 at 7 p.m. in the Sun Dome.
