Cincinnati Women's Basketball Take Out UCF 64-63 For First Big 12 Win

Katrina Merriweather and the Bearcats secured their first Big 12 victory after defeating Central Florida 64-63.

CINCINNATI — It was a battle of former AAC foes at Fifth Third Arena as Kaitlin Peterson was doing what she could to charge the Knights following her career-high 35-point performance. The Indiana transfer willed the Knights through the battle this evening but ultimately fell just short after Bearcats sophomore guard A'riel Jackson delivered the 64-63 game-winner with 0.5 seconds remaining.

"Really proud of this team today because of the fight they showed," said UC head coach Katrina Merriweather. "There have been multiple times throughout the season where the game could have gone either way. Today we were able to make the right play, and that shows tremendous growth. We are able to find ways to win no matter what it looks like. The most important things are this team did this together."

Tonight, was a full team effort as the Bearcats showed they have multiple players who can step up along the way. Three Bearcats scored in double digits, but Braylyn Milton set the tone early with her terrific three-point shooting ability as she finished with 12 points. Leading scorer Jillian Hayes finished with 12 points (10 in the second half) and nine rebounds as the Cincinnati native continued to be the driving force for the Bearcats after her fourth consecutive game in double digits, (11th time this season).

"Jill is tough, she is never going to give up," said Merriweather. "She plays through a bunch of contact. She's going to try and rebound no matter what, and that is what makes her in my mind an All-Conference player. I think we may be developing a couple more here if we can stay the course and continue to get better."

A'RIEL FREAKIN' JACKSON!!!!!!#TheSisterhood | #Bearcats pic.twitter.com/I6bwUxeLs5

— Cincinnati Women's Basketball (@GoBearcatsWBB) January 11, 2024

Peterson Dices

Kaitlin Peterson willed the Knights tonight behind a career-high 35 points on 10-of-27 shooting, as the sophomore was unstoppable tonight. Peterson set the tone early after scoring 18 of the Knights's first 23 points.

Sometimes when a player is on like that, you simply just half to let them cook.

Peterson established her presence early and never looked back because when the Knights needed a basket the most, it was Peterson who stepped up to the occasion. Despite the Bearcats' double-digit lead late in the third quarter, Peterson led the Charge as the Knights played themselves in a great position to potentially win this game.

The Knights just missed a huge opportunity when needed down the final stretch. The Indiana transfer had the best game of her career on one of the biggest stages.

"That is what it looks like when you refuse to lose," Merriweather said. "I stopped her in the handshake line at the end of the game and stared at her and told her great performance. She is a great player, and we knew that coming in, but ultimately, she is tough. She had a great day."

"Kaitlin is a baller in my eyes, she said she wanted the ball," said Central Florida Head Coach Sytia Messer. "She kept telling the girls to fight. I'm proud of her and the fight she showed this evening, she hit some big shots for us."

Career showing from Malea Williams

Merriweather mentioned earlier this year how much Malea Williams impacted the game on both ends of the court. The 6-foot-4 forward has shown her length and versatility throughout her Bearcat career but has really seen her game take the next step over the last 14 games. Despite being held to just two points in the first half, Williams turned it up a notch by scoring 15 in the second half.

Williams showcased not only her rebounding ability after snatching 11 rebounds but also her scoring ability. Merriweather mentioned that the senior was capable of letting the three balls go, and we saw that this evening after burying two huge threes down the stretch, including one from the logo.

Williams brought her tenacious energy as always as she grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds and team team-high 17 points to secure her third double-double of the season. Williams recorded career highs in points (17), minutes (33), and field goals made (7), this evening in the Bearcats victory. “I was coaching Malea so hard, she probably thinks she only had 5 points and two rebounds,” Merriweather joked.

Like Mother, Like Daughter

A'riel Jackson didn't have the best shooting night of the season, shooting just 2-of-8 from the field. But for Jackson, growing up as a young girl, her mother former NBA star Kym Hampton instilled elite confidence in her daughter. Despite Jackson shooting just 2-of-8 from the field, she buried the shot when Bearcats needed it the most, and that was as the game clock slowly expired in the final seconds of the fourth quarter.

Jackson's midrange jumper would fall just off the mark, but she did what every good player does and that is follow your shot. Jackson crashed the board hard following the shot in hopes of history not repeating itself from Tuesday night in the men's game. Jackson then grabbed her own miss and laid it in with 0.5 seconds remaining that would seal the game for the Bearcats.

The Bearcats stormed the court towards the sophomore as they held off the late comeback from the Knights to pick up their first-ever Big 12 victory. That just shows, that if you're having a bad night, one shot will eventually fall in your favor and that was the case for Jackson this evening. "I knew I was going to miss that shot, I could feel it," Jackson joked. "I went really hard for the glass. Coach Trina just told me to lay it in. That was a product of the "Hamburger" Drill we do in practice."

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