Bearcats guard Reagan Jackson (3) goes up for a shot against Baylor’s Jana Van Gytenbeek (4) during the game against the Baylor Bears at Fifth Third arena. The Bearcats lost 74-53 on Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024.
As the basketball season approaches, the Lady Bearcats have been preparing for the upcoming season. Last season, their overall record was 14-18, going 5-13 within the Big 12 conference.
Jillian Hayes is set to return for her fifth year, last season the guard averaged 12.9 points per game along with 8.4 rebounds while shooting 42% from the field.
She started all 32 games and led the Bearcats in points, rebounds, and steals. Hayes was named All-Big 12 Honorable Mention and earned CSC Academic All-District Honors.
As they prepare for the season, the Lady Bearcats earned an invitation to the inaugural Atlantic Slam Q in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada.
The Atlantic Slam W is a NCAA Division 1 women’s basketball tournament, also known as the MTE. The inaugural tournament will showcase four teams playing in six regular season games over three days.
The event will take place from Nov. 22-24 at the Eastlink Centre Charlottetown.
The Cincinnati women’s basketball team also signed some newcomers, Daylee Dunn, Alliance Ndiba, Tineya Hylton, and Chloe Mann.
Dunn comes from Loyola Marymount and Fresno State. In her 2023-24 season, she made 22 three-pointers at a 31.9 shooting percentage.
Ndiba is a JUCO product, the 6-foot-3 forward was also a two-time NJCAA Women’s Basketball All-American at Arizona Western College. She averaged a double-double with 14.0 points and 11.8 rebounds in 57 career games.
Hylton comes from Texas A&M, the 5-foot-7 guard who played two seasons with the Aggies. The Toronto native played in the U23 Canada National Team and earned a silver medal at the 2023 GLOBAL JAM. She averaged 4.0 points and 1.3 steals per game.
Mann comes from Duncanville High School; she was a state champion in basketball and track and field. She averaged 13.2 points, 2.6 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 2.2 steals per game as a senior. She was also nominated for 47th annual McDonald’s All-American Games.
The 2024-25 features 18 games in the Big 12 conference. The red and black will play three conference opponents twice (Oklahoma State, West Virginia, Kansas State) , and then travel or host 12 opponents once.
The inaugural season begins Oct. 27, the Lady Bearcats will have an exhibition match against Thomas More at Fifth Third Arena. The Lady Bearcats will kick off the new year with their first home Big 12 opener against BYU on Jan. 1
