Cincinnati Women’s Hoops Heads to Allen Fieldhouse Looking to Rebound
The Cincinnati Bearcats are packing their bags for a Big 12 showdown in Lawrence, where they'll face off against Kansas inside the historic Allen Fieldhouse on Saturday evening. And while the venue is iconic, the mission for Cincinnati is simple: snap a two-game skid and get back in the win column.
They’re coming off a hard-fought 76-70 loss to No. 15 Baylor-a game that showed plenty of fight, but also underscored the margin for error in Big 12 play.
Still, there were bright spots, and none brighter than senior guard Mya Perry, who poured in 20 points. That marked her 21st game in double figures this season and her eighth time hitting the 20-point mark.
Perry’s been the engine all year, leading the Bearcats in scoring 12 times and continuing to prove she’s one of the top perimeter threats in the conference.
Freshman Caliyah DeVillasee continues to play beyond her years, adding 14 points on 5-of-11 shooting against Baylor, along with five boards and three assists. She’s scored in double figures in 17 of her 19 games this season and is putting together one of the most impressive freshman campaigns in recent program history.
Averaging 15.6 points, 4.3 assists and 3.8 rebounds per game, DeVillasee ranks top 10 in the Big 12 in scoring, field goal percentage, and assists. Her five 20-point outings are the most by a Cincinnati freshman since the 2002-03 season.
Another freshman making her presence felt is Joya Crawford. She tallied 11 points against Baylor, knocking down a career-high three shots from beyond the arc and dishing out four assists. Over her last four games, she’s averaging 8.3 points while shooting a red-hot 54% from the field-an efficiency that’s giving the Bearcats a real spark off the bench.
And then there’s Kylie Torrence, the Bearcats’ frontcourt anchor. The freshman forward has been a force on the glass, ranking seventh in the Big 12 in rebounds (7.5 per game) and ninth in blocks (1.1).
She’s one of just seven freshmen in the country with at least 180 points, 160 rebounds, and 25 blocks this season-a rare combination of size, skill, and timing. In conference play, she’s been even better, averaging 8.8 points and 8.8 rebounds, including a monster 16-board performance against Kansas State.
Nationally, DeVillasee is turning heads. She ranks sixth among freshmen in scoring, seventh in assists, and sixth in assist-to-turnover ratio.
She’s one of only three freshmen in the country averaging at least 15 points, four assists, and three rebounds per game-right alongside Oklahoma’s Aaliyah Chavez and USC’s Jazzy Davidson. That’s elite company.
As a team, Cincinnati has been tough on the boards all season. The Bearcats have outrebounded opponents in 17 games and rank second in the Big 12 in offensive rebounds per game (14.0). Overall, they’re pulling down nearly 40 boards per contest, sitting fourth in the league.
DeVillasee’s 81 assists this season are already the most by a Bearcat since Akira Levy’s 151 in 2021-22-a testament to her vision and poise under pressure.
Perry, meanwhile, continues to be a deadly shooter from deep. She ranks second in the Big 12 in made threes per game during conference play (2.4), and she’s hit at least three triples in six league contests. Her early-season scoring streak of 19 straight games in double figures-longest to start a season by a Bearcat since 2002-03-may have ended, but her impact hasn’t slowed down.
Cincinnati has also been getting it done at the line. The Bearcats have held the free throw advantage in 13 games this season and rank fifth in the Big 12 in free throws made per game (14.4). Reagan Jackson has been particularly reliable, shooting 83.1% from the stripe-good for sixth in the conference.
One stat to keep an eye on? Cincinnati is 8-1 this season when holding opponents to 69 points or fewer. That tells you all you need to know about the formula for success: defend, rebound, and let the young guns cook.
Saturday’s game at Kansas isn’t just another road trip-it’s a chance to reset the tone for the stretch run. With a balanced mix of veteran leadership and breakout freshman talent, the Bearcats have the pieces. Now it’s about putting it all together when the lights come on in Lawrence.