Cincinnati Women’s Rally Falls Short in Gritty Battle Against No. 25 West Virginia
CINCINNATI - The fight was there. The energy was there.
The comeback? Nearly.
But in the end, the University of Cincinnati women’s basketball team couldn’t quite climb out of a deep hole, falling 84-76 to No. 25 West Virginia on Sunday afternoon at Fifth Third Arena.
This one was a tale of two halves. The Bearcats (7-12, 2-5 Big 12) found themselves staring down a 26-point deficit midway through the third quarter, but instead of folding, they flipped the switch.
A furious 17-3 run sparked by hustle plays and timely shooting brought the crowd to life and Cincinnati back into the game. The Mountaineers, though, did just enough to weather the storm.
Mya Perry: The Spark Plug
Senior guard Mya Perry once again showed why she’s the heartbeat of this Bearcats squad. She poured in 18 points, 16 of them coming after halftime, and drilled four three-pointers - three of which came in the fourth quarter alone.
That late-game shooting barrage helped cut the deficit to single digits and extended her streak of double-digit scoring games to 19 straight. Perry’s ability to heat up in a hurry gave Cincinnati a real shot at a comeback.
Balanced Scoring, But Trouble Inside
Cincinnati got solid contributions across the board, with Reagan Jackson (11 points), Kylie Torrence (10), and freshman standout Dee Alexander (10) joining Perry in double figures. The Bearcats shot a strong 48% from the field and knocked down 16-of-19 free throws - an 84% clip that kept them within striking distance late.
But the real issue? Interior defense.
West Virginia carved up Cincinnati in the paint, outscoring them 56-28 down low. That +28 margin was the difference-maker.
The Mountaineers also shot a blistering 54% from the floor and dominated the glass, turning extra possessions into 13 second-chance points.
Early Hole Proves Costly
West Virginia came out firing, jumping to an 8-2 lead before Cincinnati answered with buckets from Caliyah DeVillasee and Destiny Thomas. A pair of inside scores from Ndiba kept things close early, but the Mountaineers closed the first quarter on a 7-0 run to take a 23-14 lead. Despite forcing four steals in the opening frame and converting them into six points, the Bearcats couldn’t slow West Virginia’s offensive rhythm.
The second quarter saw more of the same. West Virginia extended its lead to 17 at the break, 43-26, behind strong rebounding and efficient scoring. The Bearcats were outmuscled on the boards and struggled to match the Mountaineers’ physicality inside.
The Comeback Attempt
Down 66-40 with just over five minutes left in the third, Cincinnati flipped the script. Ramiyah Byrd brought energy off the bench, diving for loose balls and making the kind of gritty plays that don’t show up on the stat sheet but spark momentum. The Bearcats closed the quarter on a 12-0 run, cutting the lead to 14 heading into the fourth.
That momentum carried over. Perry hit back-to-back threes, Alexander added four key points, and suddenly the Bearcats were within seven - 69-62 - with time to play.
But West Virginia, to its credit, stayed composed. The Mountaineers got the stops they needed late and hit their free throws to close it out.
What’s Next for Cincinnati?
This one stings, but there’s plenty to build on. Cincinnati showed resilience, depth, and fight against a ranked opponent. The second-half surge wasn’t just cosmetic - it was a reminder that this team, despite its record, has the pieces to compete in the Big 12.
If the Bearcats can bottle that second-half energy and get more consistent production inside, they’ll be a tough out down the stretch. Perry continues to be a force, and with young talent like Alexander growing into her role, the future remains promising.
For now, it’s back to the film room and back to work. But Sunday’s performance showed something important: this team isn’t backing down from anyone.