CINCINNATI – IImar'I Thomas scored a game-high 32 points, but the University of Cincinnati women's basketball team dropped a nonconference game to Marquette, 86-75, in a Thursday matinee inside Fifth Third Arena.
 
Thomas, the 2020 American Athletic Conference Preseason Player of the Year, had her 22nd career game scoring 20 or more points, third of the season and second 30-plus point game of the campaign as Cincinnati fell to 1-2 on the young season. She finished 9-of-11 from the field, 14-of-16 from the line, grabbed eight rebounds, dished out two assists, had two steals and blocked a shot.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Marquette (3-1) started the game on a 16-0 run and led by 20, 22-2, with 2:54 left in the first quarter. The Bearcats chipped away but were not able to make a significant dent in the score until after halftime. 
 
UC started the second half on a 14-5, six-minute run, pulling the deficit down to nine, 55-46, with 3:33 to go in the third quarter. Marquette answered with an 8-0 over next two-plus minutes which pushed the lead back to 17 at 63-46 with 1:38 left in the stanza.
 
The Bearcats got it down to 11 with four early points to start the fourth quarter but would get no closer until the waning seconds of the contest.
 
NOTES
• The game between the two schools was scheduled two days ago after the Bearcats' original matchup against crosstown rival Xavier was postponed due to COVID-19 protocols with the Musketeers.
• Destiny Haymer had a career high 13 points and tied career marks with three assists and a pair of steals.
• Milan Schimmel scored seven points, pulled down a career high five rebounds and dished out a career best four assists.
• Addaya Moore tied career marks with four steals and a block while adding six points.
• The Bearcats closed the game on a 6-0 run, hitting their last four shots.
• Marquette's Selena Lott made 11 field goals to lead the team with 26 points. Jordan King and Lauren Van Kleunen scored 15 apiece with King added a team-high eight rebounds. Camryn Taylor finished with 10 points and six assists.
 
WHAT'S NEXT?
Cincinnati plays at Central Michigan on Saturday at Noon ET. The game will be available on ESPN3.
 
FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
For all the latest information on Cincinnati women's basketball, please visit GoBEARCATS.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow Cincinnati WBB (@GoBearcatsWBB) and Coach Clark-Heard (@CoachHeard) on Twitter. You can also find the Bearcats on Instagram and Facebook.