CINCINNATI (Interstat) — A dominant second-quarter surge propelled the Cincinnati Bearcats to a 73-60 victory over the UCF Knights in a Big 12 Conference women’s basketball game Saturday at Fifth Third Arena.

The Bearcats, who improved to 11-17 overall, used a 26-point second period to erase an early deficit and build a lead they would not relinquish before a crowd of 2,887. The Knights fell to 10-17.

The most critical juncture of the contest arrived in that decisive second quarter. UCF had established a 17-15 lead after the opening period, but Cincinnati’s offense ignited while its defense clamped down. The Bearcats opened the quarter on a 12-2 run, turning a two-point deficit into a 27-19 advantage. The run was fueled by a combination of efficient offense and forced turnovers, setting a tone of control.

Cincinnati guard Caliyah DeVillasee, who finished with 12 points and five assists, orchestrated the offense during the stretch, while forward Dee Alexander provided a spark off the bench. Alexander, a hometown product from Cincinnati, scored 11 points, including a three-pointer during the run. The Bearcats’ ability to draw fouls and convert at the free-throw line was pivotal; they made 17 of 20 attempts for the game, with several coming during the quarter to extend possessions and halt any UCF momentum.

Conversely, the Knights’ offense stagnated, managing only 10 points in the quarter on 4-of-13 shooting. They committed seven turnovers in the period, which Cincinnati converted into 10 points. The Bearcats also dominated the glass, grabbing six offensive rebounds in the quarter to extend possessions and limit UCF’s opportunities to close the gap. By halftime, Cincinnati had built a 41-27 lead, a margin that proved insurmountable for the Knights.

UCF showed resilience after the break, cutting the deficit to 52-45 by the end of the third quarter behind the interior play of Mahogany Chandler-Roberts. The Portland, Oregon, native led all scorers with 19 points and added seven rebounds and two blocks. Her efforts, alongside 10 points from guard Kristol Ayson, kept the Knights within striking distance.

Every time UCF threatened in the second half, however, Cincinnati had an answer. Early in the fourth quarter, after the Knights pulled within seven, the Bearcats responded with a quick 6-0 spurt to push the lead back to 13. Key baskets from Destiny Thomas, who scored 12 points, and Mya Perry, who added 15 points and four rebounds, consistently stifled UCF’s attempts at a comeback.

The Knights’ offensive struggles were compounded by an inability to connect from beyond the arc, missing all seven of their three-point attempts. While they shot an efficient 50 percent from the field inside the arc, their lack of perimeter scoring allowed Cincinnati to pack the defense. The Bearcats, meanwhile, won the battle of efficiency, posting an offensive rating of 100.7 points per 100 possessions compared to UCF’s 87.1, and won the turnover battle 16-13.

Cincinnati also received a strong all-around performance from Kylie Torrence, who contributed eight points, eight rebounds, three blocks and two assists. UCF’s Khyala Ngodu filled the stat sheet with eight points, seven rebounds, four assists and two blocks.

The victory completed a regular-season sweep for Cincinnati over UCF, having also defeated the Knights 63-59 in overtime on Jan. 14. According to pregame analytics from Interstat, Cincinnati was projected with a 79.8 percent probability to win and covered the spread as an 8.5-point favorite. The combined score of 133 points went under the over/under line of 135.5.

Both teams return to conference play Wednesday. Cincinnati will host Texas Christian, while UCF will welcome West Virginia.