It’s year three for Cincinnati women’s basketball coach Katrina Merriweather and that’s usually a time that coaches hope they can level up their program.
The Bearcats have seen minor improvements in the former Bearcats guard’s first two seasons. She’s taken other teams to the NCAA Tournament, but a trip with her alma mater would be a different kind of accomplishment. She spent the offseason working the transfer portal and cultivating a freshman class with two Top 100 recruits. Will it help the Bearcats take the next step?
Here is a preview of the Cincinnati Beaarcats.
Cincinnati Bearcats
2024-25: 15-14, 7-11 in Big 12, 10th place. Lost in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament. No other postseason action.
Head coach: Katrina Merriweather is entering her third season at her alma mater. Her Bearcats improved by one win from her first season to her second. Before that she was at Memphis (2021-23) and Wright State (2016-21). She’s been to the NCAA Tournament twice and to the WNIT four times, including her first season with the Bearcats.
Big 12 history: Cincinnati is entering its third year in the Big 12. It has not won a regular season or tournament title.
Cincinnati Schedule: Click here for a complete 2025-26 Big 12 schedule.
Cincinnati 2025-26 Roster Review
Gone: G Chloe Mann (8.5 ppg), G Tineya Hylton (13.6 ppg), G Daylee Dunn (1.1 ppg), G Aïcha Dia, G Abby Holtman (2.4 ppg), F Brianna Byars (2.0 ppg), F Jillian Hayes (15.6 ppg), G A’riel Jackson (6.9 ppg).
Returning: G Reagan Jackson (9.2 ppg), F Ramiyah Byrd (1.3 ppg), F Alliance Ndiba (4.9 ppg), C Destiny Thomas (did not play), C Delaney Snyder (2.2 ppg).
Incoming transfers: C Mary Carden (1.8 ppg at Oral Roberts), G Mya Perry (15.5 ppg at FAU)
Incoming freshmen: G Paige Whitted, G Caliyah DeVillasee (No. 62 in ESPNW final recruiting rankings), G Joya Crawford, G Dee Alexander (No. 11 in ESPNW final recruiting rankings), F Kylie Torrence, F Kali Barrett
Projected Starting Lineup
G Reagan Jackson: The only holdover from a year ago that is a proven scorer.
G Dee Alexander. The local prep star is going to start right away. Her Top 15 national ranking demands it. So does her talent.
G Mya Perry: The only player on the team that averaged double figures in college basketball last season.
F Alliance Ndiba: If Cincy chooses to go big on the wings, Ndiba is probably the best bet from the holdover players.
C Delaney Snyder: Only averaged 2.2 points per game a year ago but should be improved.
Starting Lineup Crashers
C Mary Carden: Played a year at Oral Roberts and didn’t get much run. But she’s the tallest player on the team.
F Kali Barrett: Not as highly touted as some of the other freshmen, but a three-star talent that could push for playing time on the wing.
G Joya Crawford: Scored more than 2,000 points in high school. If that translates, she’ll push for starting time by midseason.
Lineup Competition
The backcourt feels relatively set going into the season. Jackson brings continuity from last year’s team. Perry is instant offense after an all-conference second-team season at FAU. Alexander has massive expectations being a local kid. But she’s one of the best freshmen in the country and she’s shown the ability to handle that pressure. The frontcourt feels much less settled as there is no clear-cut, productive veteran from a year ago after the departure of Hayes. The good news for Merriweather is that she has depth and length up front. Seven of her players are 6-foot-2 or taller.
Early Prediction
Cincinnati gets three solid non-conference tests in Penn State, Xavier and UNLV. The rest of the non-league slate offers chances to win and go into conference play with a good record. Whether this team exceeds last year’s 15 wins will depend on how quickly the freshmen acclimate to the college game, because at least three of them are going to have to play this season. Plus, will the added length on the front line enable the Bearcats to be more physical in conference play? I think there is an outside chance the Bearcats could be a Top 8 team, if everything falls into place.
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