The five-set match marks BYU’s ninth of the season, with the Cougars (16-9, 9-6 Big 12) now 2-7 in those matches.

The Cougars hit at a percentage of .236 to the Bearcats’ .226. BYU recorded 65 kills, 56 digs, 15 blocks and six service aces.

Claire Little led BYU with 19 kills on a career-high 58 attacks. The outside hitter also recorded 11 digs for her fifth double-double of the season.

Brielle Kemavor and Kate Prior also tallied double-digit kills with 14 and 10, respectively. Mia Lee hit at a match-high .556, earning six kills on nine attempts.

Kemavor led the Cougars defensively with 11 blocks, one off of her single-match career high. With her third double-double of the season, she tied Rachel Dyer (2007) for the most double-doubles by a middle blocker in the rally scoring era at BYU.

Setter Alex Bower recorded 49 assists and libero Lulu Uluave had 16 digs.

Trailing two sets to one, BYU won the fourth set handily 25-17 to push the match to a fifth set.

The Bearcats scored the first two points of Set 5 on back-to-back kills. BYU then scored the next three points to take the lead on a Little kill. The score was knotted at three apiece before Kemavor and Bower paired up for a block to end the game’s longest rally and regain the lead at 4-3.

BYU reached eight points first on a Little kill from the back row. The teams switched sides as the Cougars led 8-6. The Bearcats scored two in a row to come within one point and BYU called time out ahead 11-10.

Cincinnati scored two more to knot the game at 12 and the Cougars used their second timeout of the set. Three straight points by the Bearcats earned them the victory, 15-12.

BYU will host West Virginia on Saturday, Nov. 23 in its final home game of Big 12 Conference play. The Cougars and Mountaineers are set to face off at 1 p.m. MST with streaming on ESPN+.