University of Houston Athletics
Lady Cougars Tip Off Season with Exhibition Win
11/5/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 5, 2001
The University of Houston women's basketball team defeated the Houston Jaguars in the first of two exhibition games before the start of the regular season by a final of 80-73 on Monday night at Hofheinz Pavilion.
Leading the way for the Lady Cougars was sophomore Chandi Jones, the Conference USA Freshman of the Year in 2000-01, who hit eight of her 12 field goal attempts and went 5-for-9 in free throw attempts for 21 total points. It was Jones' first time on the court since suffering a torn ACL last January.
In addition to Jones, three other Lady Cougars also reached double figures in points, including freshman newcomers Kiemona Harris (14) and Shondra Bush (14) and sophomore newcomer Courtney Pastner (13), who had to sit out last season following her transfer from Texas Tech.
Houston entered half-time with a 35-34 lead, and both teams went back and forth for much of the second half. The Jaguars tied the score at 70-70 with just 2:08 to play when the Lady Cougars went on to score 10 more points in the closing minutes. Freshman newcomer Shondra Bush got the rally started to put Houston up, 72-70, then sophomores Nicole Oliver and Pastner each nailed both of their free throw shots and Pastner added another jumper and layup to put the Lady Cougars up, 80-70.
Jones and Oliver each had a team-leading eight rebounds, and Jones added a team-high seven assists in her season debut. Freshman Ashley Cotton registered two blocks.
Houston will play host to a second exhibition game against the Houston Flight on Monday, November 12, at Hofheinz at 7:00 pm before opening the 2001-02 regular season at home against Texas-San Antonio on Sunday, November 18. Tip-off against UTSA is scheduled for 7:00 pm.
Houston is a perfect 14-0 lifetime against the UTSA Roadrunners, including 7-0 on their home court.
