University of Houston
8-4
Oral Roberts
10-2
Houston Stunned 64-62 By Oral Roberts' Buzzer-Beater
1/7/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 7, 2003
Tulsa, Okla. - Freshman guard Leah Cannon hit a jumper as the clock expired to give Oral Roberts the 64-62 win over the University of Houston women's basketball team Tuesday night at the Maybee Center in Tulsa. All-American guard Chandi Jones led the Lady Cougars (8-4, 0-0 C-USA) with her fourth double-double of the year, adding 21 points and 10 rebounds in the loss.
In addition to her double-double, Jones' defense effort included six steals and two blocked shots. Jones, whose 320 points ranks her first in Conference USA and second in the nation in scoring (26.7 ppg), was the only Lady Cougar to score in double figures. Lashinda Winters added a career- and game-high nine assists and five steals in the loss.
Oral Roberts was led by Stephanie Clark, who had a double-double of her own, shooting 5-10 from the floor and 2-2 from the charity stripe for 12 points and 11 boards in 28 minutes of play. April Garcia poured in four three-pointers and was also perfect from the free throw line for 16 points while Cannon added 10 assists and 10 points - including the game winner - in the Golden Eagles' victory.
The Golden Eagles held the Lady Cougars to only 30 points in the first half, forcing nine turnovers and pulling down 24 rebounds. The teams exchanged leads six times with ORU leading by as many as five until the final seconds of the half. Angela Curl hit a three-pointer with 14 seconds on the clock to give Houston the 30-29 lead at halftime. Coming into tonight's contest, Houston was 6-0 when leading at the half.
ORU opened the second half with a couple of treys and the teams traded baskets for the next four minutes. The Golden Eagles then jumped to a seven-point lead (their largest) on three straight treys but the Lady Cougars battled back to tie the game 62-62 with only 46 seconds remaining. ORU kept possession of the ball and the possibility of overtime lingered until Cannon launched a jumper in the paint as the buzzer sounded to give the Golden Eagles the 64-62 win.
ORU (10-2, 0-0 Mid-Con) outrebounded Houston 46-33 but committed 25 turnovers in the contest. The Lady Cougars posted 18 steals and seven blocked shots in the loss. The Golden Eagles, who are 1-2 against Houston, are off to its best start in 20 years.
Houston will open C-USA play Sunday (Jan. 12) as it hosts TCU at Hofheinz Pavilion. The Lady Cougars were defeated twice last season by the Horned Frogs, who are 0-4 on the road this season. The showdown will tip off at 2 p.m. and will air on Houston's Channel 51 via tape delay Sunday at 6 p.m.
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