University of Houston Athletics
Women's Basketball Looks For Season Sweep Over Rice
1/19/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 19, 2007
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GAME 16
Houston (5-10, 2-3 C-USA) at Rice (9-9, 2-3 C-USA)
Sun. Jan. 21 • 3 p.m. CST • Autry Court • Houston, Texas
Television: ESPN2. Bob Wischusen (play-by-play) and Nancy Lieberman (analyst) will call the action for the 3 p.m. CST tipoff.
Radio: Houston ISP Sports Network Internet Broadcast on UHCougars.com. Jeremy Branham (play-by-play) calls the game.
Live Stats: www.RiceOwls.com
Houston Coach Joe Curl (Wayne State `78):
In his ninth season at the helm of the Cougars' program ... has a mark of 138-117 with Houston and a career coaching record of 276-238 in 17 years ... his program has made two NCAA Tournament appearances in the past three years ... named National Coach of the Year by the Associated Press, USBWA, ESPN.com and Basketball Times in 2004.
Rice Coach Greg Williams (Rice `70):
In his second season at Rice and his 13th season as a collegiate head coach (228-157) ... spent five years (1985-90) as UH's head coach ... led the Cougars to an upset of third-ranked Louisiana Tech 12/9/85) and UH's first-ever NCAA Tournament slot following a 22-7 season in 1987-88.
Last Meeting: UH knocked off Rice 91-86 in overtime at home on Jan. 2. Houston has won four of the past five meetings and leads the series 39-6.
Cougars Journey To Autry Court Sunday ...
• The University of Houston women's basketball team looks for its second-straight season sweep over the Rice Owls, returning to action following its second 11-day layoff of the season, Sunday at Autry Court.
• UH sits at 5-10, 2-3 in Conference USA play. Rice is 9-9 and 2-3. UH has dominated the all-time series, leading 39-6.
• Houston snapped a two-game slide with an 82-77 win over East Carolina on Jan. 10. Prior to that, UH lost on the road to Tulane (83-61) and UTEP (87-70).
• UH has struggled away from Hofheinz Pavilion this season, averaging just 50.0 ppg and shooting 31%. At home, the Cougars average 73.2 ppg and shoot 37.1%. Despite being even on the rebounding margin this season, UH has been out-boarded on the road by a 378-308 margin.
• The Cougars probable starting five is: Alona Obaze (5-5/G), Tye Jackson (5-10/G), Whitney James (5-11/F), Sunshine Misa-Uli (5-11/F) and Maya Onikute (5-5/G).
• Jackson (20.3 ppg) is UH's leading scorer. She has hit for 20-or more points in each of the last four games, including a season-best 31-point effort against East Carolina (Jan. 10).
• James has stepped up her play in the last five games, averaging 15.2 ppg and 8.0 rpg. She had her first career double double against East Carolina on Jan. 10.
• Rice will likely counter with Kadie Riverin (5-9/G), Samantha Stovall (6-0/F), Valeria Berezhynska (6-4/C), Lauren Neaves (6-2/F) and Krystal Frazier (5-8/G).
• Neaves (15.1 ppg/9.9 rpg), the team's leading scorer and rebounder, missed four games including the Jan. 2 against the Cougars with an injury. She returned to action this past weekend. Berezhynska (12.4 ppg) and Riverin (10.3 ppg) also average in double digits.
Streaks, Storylines & Sidebars ...
• With UH's 91-86 overtime win over Rice (Jan. 2), UH head coach Joe Curl earned career win number 275. He ranks fourth among active C-USA coaches with his win total.
• The Cougars snapped a season-opening, six-game losing skid with a 78-66 win over Cal State Bakersfield on Dec. 6. The streak was the longest slide to open a season in school history They have won three of their past five games.
• After opening the season with six-straight poor-shooting performances, UH has shown some shooting life of late, firing at a 39.3 clip in the past five games. UH's season-best effort of 50 percent, came in the Jan. 7 outing at UTEP (25-50).
• Houston turned the ball over a season-low eight times against Rice (Jan. 2). It was the 12th time in school history the Cougars have had single digit turnovers. The school record of five turnovers was set against Rice on Feb. 3, 2006.
• Tye Jackson, named to the Naismith Trophy watch list earlier this season, returned to game action on Dec. 6, just 20 days after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery. In six games, she has averaged 20.3 ppg and 6.6 rpg.
• The Cougars were the last team in C-USA to have a player score 20-or more points in a game. Ryan Meyers finished with a career-best 22 against Cal State Bakersfield (Dec. 6).
• As a team, UH has shown the most improvement on the rebounding glass. Despite being outscored 1,036-853 by its opponents, UH sits at 0.0 on the rebounding margin chart, averaging 43.6 rebounds per game.
• UH has outrebounded its opponents on the offensive boards in nine of 12 games this year. The Cougars hold a 221-187 offensive rebounding edge this year and lead C-USA, pulling down 18.21 offensive rebounds per game
