University of Houston
-69 (01 CUSA)
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UTEP
-102 (10 CUSA)
Women's Basketball Drops Conference Opener 79-61 To UTEP
1/4/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 4, 2008
HOUSTON - The University of Houston women's basketball team opened up Conference USA play with a 79-61 loss to UTEP Friday on Guy V. Lewis Court at Hofheinz Pavilion.
Houston (6-9, 0-1 C-USA) turned it over 21 times and was only 4-for-19 (.211) from behind the three-point line. UTEP (10-2, 1-0 C-USA) converted those giveaways into 29 points and used a mid-second half run to seal its sixth-straight win.
After trailing by one a the half, the Cougars went down seven in the first four minutes of the second half before pulling back to within three, 43-40, with 14:52 remaining.
The Miners closed the door with a 22-10 run over the next 8:13 to lead 65-50 with 6:39 left. UH never got the margin under 13 and tallied only five field goals in the last 10 minutes of the game.
UTEP has won three in-a-row and four of the last five in the all-time series, dating back to Feb. 12, 2006.
The Miners won the battle in the paint 42-36 despite playing with a small lineup most of the evening. Izabela Piekarska, UTEP's 6-5 center, was limited to only 15 minutes to due foul trouble. The Cougars failed to take advantage at the free-throw line, shooting only 50 percent (7-for-14).
UTEP's Natasha Lacy nearly had a triple-double, finishing with a game-high 19 points, nine assists and eight rebounds.
Jareica Hughes and Kasia Krezel each finished with 18 points. Hughes added five steals and four assists.
Twiggy McIntyre (Sapulpa, Okla./Sapulpa HS/Kansas State) finished with a team-high 18 points, 15 of which came in the second half.
Courtney Taylor (Crockett, Texas/Crockett HS) also found double digits, earning her third-career double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
Tye Jackson (Houston, Texas/Westfield HS/Purdue) struggled to a career-low two points on a 1-for-9 shooting night along with six turnovers.
The Cougars trailed by seven twice in the opening half, but were able to close the gap to 31-30 at the break. With 8:58 left in the opening stanza, UTEP led 21-14 before a layup by Meyers started a 16-10 UH run to close the half.
The Cougars tied it up at 28-28 with 3:56 to go, but tallied only one bucket in the final three-plus minutes. The Miners converted 11 UH giveaways into 20 points and also scored eight on the fast break. Hughes and Krezel both hit for 11 in the opening half.
Houston continues C-USA play Sunday at Hofheinz Pavilion against Tulane at 3 p.m. CST.
Sunday's game will be televised nationally by ESPN2. Former Tennessee standout Kara Lawson will call the action along with analyst Jimmy Dykes.
Fans can listen to a free internet radio broadcast of all UH games this year by clicking on the Stretch Internet Broadcast link at UHCougars.com. Streaming video for all home games will also be made available through the All-Access package at UHCougars.com.
