Women's Basketball Tips Off its 2008-09 Season Friday
11/13/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 13, 2008
HOUSTON - Welcoming back a coach who missed all of last season for health reasons and featuring a young but talented roster which features only one three returning upperclassmen, the University of Houston women's basketball team will tip off the 2008-09 season Friday as it hosts Southeastern Louisiana in a 5:30 p.m. contest at Hofheinz Pavilion.
After defeating the Houston Jaguars, 70-61, in exhibition action Monday, the Southeastern Louisiana contest will be the first official contest back on the Cougar sideline for UH head coach Joe Curl, who missed all of last season following a heart attack. Curl enters his 11th season with the program and has a career record of 295-242, including a 157-142 mark as the Cougars' court general. Additionally, his 157 wins rank second in program history to Dot Woodfin, who compiled 175 wins from 176-85.
The young Cougars will be led this season by a pair of sophomores who enjoyed breakout campaigns a year ago en route to being honored as Conference USA All-Freshman Team performers. Forward Courtney Taylor led the Cougars in rebounding last season with at 8.6 per contest while scoring an average of 10.1 points per game and registering a team-high nine double-doubles. Classmate Cobilyn Hill, who along with Taylor enjoyed double-double night in the exhibition win over the Jaguars, is coming off a 7.9 point and 5.4 rebound per game season as a freshman in 2007-08. Hill was also a force defensively, ranking fourth in C-USA with an average of 2.2 blocked shots per game.
In addition to the two returning honorees from the sophomore class, the Cougars are hoping to get leadership and solid minutes from senior Zane Jakobsone and juniors Ashlee' Joseph and Ryan Bradley. UH is also depending on contributions from several other younger players including key members of the sophomore class, such as guards Brittney Scott and Jasmine Johnson, and freshmen Roxana Button and Porsche Landry, who each tallied double-figure scoring during the team's exhibition.
Southeastern Louisiana returns eight letterwinners from last season's team which finished 12-17 overall. The Cougars lead the all-time series with the Lady Lions 5-0, but the two teams have not met on the hardwood since 1999.
Friday's contest is the opening act of a busy opening weekend for UH as the Cougars will have a quick turnaround before their second game in which they host Gardner Webb in a Noon contest at Hofheinz Pavilion on Saturday.
