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University of Houston Athletics
Women's Basketball Eyes Postseason in 2009-10
10/21/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Oct. 21, 2009
HOUSTON - Following a season in which they were without their head coach and playing a slew of freshmen, the Houston women's basketball program needed a core of players to step up and to have its coach back on the bench to return to the upper tier of the Conference USA standings. The Cougars got both of those things during the 2008-09 season in addition to setting the stage for this year, which should see them compete for the C-USA crown and a postseason berth.
Leading the effort will be head coach Joe Curl, who enters his 12th season at Houston after the previous two seasons being among the most eventful of his coaching career. An October heart attack forced him to miss the entire 2007-08, keeping him away from his young team and the game that he loved before returning to the court last season and etching him name into the program's record book. A 66-65 road win over East Carolina give Curl his 176th win at Houston, moving him past former UH coach Dot Woodfin as the program's all-time coaching wins leader. He will carry the momentum of that accomplishment, along with the milestone of his 300th career coaching win which he also earned a year ago, into this season.
Adding to the anticipation for the upcoming 2009-10 season is the fact that many of the young players Curl was forced to be away from two years ago enter this season as experienced veterans ready to improved upon last season's 19-10 mark. The team will also take aim at the top spot in C-USA after finished in a tie for second in C-USA with an 11-5 league record a year ago.
Players like Brittney Scott and Courtney Taylor, freshmen in 2007-08, have developed into lethal scoring threats who are among the best producers in the conference. Taylor could press for All-America honors this season as she returns after garnering First Team All-Conference accolades and averaging a double-double a year ago. Already this season, Taylor has been honored by being selected to the Conference USA Preseason Team.
 Junior Guard Brittney Scott should contend for All-Confernce honors after averaging 12.8 points per game a year ago.  | |
Overall, the Cougars return four starters and eight letterwinners from last season's squad and those around the program are excited by the amount of returning offensive firepower the returners bring back to the court. Highlighting the returning firepower is the fact that Houston will have 86.9 percent of its offensive production from last season back on the court in 2009-10.
On top of the eight returning letterwinners, four talented newcomers (Lesslee Mason, Zallika Dyson, Macy Morton and Megan Workman) will add depth and versatility to the Houston lineup. Among the group, Mason is the only non-freshman and will hit the court for the Cougars this season after spending last season as a redshirt following a transfer from Ohio State.
New faces on the coaching staff will add a different perspective and experience to Curl's message as Tari Cummings joins the staff after spending the previous two years as an assistant coach at the University of Cincinnati. Chad Rickett also assumes a new role as an assistant coach, but the Clear Lake, Texas, native is no stranger to the program, having served the last two seasons as the program's director of operations. Additionally, back for his fourth season at Houston is assistant coach Wade Scott, who also serves as the program's recruiting coordinator.
"Both of our new assistants fit in with our program like a glove. Tari brings an unbelievable amount of experience, coaching savvy and common sense. She will be a heck of an impact on our program and has already made a recruiting impact. We are thrilled and very blessed to have her here. Chad has slid over to a full-time assistant coach role and has been placed in charge of the Houston/Dallas recruiting area. He brings youth and a lot of energy and deserves the chance in this new role for a number of reasons, one of them being he has been so loyal to our program."
THE SCHEDULE
Houston's 2009-10 schedule particularly the non-conference slate presents a challenge for the Cougars, but for a team with postseason aspirations, it represents a chance to cut its teeth before jumping into conference play.
Overall, the upcoming slate features eight teams that made the postseason a year ago, including four NCAA teams (LSU, UCF, UTSA and TCU) and four that were a part of the Women's NIT field (Kansas, Oregon State, SMU and UT-Arlington).
"This is a challenging schedule that is probably equal to if not better than anybody else in our conference from a preseason standpoint," Curl said. "This will not only help us prepare for tough conference play but help us become a better basketball team as we shoot for the postseason."
 Head Coach Joe Curl enters his 12th season at Houston after becoming the program's all-time winningest coach last season. | |
UH will host the Houston Jaguars in exhibition action on Nov. 9 before kicking off its season on the road against Gardner-Webb in Boiling Spring, N.C.
A second straight contest away from the Bayou City awaits on Nov. 17 as UT-Arlington is on the slate for the Cougars before they open their home schedule on Nov. 19 by hosting Oregon State.
Four straight road contest round out UH's schedule in November, a month in which it only takes to the court once at Hofheinz Pavilion against six road tilts. LSU will be the opponent for the Cougars in Baton Rouge, La., on Nov. 21 before a flight east will take them to Miami to battle the Hurricanes. From Nov. 27-28 UH will venture to Fort Collins, Colo., to take part in the Coors Rocky Mountain Invitational hosted by Colorado State.
Houston will play four home contests in the month of December, beginning with a game against North Texas on Dec 5. Following a road trip to San Antonio, Texas, to face UTSA at the Alamodome, UH will host Princeton (Dec. 20) and Kansas (Dec. 22) before a trip south to face Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Dec. 28. Non-conference action will conclude on Dec. 31 as the Cougars will host TCU at Hofheinz Pavilion.
Just as it did a year ago, UH will open Conference USA with road trips to New Orleans to face Tulane on Jan. 8 and to El Paso, Texas, two days later to face UTEP. The two schools will return the trip to face the Cougars at Hofheinz Pavilion on the weekend of Feb 25-27.
ECU and Marshall will pay visits to Houston on Jan. 15 and Jan. 17, respectively, before the Cougars head to Alabama to battle UAB on Jan. 23.
The Tulsa Golden Hurricane is in town to face UH on Jan. 28 as the Cougars will be out for a measure of revenge against TU, which gave them one of their two home losses in 2008-09. SMU makes its one appearance of the season at Hofheinz on Jan. 30, a day where UH fans can catch double the hoops action as the UH men's team take the court after the women's game.
The Cougars travel to Tulsa on Feb. 12 before making the venture south to Dallas for face SMU in a Valentine's Day contest.
UH and crosstown rival Rice will renew acquaintances on Feb. 4 as the two squads meet up at the Owls' Tudor Fieldhouse. Rice will make the short drive to UH to conclude the regular season on March 4.
Road trips to C-USA East Division schools Southern Miss (Feb. 18) and defending C-USA Tournament champion UCF (Feb. 20) are also on the agenda for the Cougars in February.
The 2010 Conference USA Women's Basketball Championship will take place in March 10-13 at TU's Reynolds Center.
THE INSIDE GAME
Taylor returns after her All-Conference season a year ago and even more is expected this season of the junior from Crockett, Texas. In 2008-09 Taylor enjoyed a breakout season, averaging 16.6 points and 10.1 rebounds per contest while collecting 16 double-doubles, the second most in program single season history. She enters this year in fifth place on the UH all-time double-doubles list but trails leader Sancho Lyttle's 35 double-doubles from 2003-05, by just 10.
After sitting out last season following her transfer from Ohio State, junior Lesslee Mason will be counted on heavily this season to complement Taylor and senior Ashlee' Joseph. Mason is praised by Curl for her toughness around the basket but also for her touch.
 As the lone senior on this season's team, Ashlee' Joseph's leadership will be crucial as the Cougars gun for their fifth postseason appearance under Curl. | |
Joseph is the lone senior on this year roster and hopes to cap off a productive four-year career for the Cougars with a postseason run. The Houston native is often the first player off the UH bench and usually provides a spark for the Cougar lineup with her play.
Dyson is extremely effective on the defensive end and apt at blocking or altering opponent's shots. The rookie from Albuquerque, N.M., can contribute offensively but will be counted on more for her defensive presence early on as she adjusts to the level of competition.
ON THE PERIMETER
Houston returns all three of its perimeter starters from a season ago, beginning with sophomore point guard Porsche Landry. As a rookie last season, Landry started all but one game and became the spark plug of the UH offense with her lighting quickness, which made her both a threat to score (8.1 ppg) or distribute the ball (78 assists).
At the off-guard spot, Scott became a deadly scorer with her long-range jumpers that stretch beyond the 3-point arc. The Orange, Texas, native was the Cougars' second-leading scorer a year ago at 12.8 points per game.
Also on the wing, junior Brittany Mason developed into the team's shut down defender, whose exceptional athleticism makes her a strong rebounder that also can contribute offensively.
Sophomore Roxana Button made 13 starts for the Cougars last year and was a big scorer early in the season, earning C-USA Rookie of the Week honors twice and finishing with a 8.4 point per game average.
Junior Jasmine Johnson cracked the starting lineup six times a season ago and cut down in her turnovers from her freshman year to develop into a solid option at the point, where she will see action this season.
Another junior Megan Morton, played in 15 games a year ago off the Cougar bench but with outings like a 10-point showing at UTEP last season, has show that she can be a formidable option on the court.
Joining older sister Megan on the roster this season, freshman Macy Morton is a hard worker who will spell Landry and Johnson at the point position as she transitions to the college game.
Workman, another newcomer this season can play a variety of positions for the Cougars and impressed coaches with her versatility and toughness as she presses for playing time.
