University of Houston Athletics
Women's Basketball Opens Season Sunday Against UT Arlington
11/13/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 13, 2010
GAME #1 • HOUSTON (0-0) vs. UT ARLINGTON (0-1)
HOUSTON NOTES
GAME DAY INFORMATION
Sunday, Nov. 14, 2010 | 5 p.m. | Houston, Texas | Hofheinz Pavilion (8,479)
Radio: Houston ISP Sports Network online broadcast powered by Stretch Internet
Jeremy Branham (play-by-play)
Internet: UHCougars.com (, Listen Live)
Series Record: UH leads, 8-0 | Last Meeting: Nov. 17, 2009 (W, 78-74)
HOUSTON - The University of Houston women's basketball program begins a new era under the leadership of first-year head coach Todd Buchanan as the Cougars play host to UT Arlington at 5:00 p.m., Sunday, at Hofheinz Pavilion.
The Cougars return a rare amount of experience this season with all five starters back and nine of last year's 10 letterwinners, who earned a berth in the WNIT. The roster features six seniors and nine total upperclassmen, while five newcomers also join the mix. The six seniors combine for 479 games played and 232 starts.
Houston is led by seniors Brittney Scott and Courtney Taylor, who both earned Preseason All-Conference USA honors. Scott paced the Cougars a year ago with 17.3 points per game, while Taylor, the C-USA Preseason Player of the Year, averaged a double-double with 15.1 points and 10.0 rebounds per contest. Both Cougars belong to the 1000-point club, marking the first time since the 1985-86 season that Houston has had two 1000-point scorers return to the starting lineup.
LAST TIME OUT
The Cougars hosted Huston-TIllotson in their lone exhibition contest on Tuesday, rolling to a 134-65 victory. Eight Cougars scored in double figures and all 11 players that took the court scored at least one point.
Houston swarmed the Rams with its new-up tempo style of play, forcing 30 turnovers on 25 steals. The Cougars scored 56 points off turnovers and outscored Huston-Tillotson 24-0 in fastbreak points.
Junior guard Porsche Landry paced the Cougars with 27 points in only 24 minutes of play, while adding eight assists and five steals. Seniors Brittney Scott and Lesslee Mason chipped in 19 points apiece in 21 minutes, while Courtney Taylor (14 points, 10 rebounds) and Roxana Button (10 points, 10 assists) each recorded double-doubles.
Allie Henderson, Breana Williams and Mae Woods all saw their first collegiate action, combining for 19 points in 47 minutes of action.
ABOUT UT ARLINGTON
The Mavericks return two starters and six letterwinners from last year's squad that went 15-16 overall and 9-7 in Southland Conference play. Senior Tamara Simmons ranked second on the squad a year ago with 13.2 points per game, while leading UTA with 60 made 3-pointers on 150 attempts (.400). Fellow senior Shalyn Martin tallied 12.4 points per contest and led the Mavs with 8.5 rebounds per game.
UTA opened the season Friday on the road at Oral Roberts, suffering a 110-58 defeat. Martin led the team with 14 points and a game-high nine boards, while Simmons added 13 points and six assists. The Mavericks turned the ball over 35 times and shot 37 percent (19-of-51) from the field, while ORU shot 51 percent (44-of-87) from the field.
SERIES HISTORY
The Cougars have won all eight contests against the Mavericks dating back to the first meeting on March 4, 1976. Houston edged UT Arlington on the road last season by a score of 78-74 when Courtney Taylor and Brittney Scott combined for 52 points.
UP NEXT
The Cougars embark on a four-game road tilt following Sunday's contest at New Mexico State (Nov. 20), Louisiana Tech (Nov. 23), Oral Roberts (Nov. 27) and TCU (Dec. 2).
SEASON TICKETS
Women's basketball season tickets can be purchased starting at only $75. These general admission season tickets are part of a Flex Plan. Fans can use one ticket per game, invite 11 friends to come out to a single game or any combination in between.
Fans have several options when ordering their basketball tickets. They can visit the Athletics Ticket Office, located on the first floor of the Athletics/Alumni Center near the UH Fan Shop, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Fans also can call 713-GO-COOGS (462-6647) or click the Tickets link at UHCougars.com to buy tickets today.
