University of Houston
0-9
Louisiana Tech
3-6
Slow Start Dooms Women's Basketball Against Louisiana Tech
12/7/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 7, 2011
Final Stats | Quotes | Box Score | Season Stats
HOUSTON - The University of Houston women's basketball team couldn't overcome a slow start against Louisiana Tech Wednesday night, falling to the Lady Techsters by a score of 79-53 at Hofheinz Pavilion.
The Cougars got off on the wrong foot, as senior guard Roxana Button picked up two early fouls in the opening four minutes and was forced to sit the rest of the first half.
Without its leading scorer, Houston struggled to create offense and went into the break down 36-20.
The Cougar defense was stingy early on, limiting the Lady Techsters (3-6) to just two points in the first five minutes. The score was tied 4-4 with 13:11 remaining in the opening half when Louisiana Tech found its rhythm, putting together a 19-4 run in just under four minutes.
Houston ended the half on a 6-2 run, capped off by a layup from Danielle Parks with five seconds remaining, and the Cougars continued that momentum into the second half, cutting the deficit down to 12 points with 17:03 left to play as Parks connected on her second 3-pointer of the half.
The Cougars would cut the Louisiana Tech lead down to 12 on two occasions early on in the second half, but the Lady Techsters continued to answer with big buckets to keep Houston at arms length.
Despite playing only 24 minutes, Button managed to score 12 second-half points, going a perfect 5-of-5 from the free-throw line while burying her 100th-career 3-pointer. Button extended her double-digit scoring streak to nine games.
Parks posted 12 points in 38 minutes of action, shooting 5-of-16 from the field, including a 2-of-6 mark from 3-point range.
Fellow freshman Tahlia Pope enjoyed a career night, posting 11 points and a team-leading nine rebounds in 35 minutes. Pope took over the role of Button in the first half, scoring nine points while bringing plenty of energy to the floor.
Sophomore center Mae Woods also put together a productive performance, scoring eight points off a 4-of-6 effort from the field to go with four boards in 22 minutes.
The Cougars were plagued by free-throw shooting, converting just 14 of 28 opportunities from the charity stripe, including an 8-of-18 mark in the final 20 minutes.
Houston shot 36 percent (18-of-50) from the field, while Louisiana Tech shot 48 percent (31-of-64) and knocked down eight 3-pointers on 22 attempts (36 percent).
The Cougars return to action against Houston Baptist at 2 p.m., Saturday afternoon at Hofheinz Pavilion.
