University of Houston Athletics
Cougars Face North Texas to Start Regular Season
11/11/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 11, 2014
Friday's game is the first official contest in the head coaching career of Houston's Ronald Hughey.
Smith nearly had a double-double, finishing with 12 points and nine assists. Terran Alford was also close to a double-double, with 10 points and eight rebounds.
SERIES HISTORY vs. NORTH TEXAS
SCOUTING THE MEAN GREEN
A NEW ERA FOR HOUSTON BASKETBALL
A vaunted recruiter, Hughey helped Florida State and Texas land four recruiting classes that were ranked in the top-15 nationally by ESPN Hoopgurlz.
VETERAN CLUB RETURNS FOR HOUSTON
Smith put up 5.2 points and drained exactly 1.0 three-pointers per game in 2013-14, which ranked 15th in the American. Fellow junior Jessieka Palmer pulled in 4.4 points and 1.6 rebounds per game last season and hit 21 three-pointers.
Juniors Bianca Winslow and Tyler Gilbert join sophomores Sanders and Taylor Gilbert on the active roster for Sunday's game.
COUGARS PICKED 11th IN AMERICAN PRESEASON POLL
Defending NCAA Division I National Champion Connecticut was picked to repeat at American champions. The Huskies received all 100 possible points after going 40-0 last season. USF, who made the Women's NIT last season, received the final 1st place vote.
UP NEXT FOR THE COUGARS
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STAY CONNECTED
GAME NOTES
HOUSTON - The University of Houston women's basketball squad looks to build off the momentum of an impressive exhibition victory when they open regular season play on Friday, November 14 against the University of North Texas. Tip time between the Cougars and the Mean Green is scheduled for 7 pm CT at The Super Pit in Denton.
Live video coverage is available at MeanGreenSports.com and an audio broadcast is available at UHCougars.com. Live Twitter updates can be accessed throughout the game by following the official UH women's basketball account, @UHCougarWBB.
HOUSTON - The University of Houston women's basketball squad looks to build off the momentum of an impressive exhibition victory when they open regular season play on Friday, November 14 against the University of North Texas. Tip time between the Cougars and the Mean Green is scheduled for 7 pm CT at The Super Pit in Denton.
Live video coverage is available at MeanGreenSports.com and an audio broadcast is available at UHCougars.com. Live Twitter updates can be accessed throughout the game by following the official UH women's basketball account, @UHCougarWBB.
Friday's game is the first official contest in the head coaching career of Houston's Ronald Hughey.
Houston routed Huston-Tillotson, 100-37, on November 9 in exhibition action. Mariah Mitchell and Alexia Sanders paced the Cougars with 13 points each, and the UH defense was outstanding. Houston held HTU to just 12 field goals and forced the Rams into 51 turnovers.
The 38 steals that Houston accumulated would have gone down as a Hofheinz Pavilion record had the contest been official. Sanders led the way with eight steals and Alecia Smith added five.
The 38 steals that Houston accumulated would have gone down as a Hofheinz Pavilion record had the contest been official. Sanders led the way with eight steals and Alecia Smith added five.
Smith nearly had a double-double, finishing with 12 points and nine assists. Terran Alford was also close to a double-double, with 10 points and eight rebounds.
SERIES HISTORY vs. NORTH TEXAS
Houston is 13-6 against the Mean Green and has won the last five meetings between the teams. UH has not dropped a game in the series since 1999.
The Cougars took last season's matchup, 66-61, on November 20, 2013 at Hofheinz. Marche' Amerson led Houston with 15 points and the defensive effort was strong, forcing 26 turnovers. | Box Score
The Cougars took last season's matchup, 66-61, on November 20, 2013 at Hofheinz. Marche' Amerson led Houston with 15 points and the defensive effort was strong, forcing 26 turnovers. | Box Score
SCOUTING THE MEAN GREEN
North Texas was 12-18 last season, with an 8-8 home record and a 6-10 mark in Conference USA games. Senior forward Briesha Wynn is UNT's top returner after averaging 11.3 points and 7.0 rebounds per game last season.
Sophomore forward Eboniey Jeter led North Texas with 26 points in a 75-74 overtime exhibition win over Southern Arkansas on November 6. The two squads traded the lead 12 times before the Mean Green opened overtime on a 5-0 run to take control for good.
Sophomore forward Eboniey Jeter led North Texas with 26 points in a 75-74 overtime exhibition win over Southern Arkansas on November 6. The two squads traded the lead 12 times before the Mean Green opened overtime on a 5-0 run to take control for good.
A NEW ERA FOR HOUSTON BASKETBALL
This is Hughey's first collegiate head coaching job. Prior to joining the Cougars, Hughey was a Division I collegiate assistant for 10 seasons, including stops at South Carolina State, South Carolina, UCF, Rutgers, Texas and Florida State.
Hughey is a veteran of seven postseason tournaments, including six visits to the NCAA Tournament and one appearance in the Women's NIT. At his last stop, Florida State, Hughey helped guide the Seminoles to the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament in both 2012-13 and 2013-14.
Hughey is a veteran of seven postseason tournaments, including six visits to the NCAA Tournament and one appearance in the Women's NIT. At his last stop, Florida State, Hughey helped guide the Seminoles to the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament in both 2012-13 and 2013-14.
A vaunted recruiter, Hughey helped Florida State and Texas land four recruiting classes that were ranked in the top-15 nationally by ESPN Hoopgurlz.
VETERAN CLUB RETURNS FOR HOUSTON
Hughey will have an experienced group to work with in 2014-15, as nine letterwinners and two starters are back from last season. Leading the charge among Houston's returners is Amerson. The Bryan native led the Cougars and ranked 18th in the American Athletic Conference with 10.4 points per game last season. Amerson scored in double-figures 15 times last season, and she led the club in scoring on 13 occasions.
Alford is the only fourth-year member of the UH roster. The Oklahoma City, Okla. product was a two-time Conference USA Freshman of the Week in 2011-12.
Alford is the only fourth-year member of the UH roster. The Oklahoma City, Okla. product was a two-time Conference USA Freshman of the Week in 2011-12.
Smith put up 5.2 points and drained exactly 1.0 three-pointers per game in 2013-14, which ranked 15th in the American. Fellow junior Jessieka Palmer pulled in 4.4 points and 1.6 rebounds per game last season and hit 21 three-pointers.
Juniors Bianca Winslow and Tyler Gilbert join sophomores Sanders and Taylor Gilbert on the active roster for Sunday's game.
COUGARS PICKED 11th IN AMERICAN PRESEASON POLL
Houston was selected 11th in the American Athletic Conference Preseason Women's Basketball Coaches' Poll, released at Media Day in New York City on October 30.
Said Hughey on UH's preseason ranking: "I embrace the challenge that comes with being picked 11th in our conference. Our program knows that building championships is a process, and we are looking forward to exceeding expectations this season."
Said Hughey on UH's preseason ranking: "I embrace the challenge that comes with being picked 11th in our conference. Our program knows that building championships is a process, and we are looking forward to exceeding expectations this season."
Defending NCAA Division I National Champion Connecticut was picked to repeat at American champions. The Huskies received all 100 possible points after going 40-0 last season. USF, who made the Women's NIT last season, received the final 1st place vote.
UP NEXT FOR THE COUGARS
Houston is back at Hofheinz on Monday, November 17 when they host Incarnate Word in the regular season home opener. Tipoff is booked for 7 pm CT and tickets are available. | Tickets
--UHCougars.com--
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive daily information and in-game updates by following @UHCougarWBB on Twitter. Fans can also catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at facebook.com/UHCougarWBB
BUY SEASON TICKETS
BUY SEASON TICKETS
Fans can take the first step toward the 2014-15 Houston Women's Basketball season by placing deposits with the Athletics Ticket Office at UHCougars.com or by clicking here. The deposit is not a fee and will go toward the cost of season tickets.
Under Hughey's leadership, the Cougars will play 11 contests against teams who qualified for NCAA postseason play a year ago with eight of those against American Athletic Conference rivals.
To purchase tickets in person, fans can visit the Athletics Ticket Stadium Office located on the northeast corner of TDECU Stadium, just outside of Gate 1 off Cullen Boulevard. Parking is available in the TDECU Stadium parking garage with the first 30 minutes free of charge. Regular business hours are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m., to 5:30 p.m.
All UH main campus students are admitted FREE to regular season Women's Basketball home games with a valid student ID.
Under Hughey's leadership, the Cougars will play 11 contests against teams who qualified for NCAA postseason play a year ago with eight of those against American Athletic Conference rivals.
To purchase tickets in person, fans can visit the Athletics Ticket Stadium Office located on the northeast corner of TDECU Stadium, just outside of Gate 1 off Cullen Boulevard. Parking is available in the TDECU Stadium parking garage with the first 30 minutes free of charge. Regular business hours are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m., to 5:30 p.m.
All UH main campus students are admitted FREE to regular season Women's Basketball home games with a valid student ID.
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