Houston Battles Islanders on Friday Night
11/19/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
HOUSTON GAME NOTES | TEXAS A&M-CORPUS CHRISTI GAME NOTES | AMERICAN GAME NOTES
HOUSTON - The University of Houston women's basketball team continues their 2014-15 campaign on Friday, November 21 when they face Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Game time at the Dugan Wellness Center in Corpus Christi is scheduled for 7 pm CT.
| HOUSTON COUGARS (1-1 • 0-0 American) at TEXAS A&M-CC ISLANDERS (0-1 • 0-0 SLC) | |
|---|---|
| Tickets | BUY Tickets • Tickets Info |
| Questions? | Fan Guide |
| Time | 7 pm CT |
| Location | Dugan Wellness Center (1,000) • Corpus Christi |
| Video | GoIslanders.com |
| Radio | UHCougars.com Jeremy Branham, PxP |
| Live Stats | Live Stats |
| Series History | • Houston leads, 5-1 |
| Game Notes | • Houston Notes • AMCC Notes • The American Notes |
| Social Media |   |
Live video coverage is available through Texas A&M-Corpus Christi's official athletics site, GoIslanders.com, and an audio broadcast is available at Houston's Stretch Internet Portal. Live Twitter updates can be accessed throughout the game by following the official UH women's basketball account, @UHCougarWBB.
LAST TIME OUT | Final Stats Houston rallied from a 12-point second half deficit but fell in the final seconds to Incarnate Word, 50-48, on Monday night at Hofheinz Pavilion. The loss dropped the Cougars to 1-1 on the season.
Alecia Smith knocked down four three-pointers and led the Cougars with 16 points, while Jessieka Palmer crashed the glass to the tune of 12 points and a career-best eight rebounds.
Bianca Winslow also set a career high, with five assists, and Terran Alford matched personal bests with three blocks and three steals.
The Cougars were down, 38-26, with 15:33 remaining before staging their comeback. Palmer scored on a perfectly-executed inbounds play to tie the game at 48-all with :07 left. But the Cardinals beat UH down the floor and UIW's Shanise Brooks was fouled on a layup attempt. Brooks hit a pair of free throws with :02 left, and Houston's half court heave at the buzzer was off the mark to end the game.
SMITH LEADS HOUSTON'S OFFENSIVE CHARGE
Junior Alecia Smith has established herself as Houston's top offensive option through the first week of the season. After two games, the junior leads UH with 13.0 points per game.
Smith is the lone Cougar to score in double-digits in both the North Texas and Incarnate Word games.
Smith drained four three-pointers in the UIW game and scored a team-best 16 points. Her 3.0 made three-pointers per game rank 7th-best in The American through November 18.
SERIES HISTORY vs. TEXAS A&M-CORPUS CHRISTI
Houston is 5-1 all-time against the Islanders, and won the last meeting between the two teams, 72-62, on December 5, 2010. Brittney Scott led the Cougars with 29 points in the win. | Final Stats SCOUTING THE ISLANDERS
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi was tripped up by UNLV, 74-66, on November 14 in Las Vegas. The Rebels hit 9-of-19 three-pointers to build an 18-point halftime lead and cruise to the victory. Shay Weaver came off the bench to lead the Islanders with 20 points, and Olivia Fouty was 8-for-10 from the field and scored 17 points. | Final Stats
The Islanders posted an 18-12 (11-7 Southland Conference) record last season after winning just three games in 2012-13.
HOUSTON STARTS HUGHEY ERA WITH 46-42 WIN OVER NORTH TEXAS | Final Stats The Cougars clamped down defensively to defeat North Texas in their 2014-15 regular season opener, 46-42, on November 14 at The Super Pit. The win gives head coach Ronald Hughey a victory in his first official game as head coach.
Houston won the game on the strength of a massive defensive effort. The Cougars held North Texas to 27.1% shooting and forced 22 turnovers. The Cougars also dominated the glass, outrebounding the Mean Green by a 48-32 margin.
Smith and Tyler Gilbert were the top offensive performers against North Texas, each scoring 10 points. Smith carried Houston through the first half, scoring all of her points before the break. Gilbert, meanwhile scored eight of her 10 points in the second period.
Palmer helped the Houston cause with an all-around effort. The junior chipped in three points, seven rebounds and a career-high four assists.
COUGARS DOMINATE HUSTON-TILLOTSON IN EXHIBITION WIN | Final Stats Houston routed Huston-Tillotson, 100-37, on November 9 in their lone exhibition game. The Cougars forced 51 turnovers and collected 38 steals with another suffocating defensive effort.
Smith and Mariah Mitchell led Houston with 13 points apiece.
All 11 Cougars who played in the game finished with at least four points and two steals.
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."
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 will take part in the San Juan Shootout on Thanksgiving weekend in San Juan, P.R. The Cougars will face Idaho State on Friday, November 28 before tangling with 2014 NCAA Tournament participant James Madison on Saturday, November 29. Both games start at 4 pm CT.
The next home game for Houston is set for December 3, when they welcome crosstown rival Rice to Hofheinz Pavilion. | 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
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.
