University of Houston Athletics
Houston Opens Hughey Era with Sunday Exhibition
11/6/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 6, 2014
Sunday's game will not count toward UH's official record for the 2014-15 season.
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
Juniors Bianca Winslow and Tyler Gilbert join sophomores Alexia Sanders and Taylor Gilbert on the active roster for Sunday's game.
2013-14 SEASON-IN REVIEW
Amerson scored a career-best 24 points in the AAC Tournament win over Memphis. The postseason victory was the first for the Cougars since the 2011 Conference USA Tournament.
Houston played six games against ranked opponents, including two meetings with eventual National Champion UConn.
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.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
--UHCougars.com--
STAY CONNECTED
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.
GAME NOTES
HOUSTON - The University of Houston officially begins the Ronald Hughey Era on Sunday, November 9, when they host Huston-Tillotson University in exhibition action. Tip time at Hofheinz Pavilion is scheduled for 4 pm CT, and admission is free for the season-opening contest.
Live video coverage is available for subscribers, and live Twitter updates will run throughout the game by following the official UH women's basketball account, @UHCougarWBB.
HOUSTON - The University of Houston officially begins the Ronald Hughey Era on Sunday, November 9, when they host Huston-Tillotson University in exhibition action. Tip time at Hofheinz Pavilion is scheduled for 4 pm CT, and admission is free for the season-opening contest.
Live video coverage is available for subscribers, and live Twitter updates will run throughout the game by following the official UH women's basketball account, @UHCougarWBB.
Sunday's game will not count toward UH's official record for the 2014-15 season.
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 junior forward Marche' 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.
The only fourth-year member of the UH roster is forward Terran Alford. The Oklahoma City, Okla. product was a two-time Conference USA Freshman of the Week in 2011-12.
Junior Alecia Smith put up 5.2 points per game 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.
The only fourth-year member of the UH roster is forward Terran Alford. The Oklahoma City, Okla. product was a two-time Conference USA Freshman of the Week in 2011-12.
Junior Alecia Smith put up 5.2 points per game 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 Alexia Sanders and Taylor Gilbert on the active roster for Sunday's game.
2013-14 SEASON-IN REVIEW
Houston posted a 6-25 record last season, including a 1-17 regular season mark in their first year of American Athletic Conference membership. The Cougars were victorious in their first-ever American Tournament game, a 73-67 victory over Memphis on March 7, 2014.
Houston's first-ever American Athletic Conference victory came on February 8, 2014, a 48-39 win at Cincinnati. Amerson scored a team-high 11 points, while Cincinnati shot just 27.7% from the field. The 39 points was the lowest mark by a UH opponent since 2009.
Houston's first-ever American Athletic Conference victory came on February 8, 2014, a 48-39 win at Cincinnati. Amerson scored a team-high 11 points, while Cincinnati shot just 27.7% from the field. The 39 points was the lowest mark by a UH opponent since 2009.
Amerson scored a career-best 24 points in the AAC Tournament win over Memphis. The postseason victory was the first for the Cougars since the 2011 Conference USA Tournament.
Houston played six games against ranked opponents, including two meetings with eventual National Champion UConn.
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.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
Huston-Tillotson, an NAIA Division I member, posted a 15-16 record last season, including a 10-8 record in the Red River Athletic Conference.
UP NEXT FOR THE COUGARS
UP NEXT FOR THE COUGARS
Houston opens regular season play on Friday, November 14 against North Texas. Tipoff at The Super Pit in Denton is scheduled for 7 pm CT.
The 2014-15 home opener is scheduled for Monday, November 17, a 7 pm CT tipoff against Incarnate Word.
The 2014-15 home opener is scheduled for Monday, November 17, a 7 pm CT tipoff against Incarnate Word.
--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.
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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