Cougars Host UCF in American Opener
12/23/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
| HOUSTON (5-6 • 0-0 American) vs. UCF (4-7 • 0-0 American) | |
|---|---|
| Tickets | BUY Tickets • Tickets Info |
| Questions? | Fan Guide |
| Time | 2 pm CT |
| Location | Hofheinz Pavilion (8,479) • Houston |
| Video | American Digital Network |
| Radio | UHCougars.com Jeremy Branham, PxP |
| Live Stats | |
| Series History | • UCF leads, 7-5 |
| Game Notes | • Houston Notes • UCF Notes • The American Notes |
| Social Media |   |
HOUSTON - The University of Houston women's basketball team opens American Athletic Conference play on Saturday, December 27, when they host UCF. Tipoff at Hofheinz Pavilion is scheduled for 2 pm CT, and tickets start at just $8. | TICKETS
Live video coverage of Saturday's game is available through the American Digital Network. A free live audio broadcast is available through Houston's Stretch Internet Portal, with Jeremy Branham on the play-by-play call. Live Twitter updates can be accessed throughout the game by following the official UH women's basketball account, @UHCougarWBB.
Houston is 5-6 overall after taking two of three games at the Athletes in Action Classic from December 19-21 in Lubbock, Texas. UCF sports a 4-7 record and fell in their last game, 79-57, on December 20 at Middle Tennessee.
This is the second straight season that Houston and UCF will open American play at Hofheinz Pavilion.
SHASTA'S KIDS DAY
The Cougars will host Shasta's Kids Day on Saturday in conjunction with the UCF game. All kids ages 13 & under will receive a free pom pom, schedule poster and autograph card, and the Cougars will sign autographs on the Hofheinz concourse after the game.
Kids Club members will also receive a free drawstring backpack and will form a tunnel to welcome the Cougars back to the court at the start of the second half. Finally, Cougar mascots Shasta and Sasha will take pictures with young fans throughout the game.
 | LAST WEEK |
DECEMBER 21 - TEXAS TECH 60, HOUSTON 54 | Final Stats The Cougars led for a large portion of the first half and fought Texas Tech for a full 40 minutes in a 60-54 loss on December 21 to end the Athletes in Action Classic in Lubbock. Bianca Winslow led Houston with a career-high 12 points.
Houston held the Red Raiders to 37.3% shooting and forced the home team into 16 turnovers. Alexia Sanders added 10 points and Alecia Smith led Houston with seven rebounds and five assists.
Sanders was Houston's top scorer at the event, with 8.7 points per game, while Smith led all players in Lubbock with 13 assists in three games.
DECEMBER 20 - HOUSTON 65, NICHOLLS 47 | Final Stats | Photo Gallery Houston's most lopsided victory of the season came in the middle game of the Athletes in Action Classic, a 65-47 victory over Nicholls State. Mariah Mitchell came off the bench and paced the Cougars with 15 points, a career high.
The Cougars were ahead for the entire second half and at one point held a 26-point lead, their largest of the season. Houston also set a season high with an 18-0 run midway through the second half.
Eleven different Cougars scored in the victory, and no player logged more than 22 minutes of court time.
DECEMBER 19 - HOUSTON 56, UTSA 53 | Final Stats Houston showed incredible poise down the stretch to beat UTSA, 56-53, in their Athletes in Action Classic opener. Smith scored 15 points to lead the Cougars, and Sanders fought through foul trouble to score 14, a career high.
The Cougars again led for the entire second half, though the outcome was in doubt until the final buzzer. Sanders pushed the lead to 56-53 by hitting two free throws with seven seconds remaining, and UTSA missed a three-pointer on the final possession of the game.
UTSA shot just 31.9% as the Cougar defense again blazed the trail to victory.
| COUGAR DUO HONORED FOR STRONG EFFORT |
Mitchell and junior Marche' Amerson were named to the Athletes in Action Classic All-Tournament Team for their play over the three games. Mitchell led Houston with 15 points in the Nicholls win, while Amerson scored 11 points against UTSA and 10 against the Colonels.
Mitchell was also honored with a spot on the American Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Weekly Honor Roll for her strong week. The freshman is the second Cougar to be honored by The American this season, following Jessieka Palmer.
| BALANCE IS THE NAME OF THE GAME FOR HOUSTON |
Through 11 games, the Cougars are among the most balanced clubs in the country. Only one player, Palmer, averages more than 10 points per game, while five players are averaging 6.8 points per game or better.
The multi-faceted scoring attack has been a major factor over the last six games, as six different Cougars have paced the team in points over that stretch.
The rebounding category has also been balanced for Houston, as seven different Cougars average between 2.5 and 4.9 boards per game. Palmer again leads the team, averaging 4.9 per night.
Six different Houston players have led the team in rebounding at least once this season, with Smith being the latest to top the category with seven rebounds in the Texas Tech game on December 21.
| JUNIOR CLASS LEADS RESURGENT SEASON |
New head coach Ronald Hughey is already making a profound difference on the Houston program, as the Cougars earned their fifth victory of the season on December 20 in their tenth contest. Last year, Houston did not earn their fifth win until their 23rd game, on February 8.
With the 65-47 win over Nicholls on December 20, Houston improved to 5-5. The Cougars had not been .500 or better through 10 or more games since 2010-11.
The junior class is a big part of the turnaround, with Palmer leading the way. The junior paces Houston with 10.2 points and 4.9 rebounds per game, much higher than the 4.4 points and 1.6 rebounds she averaged last season.
Tyler Gilbert has been a force on both ends of the floor. Gilbert ranks fourth in The American with 2.0 blocks per game, and she also averages 6.8 points and 4.7 rebounds. Through 11 games, Gilbert has already accumulated more blocks than she had in her first 43 career appearances. She has blocked at least one shot in all 11 games this season.
Smith has shouldered the point guard duties in her third season and dots The American statistical rankings more than any other Cougar. Smith ranks sixth in the league in assists (3.6), 12th in steals (1.6) and 15th in three-point field goals (1.5).
Amerson has developed a deadly shooting touch this season, ranking ninth in The American with a 40.6% three-point field goal percentage.
| FRESHMEN FIND THEIR ROLES IN LUBBOCK |
Houston's freshman class made a splash at the Action Classic from December 19-21 in Lubbock.
Mitchell averaged 8.0 points per game at the event, including 15 points in the Nicholls win on December 20. She hit two three-pointers against both UTSA and Nicholls
Moesha Kinard showed off toughness on the glass, averaging 6.0 rebounds per game. Kinard grabbed nine boards in the win over UTSA and scored five points against Texas Tech in the finale.
DeJah Joshua scored eight points at the tournament, including a high of five in the win over Nicholls. The Gary, Ind., native was 2-for-2 from three point range in Lubbock.
| SERIES HISTORY vs. UCF |
UCF leads the all-time series, 7-5, including season sweeps in each of the last two seasons.
The Knights won the most recent meeting, 52-43, on February 1, 2014 in Orlando. Houston trailed by as many as 21 points early in the second half before cutting the gap to 46-43 with less than three minutes left, though their comeback ultimately fell short. Stephanie Taylor led UCF with 19 points, while Amerson paced current Cougars with 10 points. | Final Stats Houston's last victory in the series was a 66-53 win at Hofheinz Pavilion on February 26, 2012. Then-freshman Terran Alford tallied 10 points and nine rebounds in the win. | Final Stats
| SCOUTING THE KNIGHTS |
UCF enters Saturday's game with a 4-7 record. They have lost their last five games, including a 79-57 loss to Middle Tennessee on December 20. | Final Stats
UCF's Zykira Lewis is the top scorer in The American with 21.0 points per game. She scored 19 in the loss to Middle Tennessee, while Aliyah Montgomery led the team with 22 points.
Brittini Montgomery paces the Knights with 8.6 rebounds per game.
| THE SHOT FOR THE AGES |
DECEMBER 3, 2014 vs. RICE | Video
Houston earned their most exciting victory of the season on December 3 when Alexia Sanders hit a three-point buzzer-beater in a 59-58 victory over Rice.
Houston was down two points and had the length of the court to go with :5.5 on the clock. Smith took the inbounds pass and dribbled down the middle of the court. After crossing the center stripe, she passed to Sanders on the right wing, and Sanders connected on a 22-footer as time expired to seal the victory.
"I was just trying to do whatever I could to help my team win," said Sanders. "(Alecia) had the drive, but she kicked it to me and I just shot it. It went in and the refs said (it was) good."
"We wanted (Alecia) to be able to shovel it out to (Alexia) and her to be able to get a mid-range pull up," Houston head coach Ronald Hughey said of the final play. "Well, the unexpected thing was (Alexia) shooting the three. I'm just super excited that she had enough confidence to take it."
The three-pointer was just the third of the season for Sanders and the fifth of her collegiate career.
| QUICK HITS |
- Houston will look to even their home record at 2-2 with a victory.
- The Cougars are aiming to win their conference opener for the first time since 2012-13, when they beat Memphis, 77-74.
- UCF topped the Cougars in last season's American opener, 67-59, at Hofheinz Pavilion.
- With the 2-1 week in Lubbock, Houston finished an in-season tournament with a winning record for the third straight season.
| UP NEXT FOR THE COUGARS |
Houston will play their American road opener on Tuesday, December 30 against Tulane. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 pm CT in New Orleans. Video coverage is available on the American Digital Network.
The Cougars return home on Wednesday, January 7 to host Cincinnati. The game starts at 7 pm CT inside of Hofheinz Pavilion, and tickets are available for just $8. | TICKETS
| 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 purchase season tickets for the 2014-15 women's basketball season by clicking here and visiting the official Athletics Ticket Office Page at UHCougars.com. Season tickets start at just $99.
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.
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.
All UH main campus students are admitted FREE to regular season women's basketball home games with a valid student ID.
--UHCougars.com--
