University of Houston
3-4
Prairie View A&M
2-6
Late Rally Not Enough as Cougars Fall, 61-56
12/7/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Final Stats | Photo Gallery 
| Postgame Quotes
HOUSTON - A 16-point second half deficit proved to be too much for the University of Houston women's basketball team as their valiant rally fell short, 61-56, on Sunday afternoon against Prairie View A&M. Houston is now 3-4 overall.
"We were not attacking to create something for anyone else, we were looking for our own shot," Houston head coach Ronald Hughey said of his team's first half performance that led to the deficit. "We talked about getting back in the second half and playing the way we know how to play."
THE BASICS
Score: Prairie View A&M 61, Houston 56
Records: Prairie View A&M 2-6, Houston 3-4
Date: Sunday, December 7, 2014
Location: Houston, Texas (Hofheinz Pavilion)
TURNING POINT
Two Alecia Smith free throws gave Houston a slim lead, 51-50, with 2:51 left in the game. But the Panthers scored the next six points and used the lead to hold off several Cougar comeback attempts in the final minute.
TOP PERFORMERS
Houston: Jessieka Palmer fell just shy of her first career double-double, with 14 points and a career-best nine rebounds. Marche' Amerson added 10 points and Tyler Gilbert came up with nine to go with three blocked shots. Smith also scored nine points.
Prairie View A&M: Jeanette Jackson led all players with 28 points, and Larissa Scott grabbed 11 rebounds in a reserve role.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Houston came out of the gates slowly and shot just 21.7% in the first half to fall behind, 30-17, at the intermission.
- The second half was much better, as the Cougars shot 38.2% from the field and outscored the Panthers, 39-31.
- Prairie View's biggest lead came with 17:38 left in the second half, when two Jackson free throws gave the visitors a 33-17 advantage.
- Houston closed the game on a 39-28 run in the final 17:14 of play.
- The defensive effort from Houston was outstanding in the second half, as they held Prairie view to just eight field goals and a 24.2% shooting percentage.
- For the game, Houston was 18-for-57 (31.6%) on field goal attempts, and Prairie View finished 19-for-60 (31.7%).
NEWS & NOTES
- Palmer has now scored in double-digits in six straight games and leads Houston with 13.0 ppg.
- Amerson's 10-point performance gives her 31 double-digit scoring efforts for her career.
- Gilbert has blocked a shot in every game this season and has 15 overall. She's just one shy of her 2013-14 total, when she played in 26 games.
- Smith led the Cougars with four assists and also set a career high with five steals.
- Terran Alford set a season high with eight rebounds.
- Jackson's 28 points marked a season high for a Cougar opponent this season.
UP NEXT FOR THE COUGARS
Houston is back in action on Saturday, December 13 to face Texas A&M. Tipoff is scheduled for 1:30 pm CT in College Station and video coverage is available on the SEC Network +. Cable or satellite subscribers that receive SEC Network as part of their home television package can watch the game through ESPN3.com or the WatchESPN app.
"I relish the opportunity to go (to Texas A&M) and do what we need to do," said Hughey. "The opportunities that you get in life you have to cherish because they don't come every day. I just want (our players) to understand that they get another day to fight."
Houston's next home game is also their American Athletic Conference opener, on Saturday, December 27 against UCF.
Single-game tickets start at just $8 and tipoff at Hofheinz Pavilion is scheduled for 2 pm CT. Tickets are available online or by visiting the Athletics Ticket Stadium Office, located on the northeast corner of TDECU Stadium.
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.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarWBB on Twitter. Also, fans can catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's official Facebook page at facebook.com/UHCougarWBB
--UHCougars.com--
