University of Houston Athletics
Houston Welcomes Cincinnati to Hofheinz on Wednesday
1/6/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
| HOUSTON (6-8 • 1-2 American) vs. CINCINNATI (3-11 • 0-3 American) | |
|---|---|
| Tickets | BUY Tickets • Tickets Info |
| Questions? | Fan Guide |
| Time | 7 pm CT |
| Location | Hofheinz Pavilion (8,479) • Houston, Texas |
| Video | UHCougars.com All-Access |
| Radio | UHCougars.com Jeremy Branham, PxP |
| Live Stats | |
| Series History | • Cincinnati leads, 10-5 |
| Game Notes | • Houston Notes • Cincinnati Notes • The American Notes |
| Social Media |   |
HOUSTON - The University of Houston women's basketball team returns home brimming with momentum when they host the University of Cincinnati in American Athletic Conference play on Wednesday night. Tipoff at Hofheinz Pavilion is scheduled for 7 pm CT.
Single-game tickets start at just $8, but the deal is even better for Cougar fans who attend Tuesday night's men's basketball game against UCF. Fans who bring their UCF ticket stub or men's basketball season ticket card will receive admission to Wednesday's women's basketball game for just $5. | TICKETS
Fans who can't make it to Hofheinz on Wednesday night can watch a live video broadcast of the game on UHCougars.com All-Access. Also, 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 enters the game at 6-8 (1-2 American) after earning their most impressive victory of the season, a 63-45 win over SMU on Jan. 3. Tyler Gilbert went off for 18 points and three blocks, while Jessieka Palmer tallied 16 points and 11 rebounds.
Cincinnati is 3-11 (0-3 American) and has suffered defeats in their last three games. The Bearcats fell to Temple, 81-64, on Jan. 3. Jasmine Whitfield scored 20 points to pace Cincinnati in the loss.
Cincinnati holds a 10-5 edge in the all-time series between the teams, though the Cougars have won four of the last five meetings. The two squads split last season's series with each club winning on the road. The Bearcats won on Jan. 11, 59-50, and Houston took the Feb. 9 matchup, 48-39.
 | LAST TIME OUT |
JANUARY 3 • HOUSTON 63, SMU 45 | Final Stats Houston earned their first American Athletic Conference victory of the season with a 63-45 triumph over SMU on Jan. 3 in Dallas.
Despite trailing by as many as 11 points, Houston overwhelmed SMU in the second half. The Cougars ended the game on a 34-7 run and shot 60.7 percent from the floor after halftime. SMU shot just 24.7 percent in the second period.
UH posted a 16-2 run early in the second to take their first lead. The Coogs grabbed the advantage, 43-40, on an Alecia Smith 3-pointer with 11:15 left and added to the margin one possession later. After SMU scored a basket, Houston answered with the next 11 points to take control for good.
In the second half, Houston outscored the home team by a 43-18 margin.
| COUGARS SET MILESTONES IN SMU VICTORY |
The Cougars dominated the final half against SMU on Jan. 3, earning a 63-45 triumph. The 18-point margin of victory matched Houston's largest of the season.
Against SMU, Houston also matched or exceeded season highs in points in a half (43), field goals (27), offensive rebounds (17), assists (16), steals (11) and blocks (8).
Gilbert led the Cougars with a career-best 18 points in the win. The junior forward finished one rebound short of a double-double, with nine, and she matched her career high with three blocked shots.
Palmer added 16 points and set a career high with 11 rebounds. The double-double was the first of the junior's collegiate career, and she also snatched six offensive rebounds, the most by a UH player in 2014-15.
Junior Marche' Amerson played a season-high 38 minutes and helped the Cougars with an all-around effort. The Bryan native matched career highs with four assists and four steals, and she grabbed a season-best six rebounds.
Freshman Mariah Mitchell made her third straight start and matched a career high with two 3-pointers.
| THE HUGHEY DIFFERENCE |
New head coach Ronald Hughey earned his first American Athletic Conference victory on Jan. 3 with a 63-45 trouncing of SMU. The victory was the sixth of the season for Houston.
Last season, Houston did not earn their first American win until Feb. 9 against Cincinnati, and they didn't reach six total wins until the American Championship First Round victory over Memphis on March 7, in their 30th contest.
Statistically, the Cougars have seen marked improvements in scoring offense, scoring defense, field goal percentage, 3-point field goal percentage, assists, steals and blocks under Hughey.
| HOME SWEET ROAD |
In the first season of the Hughey Era, the Cougars have repeatedly demonstrated their toughness by winning difficult games away from Hofheinz Pavilion. Through 14 contests, Houston has already won five games away from their home court, including their first American win on Jan. 3 at SMU.
The road success is another example of the improvements under Hughey. Houston won just three games away from home in 2013-14.
Houston opened the Hughey Era with a 46-42 road victory over North Texas on Nov. 14 in Denton, and they overcame a raucous on-campus environment to defeat Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 68-66, on Nov. 21.
The Cougars also won two neutral site games at the Athletes in Action Classic in Lubbock. Houston took down UTSA, 56-53, on Dec. 19, and one day later they chalked up an 18-point victory with a 65-47 drubbing of Nicholls State.
| COUGARS IN THE AMERICAN RANKINGS |
Through 14 games, four Cougars are ranked statistically among the top players in the American Athletic Conference.
Smith continues to dish assists at an incredible pace, and she's led Houston in the category in 10 straight games. The junior ranks fourth in the league, at 4.1 assists per game, and she also ranks seventh in assist/turnover ratio (1.2) and 15th in steals per game (1.6)
In American contests, Smith is averaging 5.7 assists per game, a number that ranks second in the league.
Palmer is ranked 29th in the conference and leads the Cougars with 9.6 points per game.
Gilbert is sixth in The American with 1.9 blocks per game. The Missouri City native is pulling down 9.0 rebounds per game in league play, which ranks seventh, and overall she is listed 20th with a 5.6 rebound average.
Amerson ranks sixth in The American with a deadly 43.6% 3-point field goal percentage. In conference games, Amerson averages 3.7 steals per game, second in the league.
| 2014-15 AWARDS TALLY |
Two Cougars have already earned spots on the American Athletic Conference Weekly Honor Roll this season. Palmer was honored on Nov. 24 after scoring a career-high 20 points in the win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, and Mitchell took home the award on Dec. 22 after scoring 15 points in the Nicholls State victory.
Mitchell and Amerson were both honored with spots on the Athletes in Action All-Tournament Team for their play at the event. Both players averaged 8.0 points per game at the tournament, leading the Cougars to a 2-1 record.
| SERIES HISTORY vs. CINCINNATI |
Houston is 5-10 all-time against Cincinnati but has won four of the last five meetings between the squads.
The Cougars earned a tough win in the last meeting between the clubs, a 48-39 road victory on Feb. 8, 2014. Amerson led Houston with 11 points and Smith scored 10. Houston held the Bearcats to just four first half field goals and 28.3 percent shooting for the game. | Final Stats A victory over the Bearcats was an integral part of Houston's 2004 Conference USA Tournament Championship run. The Cougars topped Cincinnati, 84-67, on March 5, 2004 in the tournament's quarterfinal round. Sancho Lyttle led the Cougars with 34 points in the win. | Final Stats
| SCOUTING THE BEARCATS |
Cincinnati comes into the game 3-11 (0-3 American) with losses in their last three games. The Bearcats have dropped their three American contests by an average of 16.3 points per game.
The Bearcats are 0-6 in true road games and 0-8 away from home this season.
Cincinnati fell in their most recent contest, 81-64, on Jan. 3 against Temple. | Final Stats
Ana Owings is Cincinnati's top scorer, averaging 13.4 points per game. Low post threat Marley Hill nearly averages a double-double, with 12.0 points and 9.9 rebounds per game, and Whitfield checks in at 11.9 points per game.
Whitfield paced the Bearcats with 20 points in the Jan. 3 loss to Temple, while Hill chipped in 16 points and nine rebounds.
| QUICK HITS |
- Houston and Cincinnati have one common opponent so far, Tulane. The Green Wave topped Cincinnati, 60-50, on Dec. 28 before taking down the Cougars, 70-40, two days later.
- With her first point against the Bearcats, Smith will reach 500 career points.
- Amerson, Palmer and Smith each played their 75th career game against SMU on Jan. 3. Amerson has started all 75.
- Amerson is shooting 57.1 percent from 3-point territory in American games.
| UP NEXT FOR THE COUGARS |
The Cougars finish their home swing on Saturday afternoon, when they host East Carolina in another American Athletic Conference showdown. Tipoff is set for 2 pm CT at Hofheinz Pavilion. | TICKETS
Saturday's game is Salute to Service Day at Hofheinz. Members of the military, veterans and first responders will receive admission for just $5, and the Cougars will hand out American flags and rally towels to the first 200 fans in attendance.
| 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--
