University of Houston Athletics
Cougars Open 2015-16 with Community Day
10/4/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
PHOTO GALLERY
HOUSTON â€" The University of Houston Women's Basketball team opened the 2015-16 season Sunday with their first official practice of the new year. Hundreds of Cougar fans joined Head Coach Ronald Hughey's team at Hofheinz Pavilion and participated in Community Day in addition to watching the practice live.
"The first practice of the season is a big moment for every team, and I'm thrilled the season has officially arrived," Hughey said. "Our entire program is #ChasingGreatness, improving every day and committed to making 2015-16 a season to remember, so I'm excited to see what the next six months hold."
Sunday was the first opportunity for Hughey and his staff to fully assimilate their six returning letterwinners with the team's eight newcomers, including three true freshmen. The Cougars spent about an hour running through competitive drills and in-game scenarios.
At the conclusion of the workout, Hughey's team joined the fans in attendance for a video tour of the new Basketball Development Center. The $25 million facility is scheduled to open this fall and will feature dedicated practice courts, locker rooms, sports medicine facilities and offices for both Houston Basketball teams. | DEVELOPMENT CENTER INFORMATION The Cougars ended the day with a meet-and-greet where they met fans and signed autographs for children in attendance. Fans can join the fun by purchasing a Shasta Pass, guaranteeing access to all 14 home contests for just $50. | CLICK HERE TO PRUCHASE A SHASTA PASS
 | HOUSTON READY FOR 2015-16 SEASON |
Hughey's team has 29 regular-season games and one exhibition scheduled for the 2015-16 season, including 14 home dates at Hofheinz Pavilion. The campaign begins at 2 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 8, as the Cougars host Texas A&M-International for an exhibition game. | FULL SCHEDULE The team's regular-season opener is set for Friday, Nov. 13, at College of Charleston, and the first regular season home game is booked for Thursday, Nov. 19, against Long Beach State.
Houston will play three additional non-conference home games: Sunday, Nov. 22 vs. Louisiana-Lafayette, Saturday, Dec. 12 against UNLV and Sunday, Dec. 20 against UTRGV.
The 2015-16 American slate begins Wednesday, Dec. 30, when Houston travels to Tulane. Houston will host nine American opponents, highlighted by a showdown with three-time defending national champion UConn on Friday, Jan. 8. The game tips at 8 p.m. CT and will be televised nationally on ESPN2.
The regular season ends Monday, Feb. 29, when the Cougars host Memphis on Senior Day, and for the third straight year, the American Women's Basketball Championship will be held at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The 2016 edition of the postseason tournament runs March 4-7 and will be televised on the ESPN family of networks.
For a complete listing of Houston's 2015-16 schedule, CLICK HERE.
| $50 SHASTA PASS NOW AVAILABLE |
The Houston Fan Experience Headquarters is proud to offer the Shasta Pass for the 2015-16 athletic season. For only $50, Cougar fans can purchase one Shasta Pass, which allows season-long general admission entrance to all Houston Women's Basketball, Volleyball, Soccer and Softball home games.
The Shasta Pass offers Houston fans a substantial savings as single-game tickets start at $8 for all four sports. Fans can save $126 alone during the Houston Volleyball and Soccer seasons. To purchase a Shasta Pass, CLICK HERE.
| VETERAN ROSTER SET FOR 2015-16 SEASON |
Houston returns six letterwinners, including all five starters, from last season's roster. Leading the way for Hughey's club is senior Jessieka Palmer, who paced the Cougars with 9.6 points per game last season and was a two-time American Honor Roll selection.
Seniors Marche' Amerson, Tyler Gilbert and Alecia Smith look to continue their assault on the Houston record books in 2014-15. Amerson opens the season with 859 career points and needs just 141 more to become Houston's 23rd 1,000-point scorer. Smith enters the year with 111 career 3-pointers, seventh in program history, while Gilbert has blocked 82 shots, UH's ninth-highest career total.
Senior Bianca Winslow and sophomore Mariah Mitchell round out Houston's returning talent. Winslow started the final 13 games of the season as a junior and set career highs in scoring, assists and steals, while Mitchell hit 23 3-pointers, the 10th-best freshman mark in UH history.
2014-15 junior college All-Americans Dionna Collins and Kierra Graves will add major scoring ability to the Houston backcourt after both players averaged over 20 points per game last season. Fellow JuCo transfer Jacqueline Blake looks to add a scoring punch to the post after averaging a double-double in her sophomore season.
Transfers Chyanne Butler and Brianne Coffman will also continue their collegiate careers under Hughey's watch. Butler, a sophomore from USC, practiced with the Cougars for the second half of 2014-15 and will join the active roster for the second semester in 2015-16. Coffman, out of Oklahoma State, will sit out the 2015-16 season due to NCAA transfer requirements and have two years of eligibility remaining.
Three true freshmen round Hughey's group of newcomers. Oklahoma natives Sharayla Brown and Serithia Hawkins each earned All-State selections in their final prep seasons, and Cedar Hill, Texas, product Cenecia Newman was a district MVP. All three of the rookies were ESPN Hoopgurlz Class of 2015 top-100 recruits at their positions.
| 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 official Facebook page at facebook.com/UHCougarWBB.
--UHCougars.com--
