University of Houston
1-4
Wright State
5-2
Houston Drops Friday Contest to Wright State, 75-61
11/27/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
AUSTIN, Texas â€" The University of Houston women's basketball team stayed close to Wright State throughout the afternoon before falling Friday, 75-61, in their second game of the Lone Star Showcase. Houston was down just one point at the halftime intermission before suffering the loss.
"We played well in spurts today, but winning a game like this requires a sustained effort, and we didn't bring that today," Houston head coach Ronald Hughey said. "We lost the rebounding and points in the paint battles and turned the ball over too many times, and we will need to be much better in those areas to beat good teams going forward."
Balanced scoring was the name of the game for Hughey's team offensively, as three players scored in double-figures. Alecia Smith led the way with 13 points, her second-straight double-digit effort.
 | THE BASICS |
Score: Wright State 75, Houston 61
Records: Houston 1-4, Wright State 5-2
Date: Friday, November 27, 2015
Tournament: Lone Star Showcase
Location: Austin, Texas (Cedar Park Center)
| TURNING POINT |
Houston trailed by 12 points early in the third quarter but came all the way back to take a 46-45 lead on a Serithia Hawkins 3-point play with 2:48 on the clock. But Wright State ended the quarter on a 9-2 run, taking a six-point lead into the final 10 minutes, and they never trailed again.
| TOP PERFORMERS |
Houston: Smith knocked down 3-of-7 3-point attempts after hitting 3-of-4 and scoring 17 points yesterday. She is the lone Cougar to score in double-figures in both Lone Star Showcase games.
Hawkins scored 11 points and led the Cougars with seven rebounds, while Tyler Gilbert came off the bench to chip in 10 points, a season high, to go with three blocks.
Wright State: Antania Hayes led all players with 29 points and 12 rebounds. Kim Demmings added 14 points, including a pair of 3-pointers.
| INSIDE THE BOX SCORE |
- Houston finished an even 40.0 percent (24-for-60) from the field. They hit 4-of-15 (26.7 percent) of their 3-pointers and 9-of-13 (69.2 percent) from the free throw line.
- Wright State shot 43.1 percent (28-for-65) overall despite hitting just 21.1 percent (4-for-19) from long range. The Raiders were 68.2 percent (15-for-22) shooting free throws.
- WSU outrebounded Houston, 45-34, and scored 42 points in the paint to Houston's 33.
- The Cougars committed 18 turnovers and pressured Wright State into 15.
- Kierra Graves finished with eight points on an efficient 3-for-4 shooting day.
- Gilbert was not the lone Cougar to block multiple shots, as Jacqueline Blake finished with two rejections.
- Smith played 35 minutes Friday and has logged at least 30 in every game this season.
- Houston got 19 points from their bench, while Wright State's reserves tallied 10.
- The Cougars trailed at the half, 29-28, but scored the six of the period's final seven points. Graves paced the club with six points at the break.
- Wright State took the first quarter, 14-11, and the Coogs were better in the second, 17-15. WSU was five better in the fourth quarter, 24-19, and they outscored Houston in the fourth, 22-14.
| NEWS & NOTES |
- Smith now has 123 career 3-pointers, two behind Roxana Button (2008-12) for sixth in Houston history.
- Gilbert moved into eighth place in Houston history in career blocked shots on Friday and now has 93 for her career.
- Gilbert's multi-block game is her fourth of the campaign and the 27th of her career.
- Hawkins has led the Cougars in rebounding in each of the team's last three games.
- Nine of the 10 Cougars who saw action Friday scored at least two points in the balanced effort.
- Friday's game was the first in history between Wright State and Houston.
| UP NEXT FOR THE COUGARS |
Houston finishes the Lone Star Showcase Saturday when they face No. 25/21 Iowa. Tipoff is set for 11 a.m. CT, and fans can follow live stats and live video throughout the contest.
Houston returns to Hofheinz Pavilion Dec. 12, when they take on UNLV. Tickets are available at UHCougars.com/tickets as the Cougars and Runnin' Rebels share the court for the first time since Dec. 22, 1994, a 77-64 Houston victory.
| $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 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 fall sports seasons. To purchase a Shasta Pass, CLICK HERE.
| 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.
--UHCougars.com--
