University of Houston
Texas A&M-International
Houston Trounces Dustdevils, 59-42, in Exhibition
11/8/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Final Stats | Postgame Quotes | Photo Gallery 
HOUSTON - The University of Houston Women's Basketball team started the 2015-16 season on the right foot Sunday with a 59-42 exhibition victory over Texas A&M-International at Hofheinz Pavilion. Marche' Amerson led the Cougars with 12 points on the day.
"I'm really excited for this team, because the potential is just through the roof," Houston head coach Ronald Hughey said. "As soon as we get all of the nervous energy out and know where we are supposed to be on the court at what time, I think we are going to be pretty good."
The Cougars overwhelmed TAMIU with a suffocating defensive effort. The visitors shot just 31.3 percent (15-for-48) from the floor, including a 1-for-13 (7.7 percent) output from 3-point territory. Houston also forced the Dustdevils into 28 turnovers.
 | THE BASICS |
Score: Houston 59, Texas A&M-International 42 (Exhibition)
Records: Houston 1-0 (Ex.), Texas A&M-International 0-2 (Ex.)
Date: Sunday, November 8, 2015
Location: Houston, Texas (Hofheinz Pavilion)
| TURNING POINT |
The Cougars were only up by a point, 15-14, at the end of one quarter, but they blitzed the Dustdevils at the outset of the second period. Alecia Smith scored five straight points to kick off a 15-2 run at the start of the quarter, and the run gave Houston their first double-digit lead. The Cougars were in command for the remainder of the game.
| TOP PERFORMERS |
Houston: All 12 of Amerson's points came in the first half on a very balanced scoring day for the Cougars. Newcomers Jacqueline Blake and Kierra Graves finished with nine points each, and Jessieka Palmer scored seven to go with a team-high seven rebounds. Smith dished six assists and nabbed four steals, while Graves also tallied four thefts.
TAMIU: Keiona Mathews finished with a game-high 13 points, while Katia Javier added nine. Mathews also led the Dustdevils in rebounds, with six.
| INSIDE THE BOX SCORE |
- Houston shot 38.2 percent (21-for-55) from the field, 25.0 percent (7-for-28) from 3-point range and 52.6 percent (10-for-19) from the free throw line.
- Hughey's team won the first three quarters, 15-14, 19-8 and 17-10. The visitors outscored Houston in the fourth stanza, 10-8.
- The Dustdevils finished 11-for-14 (78.6 percent) from the free throw line.
- The Cougars won the rebounding battle, 39-35. Tyler Gilbert and Serithia Hawkins each added six boards.
- Houston was tough on the offensive glass, securing 16 offensive rebounds.
- Gilbert blocked multiple shots in 18 of 30 games last season, and she did the same Sunday, recording two rejections. Palmer and Hawkins each finished with one block.
- Amerson was efficient from the field, finishing 4-for-6 overall and 3-for-5 from 3-point range.
- Gilbert and Palmer each finished 3-for-6 from the floor.
- The Cougars used 10 players on a balanced Sunday afternoon, with nine of the players logging double-digit minutes and no one seeing more than 29 minutes of court time.
- Houston's largest lead came with 6:00 left in the game, when Blake drained a 3-pointer to make the score 57-33.
- Houston led at the half, 34-22, after a 19-8 edge in the second quarter. Amerson paced the Coogs with 12 points at the break.
| NEWS & NOTES |
- Sunday's game was an exhibition and will not count toward either team's official 2015-16 records.
- Sunday was also the first time Houston has played under the new four-quarter format being used in collegiate women's basketball games this season.
- The Cougars are 2-0 in exhibition games under Hughey, including last season's 100-37 victory over Huston-Tillotson.
- The Dustdevils are the lone NCAA Division II opponent on the schedule for Houston in 2015-16.
- Four student-athletes made their first appearance for the Cougars Sunday: Graves, Blake, Hawkins and Sharayla Brown, who snagged three rebounds in her first collegiate game.
| UP NEXT FOR THE COUGARS |
Houston opens the regular season Friday, Nov. 13, against College of Charleston. The game will be Houston's first contest in Hughey's home state of South Carolina. Tipoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. CT at TD Arena in Charleston, S.C and fans can listen live at UHCougars.com/wbbradio.
The next home game is Thursday, Nov. 19 against Long Beach State. Tip time at Hofheinz is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT, and fans can secure their seat all season long by purchasing a $50 Shasta Pass at UHCougars.com/tickets.
| $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--
