Houston Looks to Build Momentum at Incarnate Word
12/6/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
| HOUSTON COUGARS (2-5) vs. INCARNATE WORD CARDINALS (3-3) | |
|---|---|
| BUY A SHASTA PASS | UHCougars.com/tickets |
| Date/Time | Monday • 6 p.m. CT |
| Location | McDermott Center • San Antonio, Texas |
| Live Video | UIWCardinals.com |
| Live Audio | UHCougars.com/wbbradio |
| Live Stats | UIWCardinals.com |
| Series History | UIW leads, 1-0 |
| Game Notes | • Houston Notes • UIW Notes • The American Notes |
| Social Media |   |
HOUSTON -- The University of Houston Women's Basketball team has an opportunity to capitalize on their recent momentum and earn a second straight victory when they travel to San Antonio for a Monday night matchup with the University of the Incarnate Word. Game time at the McDermott Convocation Center is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT.
Fans who can't join the Cougars in San Antonio have a variety of ways to follow the Lone Star State showdown. Free live audio is available at UHCougars.com/wbbradio, with Jeremy Branham on the call. Also, live statistics will provide an up-to-the-second numerical breakdown, while the official Twitter account of Houston Women's Basketball, @UHCougarWBB, will post periodic updates. Last but not least, fans can watch the game live at UIWCardinals.com. | LIVE AUDIO | LIVE VIDEO | LIVE STATS | TWITTER
The Houston Fan Experience Headquarters is proud to offer the Shasta Pass, the best way to see Houston's 11 remaining regular season home games. For only $50, fans who purchase a Shasta Pass will receive general admission entrance to all 11 home games left on the schedule, including the Jan. 8 game against defending national champion UConn. The Shasta Pass also grants entry to every home game on the 2016 Houston Softball schedule. | CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE A SHASTA PASS | FULL SCHEDULE Houston is 2-5 on the season after taking down Rice, 62-59, on Dec. 5. The Cougars were down by nine points in the third quarter but came back to win the game when Marche' Amerson drained the game-winning 3-pointer with :15 remaining in the game.
Incarnate Word is 3-3 after falling to Trinity on Dec. 5, 61-55. The Cardinals will be looking for their first win of the season against an NCAA Division I opponent when they host the Cougars Monday night.
UIW holds a 1-0 series lead after winning the first meeting between the schools, 50-48, on Nov 17, 2014 at Hofheinz Pavilion.
 | THE STARTING FIVE |
Here are five names, numbers, news items and storylines that you need to know about Houston's game against Incarnate Word.
OUT FOR REVENGE - Houston is looking to even the series with Incarnate Word after the Cardinals stunned UH at Hofheinz last season, 50-48, in the first official home game under Coach Hughey.
BUILD OFF THE MOMENTUM - The Cougars will look to string a second straight win together after rallying to knock off Rice, 62-59, on Dec. 5.
ROAD WARRIORS - It's a quick turnaround for Hughey's club, as they play a second straight road game in another city less than 48 hours after completing their comeback at Rice.
FINDING HER GROOVE? - Amerson was averaging 5.5 points per game heading into the Rice game, where she scored 15. The senior will look to build off that performance Monday night.
TOUR OF TEXAS - Under Hughey, UH has won games in the cities of Houston, Corpus Christi, Dallas, Denton and Lubbock. A win Monday gives the second-year coach a victory in San Antonio as well.
| HOUSTON ONE-SHOTS |
Here's the one thing you need to know about each member of the Houston roster:
#1 - Chyanne Butler - Butler will be eligible to play the second semester after transferring from USC in January 2015.
#2 - Jacqueline Blake - Blake started five consecutive games for the Cougars from Nov. 18-28, including every game of the Lone Star Showcase.
#3 - Bianca Winslow - Winslow started the final 13 games of the 2014-15 season. During that stretch she led Houston with 2.5 assists and 1.7 steals per game.
#5 - Dionna Collins - A finalist for the 2014-15 WBCA Junior College Player of the Year award, Collins will redshirt in 2015-16 due to NCAA transfer requirements.
#10 - Cenecia Newman - Newman was instant offense at the Lone Star Showcase, scoring 12 points in just 20 minutes of court time.
#12 - Brianne Coffman - Coffman will redshirt in 2015-16 due to NCAA transfer requirements. She spent her first two collegiate seasons at Oklahoma State.
#15 - Alecia Smith - Smith matched a career high with seven assists in the Nov. 22 victory over Louisiana-Lafayette.
#21 - Jessieka Palmer - Palmer erupted for six 3-pointers and a career-best 25 points against No. 24/23 George Washington on Nov. 26.
#22 - Marche' Amerson - Amerson needs 93 points to become the 23rd member of Houston's 1,000-point club after scoring 15 points at Rice.
#23 - Serithia Hawkins - Hawkins has led UH in rebounding in four of the last five games and had nine boards Nov. 28 vs. No. 25/21 Iowa, eight on the offensive end.
#24 - Mariah Mitchell - Mitchell has connected on at least one 3-point field goal in three of her last four games.
#25 - Kierra Graves - Graves matched a career best with three steals against nationally ranked opponents George Washington and Iowa at the Lone Star Showcase.
#32 - Sharayla Brown - Brown scored the first four points of her collegiate career Nov. 26 against No. 24/23 George Washington and made her first start Dec. 5 at Rice.
#33 - Tyler Gilbert - Gilbert tallied her first double-double of the season Dec. 5 at Rice, with 12 points and 14 rebounds. She grabbed 11 boards on the offensive end.
#35 - Taylor Gilbert - Gilbert received a medical hardship redshirt due to career-ending knee injuries. She remains on scholarship and is an active part of team functions.
| LAST TIME OUT |
DEC. 5, 2015 • HOUSTON 62, RICE 59 | Final Stats | Photo Gallery Houston clawed back from a nine-point deficit to defeat Rice, 62-59, with Amerson providing the game-winning 3-pointer with :15 left.
UH trailed, 59-58, when they forced a Rice turnover with :41 seconds left in the game. With the shot clock running low on the ensuing possession, Smith drove the lane. When the defense collapsed, Smith connected with Amerson in the right corner, and the senior drained her fifth 3-pointer of the night to make the score 61-59.
Gilbert added 12 points to go with a career-high 14 rebounds, including 11 offensive boards, while Hawkins chipped in 13 points and eight boards.
Rice did not make a field goal in the final 8:59 of the game, as Houston forced the Owls into misses on their final six attempts.
The Cougars dominated the glass, collecting 43 rebounds to Rice's 27. Counting the Iowa game on Nov. 28, Houston has grabbed 51 offensive boards in their last two contests.
Houston's five-player senior class of Amerson, Gilbert, Palmer, Smith and Winslow will end their collegiate careers with a perfect 5-0 record against Rice.
| REGENTS APPROVE ARENA RENOVATIONS |
The University of Men's and Women's Basketball programs moved closer to a new competition home facility when school regents approved the start of the design process for the renovation of the Houston Basketball arena during its meeting Nov. 19.
Regents approved a project budget of up to $60 million with an anonymous donor pledging a $20 million gift to facilitate the arena's renovation.
Design work is scheduled to begin in March 2016 with construction starting one year later. Plans for the Cougars' home facility during the 2017-18 season have not been finalized and will be announced at a later date. The renovated facility is expected to be ready for game competition for the beginning of the 2018-19 season.
"This project has been long overdue, and we are grateful that Dr. Khator and our Board of Regents saw the need for this step with our basketball arena," Vice President for Athletics Hunter Yurachek said. "We look forward to starting the design process in the next few months and creating a facility that will provide the highest level of amenities to our fans and a significant home-court advantage for our Men's and Women's Basketball student-athletes."
Preliminary estimated capacity for the renovated arena will be reduced to 7,420 from its current seating bowl of 8,479. However, initial plans call for the court level to be raised three feet with fan seating moved closer to the court as part of an emphasis to improve the overall fan experience.
More than 2,000 premium seats will be developed to give fans the ultimate luxury seating options. That total includes a preliminary design of 1,750 club seats, 20 loge boxes with four seats in each, two open-air suites with 32 seats per unit and 90 courtside seats.
The arena's concourse level will be expanded to improve circulation with significant upgrades to the sound system, video board and arena seating.
| SERIES vs. INCARNATE WORD |
Houston is 0-1 all-time against Incarnate Word after falling to the Cardinals, 50-48, on Nov. 17, 2014.
The Cougars trailed by as many as 12 points in the second half of the 2014 contest before mounting a rally to tie the game. But two Incarnate Word free throws with :02 left sealed the deal for the visitors.
Smith drained four three-pointers and scored 16 points to lead Houston in the last meeting.
Head Coach Ronald Hughey is 0-1 vs. UIW but 2-1 vs. the Southland Conference after leading the Cougars to wins over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Nicholls State last season.
| THE COACHES |
Houston head coach Ronald Hughey is in his second season at Houston, with a career record of 8-29. He is 0-1 against Incarnate Word
Hughey accumulated a 163-154 (.514) career record in 10 seasons as an NCAA Division I assistant coach at South Carolina State, South Carolina, UCF, Rutgers, Texas and Florida State. He is a veteran of seven postseason tournaments (6 NCAA, 1 NIT) including two NCAA Second Rounds (2013, 2014), four NCAA First Rounds (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012) and one WNIT Second Round (2008).
A vaunted recruiter, Hughey orchestrated multiple national top-15 recruiting classes at both Texas and Florida State. At Houston, he signed an eight-player recruiting class in 2014-15, including two NJCAA All-Americans and four players rated as 3-star recruits by ESPN Hoopgurlz.
Hughey brought five more highly regarded recruits into the Houston program in the early 2015 signing period. Included in the group is Lufkin, Texas, native Natasha Mack, the first ESPN Hoopgurlz national top-100 recruit of his head coaching tenure.
Incarnate Word head coach Kate Henderson is in her third season leading the Cardinals, with a record of 16-46. She is 1-0 as a head coach against Houston.
| SCOUTING THE CARDINALS |
Incarnate Word is 3-3 as they continue to transition to NCAA Division I and the Southland Conference. The Cardinals are 0-2 against NCAA Division I opponents this season, with their three victories coming over LSU-Alexandria, Sul Ross State and Howard Payne.
The Cardinals last played Dec. 5, a 61-55 loss to Trinity. UIW led after three quarters, 41-35, before allowing 26 points in the final period of play.
Aricka Adams came off the bench to lead Incarnate Word with 16 points in their loss to Incarnate Word. For the season, she paces the Cardinals with 11.7 points per game.
| KEY STATS FOR HOUSTON |
The victory over Rice snapped a three-game losing skid for head coach Ronald Hughey's team, but those losses came at the hands of one of America's toughest schedules. Houston's first six opponents boast a combined record of 34-10 as of Dec. 6.
Hawkins continues to be Houston's top producer. The rookie leads the team with 10.4 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. She has recorded at least 10 points and seven rebounds in her last three appearances.
Hawkins ranks 24th in the American Athletic Conference in scoring and ninth in rebounding through games played Dec. 5. She is the only freshman in The American to rank in the top-30 in scoring and the only rookie currently in the league's top-20 in rebounding.
Gilbert is currently riding one of the hottest streaks of her career, as she averages 10.0 points and 8.3 rebounds per game in her last three contests, all in a reserve role.
Houston's defense remains the backbone of the team. The Cougars held yet another opponent under 60 points when they defeated Rice, marking the fourth such occasion this season. In the Hughey era, the Cougars are 7-5 when opponents fail to reach 60 points.
| MARCHE'S MARCH TO 1,000 POINTS |
Amerson enters the UIW game with 907 career points and is just 93 points shy of Houston's 1,000-point club. At her current career pace of 9.3 points per game, she's on pace to cross the threshold Jan. 20, when the Cougars face Tulsa.
When she accomplishes the feat, Amerson will be Houston's 23rd 1,000-point scorer. Current Atlanta Dream standout Sancho Lyttle (2003-05) occupies the 22nd spot, with 1,092 career points, while Ann Moon (1977-81) checks in at No. 21 with 1,094 points.
| MILESTONE WATCH |
Amerson isn't the only Cougar who is climbing the Cougar record books in 2015-16, and her journey to 1,000 points isn't the only number to monitor this season. The senior from Bryan, Texas, enters the Rice game fifth in Houston history with 96 career starts and eighth in a variety of categories: 3,023 career minutes, 84 made 3-point field goals and 287 3-point field goal attempts.
Smith is climbing the career 3-point record books, ranking sixth in made 3-pointers (125), fourth in attempts (493) and 10th in minutes (2,830). With four more 3-pointers, she will match Tye Jackson (2005-09) for fifth in Houston history in the category.
Gilbert's shot-blocking explosion from last season vaulted her high on Houston's blocked shots charts. She is currently ranked eighth in school history with 94 rejections and will match Kiemona Harris (2001-05) for seventh with her next swat.
| GUY V. LEWIS CENTER UPDATE |
Live Webcam
The Houston Women's Basketball held their first full practice in the brand new Guy V. Lewis Basketball Center on Nov. 24, and they will move into the full facility in just a few short days. Once completed, the $25 million facility will be the home base for both Cougar hoops squads.
Designed by DLR Group and Page, the new Development Center is located adjacent to Hofheinz Pavilion at the corner of Cullen Boulevard and Holman Street on the UH campus.
The 53,000 square-foot facility will provide the environment that the Houston Men's and Women's Basketball student-athletes need to excel throughout the season in all areas. The first level will house a dedicated practice court for each team as well as sports performance and sports medicine areas, which will be used by both programs.
The second level will feature the teams' areas, which include locker rooms and academic/film theaters. The team rooms contain spacious, modern lockers, multiple video screens for television and comfortable furniture. The third level will hold office space for both Men's and Women's Basketball coaching and support staffs.
| UP NEXT FOR THE COUGARS |
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 remaining Houston Women's Basketball and Softball home games.
The Shasta Pass offers Houston fans a substantial savings as single-game tickets start at $8 for all four sports. 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--
