Cougars Head South for UTRGV Showdown
11/29/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
EDINBURG, Texas â€" The Houston Cougar Women's Basketball team is back on the road for a short one-game road trip, when they face the UTRGV Vaqueros in Edinburg, Texas. Tipoff from the UTRGV Fieldhouse is scheduled for 7 p.m., Wednesday.
The Houston Athletics Ticket Office is proud to offer the Shasta Pass, the best way to see Houston's 14 regular season home games. For only $80, fans who purchase a Shasta Pass will receive general admission entrance to all 14 home game. The Shasta Pass also grants entry to all remaining 2016 Houston Volleyball home matches and every home game on the 2017 Houston Softball schedule. | CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE A SHASTA PASS | FULL SCHEDULE
Fans can catch all of the action from Wednesday night's game live via the WAC Digital Network, courtesy of WACSports.com. Fans can access the live stream by visiting the website, or by clicking HERE. Live statistics are also available through SIDEARMStats, and the official Twitter account of Houston Women's Basketball, @UHCougarWBB, will offer updates throughout the game. LIVE VIDEO | LIVE STATS | TWITTER
THE STARTING FIVE
Here are five names, numbers, news items and storylines that you need to know about the UTRGV game.
Name Change - Though the Cougars and UTRGV have met four previous times on the hardwood, this is just the second meeting since UTRGV changed their name from the UT-Pan American Broncos.
Freshman Phenom - Freshman Angela Harris was named the American Athletic Conference Freshman of the Week on Monday for her performances against Texas State and Mercer.
Looking For Revenge - The Cougars are seeking to avenge a 55-45 loss to the Vaqueros a year ago. The defeat was the first in four games for Houston.
So Much Depth - Houston's bench has played a key role in the scoring this season. The Cougars have won the bench points battle in four of their five contests.
Short Stint - The trip to Edinburg will be the only contest on this short road trip for Houston. The Cougars return home to face College of Charleston on Sunday, Dec. 4.
SERIES vs. UTRGV
Wednesday's meeting is the fifth all-time in the series, but just the second since UTRGV changed their name from UT-Pan American
The Cougars hold a 3-1 advantage in the series with the Vaqueros and have never lost in Edinburg.
The last time the two teams met was Dec. 20, 2015, when the Vaqueros edged the Cougars 55-44 in Houston.
SCOUTING THE VAQUEROS
UTRGV enters Wednesday's contest with a 4-2 record including a 2-0 mark at UTRGV Fieldhouse. Most recently, the Vaqueros swept their home tournament, beating Prairie View A&M and Sam Houston State in the "Feast on the Boarder." UTRGV is led by Larry Tidwell in his fourth year with the program. The Austin College alum holds a 56-47 record with the Vaqueros, while having a 184-113 mark in 10 seasons as a head coach.
The Vaqueros are led offensively by Shawnte' Goff who averages 17.2 points per game and is shooting 38.0 percent from the field. Goff finished last year's contest against the Cougars with 16 points and seven rebounds.
On the glass, the Cougars are led by Hild Kjartansdottir who pulls down 8.8 points per contest. Kjartansdottir also leads the team with 16 offensive rebounds, and also collected seven rebounds in the matchup a year ago.
The Vaqueros average 68.3 points per game while allowing opponents to score just 63.2 points per contest. On the glass, UTRGV is being outrebounded by opponents by a margin of 45.3 to 39.5.
UP NEXT FOR THE COUGARS
The Cougars return home for a one-game swing, when they welcome College of Charleston to town. In a rematch of a classic last year, Charleston, also known as the Cougars, returns the favor by entering Hofheinz Pavilion for a 2 p.m., tip on Sunday, Dec. 4.
PURCHASE A SHASTA PASS
The Houston Athletics Ticket Office is proud to offer the Shasta Pass for the 2016-17 athletic season. For just $80, 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. Fans can order a Shasta Pass by clicking .
FLOOR SEATS SEASON TICKET PACKAGE
The Houston Athletics Ticket Office also offers a Floor Seats season ticket package. For just $250, fans will have courtside access to all 14 Houston home games in 2016-17. Fans can purchase a season ticket package for Floor Seats by clicking HERE.
SINGLE-GAME TICKETS ON SALE NOW
Single-game tickets for all 14 games inside Hofheinz Pavilion are on sale now via the Houston Athletics Ticket Office. Prices begin at just $5 for general admission seats and range up to $20 for floor seats. General admission group tickets are offered to parties of 10+ for $3 each. Single-game tickets can be purchased HERE.
FERTITTA PLEDGES $20 MILLION TO ATHLETICS
Tilman J. Fertitta, globally recognized entrepreneur and Chairman of the University of Houston System Board of Regents, presented a historic $20 million gift to the University of Houston to transform the UH basketball arena into a state of the art collegiate sports facility and rename the arena Fertitta Center. Fertitta's gift is the largest individual donation to UH Athletics.
The Fertitta gift is a significant step forward in the $60 million University of Houston Basketball capital renewal project for the center's design and renovation. Design work is currently underway. Renovations and construction are scheduled to follow the 2016-17 season, with completion expected during the 2018-19 season. Plans for the Cougars' home facility during the 2017-18 season have not been finalized.
The facility will feature a premium club area and a courtside club. The reconfigured bowl will move mid-court seating locations closer to game action with floor-level seating opposite the team benches for UH students. Renovations include a new audio system, sports lighting and video boards as well as new concession stands and expanded restrooms. The facility's exterior also will be refreshed.
Prominent to the center's exterior, the renovation will preserve the legacy of the Hofheinz family and its contributions to both UH and the city of Houston. UH will transform an area adjacent to the new facility into Hofheinz Plaza, where fans will be greeted by a bronze statue of former Harris County Judge Roy Hofheinz. The University of Houston will request that city officials rename a portion of Holman Street in front of the arena after the Hofheinz family. In addition, Roy Hofheinz's records will be permanently archived and publicly accessible as a special collection in the UH library and the Alumni Center will house an area describing the lives and public service of Roy and Irene Hofheinz.
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.
