University of Houston
8-2
ETSU
6-5
Houston Routs ETSU to Continue Winning Streak
12/10/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
HOUSTON â€" The Houston Cougar Women's Basketball team extended its winning streak to six consecutive games with an 88-69 victory over East Tennessee State, inside H&PE Arena on Sunday.
Houston grabbed the lead on the first possession of the game, when sophomore guard Angela Harris buried a 3-pointer just 20 seconds into the contest. Houston would never relinquish the lead, holding on for the final 39:40 of the game. After sophomore guard Jasmyne Harris knocked down a pair of free throws to make the score 5-0, ETSU picked up back-to-back buckets from Tianna Tarter and Erica Haynes-Overton to cut the lead to one.
However, the Cougars would answer with an 11-2 run over the next three minutes to push the lead to double digits for the first time. A pair of free throws from junior forward Myyah West, and a 3-pointer from Jasmyne Harris made the score 10-4, and after a bucket from Malloree Schurr, Houston scored the next six on a pair of buckets from West and a layup from junior Serithia Hawkins to make the score 16-6.
The Buccaneers were able to trim the lead to seven with just under four minutes to play in the first quarter, but the Cougars would not allow them to pull any closer, finishing the frame with six of the final 10 points to lead 23-14 after one. Houston shot 46.7 percent (7-of-15) from the field in the first quarter, including 3-of-6 (50.0 percent) from beyond the arc, while holding ETSU to 35.3 percent (6-of-17) and 0.0 percent (0-of-3), respectively.
The Cougars would push the lead to 15 points just three minutes into the second quarter. After Haynes-Overton hit a jumper in the lane to cut the lead to 24-16, Houston responded with a 7-0 flurry. Sophomore forward Dorian Branch pushed the lead back to double figures with a jumper, before Jasmyne Harris picked up an and-1 to make the score 29-16. Hawkins capped the run with a layup a minute later and the Cougars led 31-16.
ETSU cut the lead to 13 on the next possession on a layup from Haynes-Overton, and then again on a pair of Haynes-Overton free-throws at the 4:29 mark, but Octavia Barnes answered with a jumper the other way, and the lead would not dip below 15 for the remainder of the contest. The Cougars shot 60.0 percent from the field (9-of-15) in the second quarter, despite being 0-of-3 from deep, including 3-of-3 from Jasmyne Harris who also knocked down four free throws and scored 10 points in the period.
Houston took its first 20-point lead of the night just over three and a half minutes into the second half, when Angela Harris connected on her second 3-point bucket of the game to push the lead to 56-34 with 6:27 remaining in the third. Houston would hold on to at least a 20-point lead for the remainder of the third quarter, and led 75-51 heading into the final intermission.
Houston was led by Angela Harris in the quarter, with nine points after missing most of the first half due to foul trouble. Harris shot 4-of-6 from the field in the frame and helped Houston shoot 58.8 percent (10-of-17) overall. Houston outrebounded ETSU 15-8 in the third period, including a 7-4 mark on the offensive glass, leading to a 6-2 advantage in second-chance points.
The Cougars built their largest lead of the night at 27 points just over a minute into the fourth quarter. Branch opened the frame with a free throw, and Hawkins followed with a jumper to push the score to 78-51 with 8:52 remaining in the game.
ETSU responded with a quick 4-0 run thanks to four-straight points from Tarter, but Jasmyne Harris answered with four of her own to push the lead back to 27 at 82-55 with just 6:55 to play. ETSU would score 14 of the final 20 points in the contest, but would not cut the lead under 20 until the 2:41 mark when Tarter connected on a layup to cut the score to 84-65.
Senior Dionna Collins connected on her first jumper of the season with just 16 seconds to play to bring the score to the final of 88-69.
THE BASICS
Score: Houston 88 (8-2), ETSU 69 (6-5)
Date: Sunday, December 10, 2017
Location: H&PE Arena (Houston, Texas)
TURNING POINT
Houston led the contest for 39:40 and never trailed in the game after Angela Harris buried a 3-pointer 20 seconds into the game.
TOP PERFORMERS
Houston: The Cougars had a trio of players reach double-figures, including Jasmyne Harris who paced Houston on both offense and on the glass with 28 points and 10 rebounds for her third double-double of the season and fifth of her career. Angela Harris and Serithia Hawkins each added 12 points.
ETSU: The Buccaneers also had three players reach double figures, led by Tianna Tarter's team-high 19 points. Shy Copney scored 15 for ETSU, while Erica Haynes-Overton added 10 and Malloree Schurr paced the Bucs with seven boards.
NEWS AND NOTES
- Houston won its sixth consecutive game for the first time since winning 17 straight from Jan. 6-March 10, 2011.
- The Cougars' 88 points is the most they have scored in a contest since a 90-84 victory in overtime against Tulane on March 5, 2011. The 88 was the most Houston has scored in regulation since Dec. 30, 2010, when they defeated McNeese 93-63.
- The 19-point victory was the largest margin of victory under Head Coach Ronald Hughey. Houston had previously won by 18 under Hughey three times, with the most recent contest coming in a 63-45 victory over SMU on Jan. 3, 2015.
- Sophomore Angela Harris made a pair of 3-point baskets in the game, giving her 77 in her young career and moving her into 13th on the all-time Houston 3-pointers made list, passing Twiggy McIntyre (75; 2007-08) and Tanda Rucker (76; 1994-96).
- Sophomore Jasmyne Harris connected on three 3-point buckets to move her into 18th on the all-time Houston 3-pointers made list, passing Jessieka Palmer (63; 2010-16).
- Junior Serithia Hawkins scored 10 points in the contest, and her sixth point of the night gave her 600 in her career.
- Houston pulled down a season-high 52 rebounds in the game, including 18 on the offensive glass, leading to 17 second-chance points.
- Houston's 8-2 record means the Cougars are off to their best start since the 2010-11 squad opened the season 8-2.
- With the win, Houston improved to 1-1 all-time against East Tennessee State, while Hughey improved to 1-0.
UP NEXT FOR HOUSTON
The Cougars will have nearly a week off to rest, before returning to action at Rutgers, on Saturday, Dec. 16. Tipoff against the Scarlet Knights is scheduled for 5 p.m., in Piscataway, N.J.
TICKETS ON SALE NOW
Houston will play its 2017-18 home games inside H&PE Arena on the campus of nearby Texas Southern University while renovations continue on the $60 million Fertitta Center.
For the best value to enjoy all 13 regular-season home games, fans can purchase a Shasta Pass for just $80. With the Shasta Pass, fans enjoy admission into every Women's Basketball home game as well as remaining Volleyball and Soccer contests and Softball games in the spring.
Single game tickets are also available for games throughout the Women's Basketball season, starting as low as $3 for general admission and $20 for reserved floor seats if purchases are made online before gameday. Ticket sales on gameday or walkup sales begin at $5 for general admission and $20 for reserved floor seats.
Fans can purchase tickets by visiting UHCougars.com/tickets or by clicking HERE, or by calling the Houston Athletics Ticket Office at 713-GO-COOGS.
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.
