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University of Houston Athletics
Cougars Host ECU on Senior Day
2/23/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
HOUSTON -- The Houston Cougar Women's Basketball team wraps up the home portion of its 2016-17 schedule when it welcomes East Carolina to Hofheinz Pavilion on Saturday. Tipoff against the Pirates is scheduled for 2 p.m.
Saturday's contest will be a memorable one for multiple reasons. Prior to the game, Houston will honor its two seniors, Kierra Graves and Jacqueline Blake. The Cougars will present the graduating seniors with gifts in a pregame ceremony. Saturday's game will also serve as the final women's basketball game inside Hofheinz Pavilion before the arena undergoes major renovations immediately following the season.
Houston will also welcome back a large number of its women's basketball alumni at Saturday's contest. Members from teams throughout the decades will be in attendance to celebrate the final game inside Hofheinz Pavilion.
Fans who cannot make it to Hofheinz on Saturday can hear the game live via Houston's home for Women's Basketball Radio, UHCougars.com/wbbradio. Live statistics are also available through , and the official Twitter account of Houston Women's Basketball, @UHCougarWBB, will offer updates throughout the game. | TWITTER
THE STARTING FIVE
Here are five names, numbers, news items and storylines that you need to know about Saturday's game against East Carolina.
Senior Night -- Saturday's contest will serve as Houston's senior night. The team will honor its two graduating seniors, Kierra Graves and Jacqueline Blake.
One Final Run -- The East Carolina game will be the final women's basketball game inside historic Hofheinz Pavilion. The pavilion will undergo renovations following the 2016-17 season and become the Fertitta Center.
Freshman Sensation -- Jasmyne Harris has been one of the top freshman in the American Conference this season. Harris leads the league in points per game, field goals made and 3-point field goals made, while ranking among the top-5 freshmen in seven other categories.
Season Sweep -- The Cougars will look to sweep the season series with East Carolina after they defeated the Pirates 73-62 in Greenville, N.C., earlier this season.
Encore, Encore -- Houston had four players score in double figures the last time it met East Carolina, including a team-high 19 from freshman Angela Harris.
SERIES vs. EAST CAROLINA
Saturday's game marks the 18th time the two teams will meet and the 10th time inside Hofheinz Pavilion.
Houston holds the all-time series advantage at 10-7 after defeating the Pirates 73-62 earlier this season. At home against East Carolina, the Cougars are 5-4 all-time.
East Carolina claimed the last contest against the two teams inside Hofheinz Pavilion. On Feb. 17, 2016, the Pirates came away with a 68-59 victory.
SCOUTING THE PIRATES
East Carolina enters play on Saturday with an 11-17 overall record and a 2-13 mark in American Athletic Conference play after beating Cincinnati 80-69 on Wednesday. The win for the Pirates snapped an 11-game losing streak that dated back to Jan. 11.
As a team, the Pirates score 62.2 points per game while allowing opponents to average 70.4. East Carolina shoots 40.1 percent from the field and 31.4 percent from beyond the 3-point line, while allowing their opponents to shoot 42.3 percent and 29.9 percent respectively.
Individually, the Pirates are led offensively by a pair of players who average double-figure scoring. Kristen Gaffney paces East Carolina with 14.9 points per game, while Bre McDonald contributes 11.8 per contest. The duo has also dominated the glass for the Pirates, with Gaffney pulling down a team-best 6.5 rebounds per game, while McDonald tallies 6.1.
THE SEASON SO FAR
Houston enters play with a 10-17 record and a 3-11 mark in American Conference play after falling to USF 79-50 inside Hofheinz Pavilion on Tuesday.
Houston has been led offensively by freshman guard Jasmyne Harris who has tallied 11.0 points per contest. Freshman guard Angela Harris ranks second on the team at 9.7 points per game, while Chyanne Butler adds 8.3 per contest.
The Cougars have been impressive on the glass this season, led by Serithia Hawkins who has pulled down 7.7 rebounds per contest. Jasmyne Harris is averaging 5.5 boards per game, while junior Brianne Coffman pulls down 4.4 per game.
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.
