University of Houston Athletics
Cougars Wrap Regular Season at SMU
2/26/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
DALLAS â€" The Houston Cougar Women's Basketball team wraps the 2016-17 regular season with a trip to meet in-state rival SMU on Monday. Tipoff against the Mustangs is scheduled for 7 p.m., with the game airing live on the American Digital Network.
Fans can catch all of Monday's action live via the American Digital Network with Lincoln Rose and Angela Beck on the call. Fans can also hear the game live via Houston's home for Women's Basketball Radio, UHCougars.com/wbbradio. Live statistics are also available through SideArm, and the official Twitter account of Houston Women's Basketball, @UHCougarWBB, will offer updates throughout the game. LIVE VIDEO | | TWITTER
THE STARTING FIVE
Here are five names, numbers, news items and storylines that you need to know about Monday's game at SMU.
Season Finale â€" Monday's matchup with the Mustangs will serve as the regular-season finale. Houston will head to the American Athletic Conference Championship on Friday.
What's at Stake? â€" A Houston win, or a Tulsa loss, on Monday means that the Cougars would clinch the No. 9 seed in the American Athletic Conference Championship.
Freshman Sensation â€" 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.
Blake's Hot Hand â€" Since moving back into the starting lineup, Jacqueline Blake has been on fire, averaging 14.4 points per contest in the last eight games.
All Too Well â€" Houston and SMU's rivalry runs deep, with the two teams having met 56 previous times in their histories.
SERIES vs. SMU
The in-state rivals have met 56 previous times in school history, dating back to a 77-71 win for the Cougars on Jan. 13, 1981. Houston leads the all-time series 32-24.
The Cougars hold the series advantage while playing in Dallas 16-10, and beat the Mustangs 63-54 on Feb. 27, 2016, the last time the two squads met at SMU.
SCOUTING THE MUSTANGS
SMU enters play on Monday with a 15-13 overall record and a 6-9 mark in American Athletic Conference play after falling to UCF 63-37 on Saturday. The loss snapped a 2-game winning streak for the Mustangs.
As a team, the Mustangs average 59.0 points per game, while allowing opponents to score 59.2. SMU shoots 36.9 percent from the field and 26.0 from beyond the 3-point line while allowing opponents to shoot 35.2 percent and 31.9 percent respectively.
Individually, the Mustangs are led offensively by a pair of players who average double-figure scoring. Alicia Froling contributes 14.2 points per game, while McKenzie Adams adds 11.9. Froling has led the team with 200 rebounds this season, a pace of 10.5 rebounds per game, to average a double-double per contest.
THE SEASON SO FAR
Houston enters play with an 11-17 record and a 4-11 mark in American Conference play after defeating East Carolina 81-65 in the Hofheinz Pavilion finale on Saturday.
Houston has been led offensively by freshman guard Jasmyne Harris who has tallied 11.6 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 7.9 rebounds per contest. Jasmyne Harris is averaging 5.6 boards per game, while junior Brianne Coffman pulls down 4.4 per game.
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.
