University of Houston Athletics
Cougars Host Cincinnati Saturday
2/9/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
HOUSTON â€" The Houston Cougar Women's Basketball team returns to action on Saturday, when it hosts Cincinnati inside Hofheinz Pavilion. The contest will serve as Houston's annual Coogs for the Cure game, where the Cougars will wear pink jerseys and honor cancer survivors throughout the contest. Tipoff against the Bearcats is scheduled for 2 p.m.
In honor of Saturday's Coogs for the Cure game, Houston will offer free, pink Coogs for the Cure t-shirts to all fans while supplies last.
Fans 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 Cincinnati.
Coogs For The Cure â€" Saturday's contest will serve as Houston's annual Coogs for the Cure Game. The Cougars will wear pink uniforms and honor cancer survivors.
Blake's Hot Hand â€" Since returning to the starting lineup, senior Jacqueline Blake has been on fire. The Miami native has averaged 13.8 points per game over the last four contests. Blake's play earned her the American Conference Weekly Honor Roll award this week.
Freshman Sensation â€" Guard Jasmyne Harris has been one of the top freshmen in the American Conference this season. Harris has scored in double figures in 15 of the last 18 games and is averaging 12.9 points per game in that span.
So Much Depth â€" Houston's bench has played a key role in the scoring this season. The Cougars have won the bench points battle in 16 of their 24 games.
Stopping Cincy â€" Houston will have to find a way to slow down Cincinnati's big three. The trio of Ana Owens, Bianca Quisenberry and Shanice Johnson combined for 65 of UC's 85 points in the first meeting between the two teams.
SERIES vs. CINCINNATI
Saturday's game marks the 21st time the two teams will meet, including an 85-64 victory for Cincinnati earlier this season, on Jan. 7.
Cincinnati has won the last five contests in the series and holds a 5-2 advantage over the Cougars inside Hofheinz Pavilion.
The last time the two teams met in Houston, Cincinnati came away with a 67-61 victory on Feb. 20, 2016.
SCOUTING THE BEARCATS
Cincinnati enters play with a 14-9 overall record and a 5-5 mark in American play. The Bearcats have lost four straight contests, including a 96-49 defeat by No. 1/1 UConn on Tuesday at home.
As a team, the Bearcats score 63.7 points per game, while giving up 62.1 on defense. From the field, Cincinnati shoots 38.3 percent, while making 32.1 percent of their 3-point field goal attempts. Conversely, the Bearcats allow their opponents to shoot 38.4 percent overall, but hold opponents to 29.9 percent from deep.
Individually, Cincinnati has three players who average double-figure points per game. Shanice Johnson leads the squad with 15.5 points per contest, while Ana Owens adds 12.4 and Bianca Quisenberry contributes 10.2. Johnson narrowly misses averaging a double-double per game, pulling down 9.6 boards per contest to lead the team.
THE SEASON SO FAR
Houston enters play with a 9-15 record and a 2-9 mark in American Conference play after falling 85-59 to UCF on Wednesday.
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 9.8 points per game, while Chyanne Butler adds 8.8 per contest. Senior Kierra Graves led the Cougars with her first career 20-point game the last time the two teams met.
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 5.4 boards per game, while junior Brianne Coffman pulls down 4.5 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.
