Tatyana Hill Leads Houston to Road Win at ETSU

Saturday, December 1

Johnson City, Tenn.

1 p.m.

University of Houston

4-5

East Tennessee State

1-9

Houston

ETSU

12/1/2018 4:22:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PFD)

Cougars storm back from 11 points down to defeat Bucs

Johnson City, Tenn. – The Houston Cougar Women's Basketball team wrapped up a short 2-game road trip with an 84-77 victory over East Tennessee State on Saturday inside Brooks Gymnasium in Johnson City, Tenn.

Houston grabbed an early 4-0 lead on a pair of buckets from Alyssa Okoene and Angela Harris, but ETSU would tighten the defense over the middle of the quarter. The Bucs opened a 17-2 run on a layup from Sadasia Tipps with 8:38 remaining in the quarter. Then, with the score tied at 6-6, Lexus Spears scored five of her game-high 21 points as the Bucs netted 11 straight to take a 17-6 lead.

Houston would answer with a run of its own however, using an 8-0 spurt to claw back into the game. Julia Blackshell-Fair stopped the Bucs run with a jumper before Tatyana Hill added four-straight points on a pair of free throws and a layup, and Dorian Branch capped the run with a bucket to cut the lead back to 17-14 with 1:43 to play in the quarter.

The teams would trade buckets over the remainder of the period, and ETSU held a 22-17 advantage after one. The Cougars held a 14-9 advantage on the glass in the first frame, including an 8-3 mark on the offensive glass, leading to six second-chance points to keep the game close.

Houston kept the momentum going into the second period, scoring 10 of the quarter's first 12 points to grab the lead back from the Bucs. Myyah West opened the quarter with a bucket to pull back within three, and after each team traded scores, Dymond Gladney and Jasmyne Harris knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers to erase an 11-point deficit and give Houston a 27-24 lead.

Houston built their lead to five and held it there throughout the majority of the second quarter, thanks to 47.6 percent (10-of-21) shooting in the quarter including a 3-of-4 mark from beyond the 3-point line. Houston again dominated the glass in the quarter, using a 15-6 advantage and 10 more second-chance points to take a 46-38 lead into the intermission.

ETSU worked the lead back down to five early in the third quarter with five-straight points after the Cougars pushed the lead to 10. However, Houston would answer with an 11-0 run to extend the margin to the largest of the game at 59-43. Tatyana Hill scored six of her team-high 18 points in the run.

The Bucs would answer however, striking up a 10-0 run of their own. Spears started the streak with a bucket before the Bucs picked up a pair of free throws from Upton. ETSU followed with back-to-back 3-pointers from Raven Dean and Taisha Murphy to cut the lead back to five, and the quarter ended with Houston leading 63-58.

ETSU carried its momentum into the early moments of the fourth quarter, rattling off seven of the first nine points in the period to tie the score at 65. Houston would never relinquish the lead however, and after Okoene regained the lead with a free throw, Branch connected on a 3-pointer before Octavia Barnes added a bucket to push the lead to 71-65 with just 4:47 remaining.

ETSU cut the lead back to four with a jumper from Spears on the ensuing possession, however they would never get any closer, and the Cougars would knock down 6-of-8 free throws down the stretch to take the contest 84-77.

THE BASICS
Score: Houston 84, East Tennessee State 77
Date: Saturday, December 1, 2018
Location: Johnson City, Tenn. | Brooks Gymnasium

TOP PERFORMERS
Houston: Houston had four players reach double figures in scoring, including a career-high 18 from Tatyana Hill to pace the team. Angela Harris finished with 15 points, while Dorian Branch added 13 and Alyssa Okoene scored 10. Octavia Barnes paced the Cougars on the glass with 11 rebounds, while her four assists also led the squad.

East Tennessee State: The Bucs had three players reach double figures in scoring, including a game-high 21 from Lexus Spears on 10-of-13 shooting. Kaia Upton and Erica Haynes-Overton each finished the contest with 11 points. Haynes-Overton and Brittney Snowden tied for the team lead with seven rebounds.

NEWS AND NOTES

Houston pulled down 14 more rebounds than ETSU, winning the battle on the glass 47-33. The Cougars outrebounded ETSU on the offensive end 21-9, leading to a 19-12 advantage in second-chance points.
Houston forced 26 turnovers in the contest, topping its season average which sat at 25.88 per game entering the game. The Cougars scored 27 points off turnovers.
The Cougars blocked six shots in the contest, giving them an average of 8.0 blocks per game over the week.
Houston shot 50.0 percent (5-of-10) from beyond the 3-point line, a season best.
With two offensive rebounds in the game, senior Serithia Hawkins now has 295 in her career, moving her to fifth on the all-time offensive rebounding list at Houston and passing Kiemona Harris (294; 2001-05).
Hawkins also hit a milestone on the defensive glass, pulling down four rebounds and giving her 481 in her career, which moves her past Chandi Jones (479; 2000-04) for fourth all-time at Houston.
Freshman Dymond Gladney finished the contest with a career-high eight points.
Senior Octavia Barnes matched a career-high with her 11 rebounds.

UP NEXT FOR HOUSTON
Houston ushers in a new era of Cougar Basketball on Thursday, Dec. 6, when it plays host to Texas A&M in the team's first game inside the Fertitta Center. Tipoff against the Aggies is scheduled for 6 p.m.

SEASON TICKETS ON SALE NOW
Season tickets for the 2018-19 season are on sale now and start at just $50 for General Admission seating and feature options for reserved seating as well.

Houston has also opened up a 4-game mini plan option beginning at $20 for General Admission seating and ranging to $30 for Priority Seating. With the mini plan, fans can choose four games from any of Houston's 13 home games throughout the 2018-19 season.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit UHCougars.com/tickets or click HERE. Fans can also reach the UH Ticket Office by phone at 713-GO-COOGS (462-6647).

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.