Sunday, January 6
Houston, Texas
11 a.m.
University of Houston
61
vs
81
UConn
1
2
3
4
F
UConn
24
27
19
11
81
Houston
21
9
15
16
61
Houston Falls to 1/1 UConn 81-61
1/6/2019 2:06:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Serithia Hawkins reaches 1,000-point plateau in 10-point effort
HOUSTON – The Houston Cougar Women's Basketball team dropped an 81-61 decision to No. 1/1 UConn in its American Athletic Conference opener on Sunday inside the Fertitta Center.
Houston and UConn traded buckets to open the contest before Houston grabbed its first lead of the game at 7-6 on a 3-point bucket from Octavia Barnes with 8:06 remaining in the first quarter. Houston pushed the lead to three on the next possession with a layup from Angela Harris before UConn scored four straight on buckets from Crystal Dangerfield and Katie Lou Samuelson to regain the lead at 10-9.
The Cougars responded, however, with Jasmyne Harris drilling a 3-point bucket to regain the lead for Houston at 12-10. However UConn rattled off the next seven points to take a 17-12 advantage. Houston inched back to within one just two minutes later after buckets from Jasmyne Harris, Octavia Barnes and Angela Harris before UConn closed the frame with four of the last six points to take a 24-21 lead into the first intermission.
UConn opened the second quarter on the strength of a 12-3 run, including 11 straight after Houston's first bucket, to take its first double-digit lead of the game. Dangerfield opened the quarter with a pair of free throws, and after a Barnes jumper, UConn scored the next 11 including five from Samuelson to take a 37-26 advantage.
Houston worked the lead back down to single digits after freshman Tatyana Hill scored five-straight points for the Cougars to cut the lead to 37-28 with at the under-5 media timeout. UConn responded however, scoring 14 of the final 16 points of the quarter to take a 51-30 lead at halftime.
The Cougars' first basket of the second half was a historic one as senior Serithia Hawkins grabbed an offensive rebound and laid the putback in. For Hawkins, the basket gave her 1,000 points in her career, making her the 25th player in program history to reach that plateau.
The Cougars controlled the early goings of the third quarter, using a 10-3 run over the first four minutes to cut the lead to 56-40 with 7:19 to play. After Hawkins' bucket, the Cougars picked up a score from Octavia Barnes and a pair of free throws from Julia Blackshell-Fair to trim the lead to 16. Following a 3-pointer from Samuelson, Hawkins answered with a triple of her own to end the run.
UConn clamped down on defense the rest of the quarter, however, holding the Cougars scoreless until Barnes knocked down a 3-pointer at the buzzer. The Huskies used an 11-0 run between Houston buckets to take a 70-45 advantage into the final 10 minutes.
Houston showed incredible resilience in the fourth quarter, winning the frame 16-11. The Huskies pushed the lead to 77-48 early, but the Cougars responded with eight-straight points over the middle of the period. Alyssa Okoene and Dorian Branch started the run with a free throw each before Branch knocked down her first 3-pointer of the game, and Okoene followed with two more from the charity stripe.
Houston got two more free throws from Blackshell-Fair and another 3-pointer from Hawkins the remainder of the way.
THE BASICS
Score: 1/1 UConn 81, Houston 61
Date: Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019
Location: Houston, Texas | Fertitta Center
TOP PERFORMERS
Houston: The Cougars had a pair of players reach double figures in scoring, including Octavia Barnes' team-high 15 points, which matches her career best. Serithia Hawkins also reached double digits with 10 points while pacing the Cougars on the glass with eight rebounds.
UConn: All five UConn starters reached double figures in scoring, led by a game-high 19 points from Katie Lou Samuelson. Napheesa Collier added 18 points and a game-high nine rebounds, while Megan Walker scored 14, Crystal Dangerfield had 13 and Christyn Williams scored 12.
NEWS AND NOTES
UP NEXT FOR HOUSTON
Houston returns to action on Wednesday, Jan. 9, when they meet SMU in Dallas, Texas. Tipoff against the Mustangs is scheduled for 7 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.
Houston and UConn traded buckets to open the contest before Houston grabbed its first lead of the game at 7-6 on a 3-point bucket from Octavia Barnes with 8:06 remaining in the first quarter. Houston pushed the lead to three on the next possession with a layup from Angela Harris before UConn scored four straight on buckets from Crystal Dangerfield and Katie Lou Samuelson to regain the lead at 10-9.
The Cougars responded, however, with Jasmyne Harris drilling a 3-point bucket to regain the lead for Houston at 12-10. However UConn rattled off the next seven points to take a 17-12 advantage. Houston inched back to within one just two minutes later after buckets from Jasmyne Harris, Octavia Barnes and Angela Harris before UConn closed the frame with four of the last six points to take a 24-21 lead into the first intermission.
UConn opened the second quarter on the strength of a 12-3 run, including 11 straight after Houston's first bucket, to take its first double-digit lead of the game. Dangerfield opened the quarter with a pair of free throws, and after a Barnes jumper, UConn scored the next 11 including five from Samuelson to take a 37-26 advantage.
Houston worked the lead back down to single digits after freshman Tatyana Hill scored five-straight points for the Cougars to cut the lead to 37-28 with at the under-5 media timeout. UConn responded however, scoring 14 of the final 16 points of the quarter to take a 51-30 lead at halftime.
The Cougars' first basket of the second half was a historic one as senior Serithia Hawkins grabbed an offensive rebound and laid the putback in. For Hawkins, the basket gave her 1,000 points in her career, making her the 25th player in program history to reach that plateau.
The Cougars controlled the early goings of the third quarter, using a 10-3 run over the first four minutes to cut the lead to 56-40 with 7:19 to play. After Hawkins' bucket, the Cougars picked up a score from Octavia Barnes and a pair of free throws from Julia Blackshell-Fair to trim the lead to 16. Following a 3-pointer from Samuelson, Hawkins answered with a triple of her own to end the run.
UConn clamped down on defense the rest of the quarter, however, holding the Cougars scoreless until Barnes knocked down a 3-pointer at the buzzer. The Huskies used an 11-0 run between Houston buckets to take a 70-45 advantage into the final 10 minutes.
Houston showed incredible resilience in the fourth quarter, winning the frame 16-11. The Huskies pushed the lead to 77-48 early, but the Cougars responded with eight-straight points over the middle of the period. Alyssa Okoene and Dorian Branch started the run with a free throw each before Branch knocked down her first 3-pointer of the game, and Okoene followed with two more from the charity stripe.
Houston got two more free throws from Blackshell-Fair and another 3-pointer from Hawkins the remainder of the way.
THE BASICS
Score: 1/1 UConn 81, Houston 61
Date: Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019
Location: Houston, Texas | Fertitta Center
TOP PERFORMERS
Houston: The Cougars had a pair of players reach double figures in scoring, including Octavia Barnes' team-high 15 points, which matches her career best. Serithia Hawkins also reached double digits with 10 points while pacing the Cougars on the glass with eight rebounds.
UConn: All five UConn starters reached double figures in scoring, led by a game-high 19 points from Katie Lou Samuelson. Napheesa Collier added 18 points and a game-high nine rebounds, while Megan Walker scored 14, Crystal Dangerfield had 13 and Christyn Williams scored 12.
NEWS AND NOTES
- Senior forward Serithia Hawkins became the 25th Cougar in program history to reach 1,000 career points with her bucket early in the second half.
- Hawkins became just the sixth player in school history to reach 1,000 points and 800 rebounds in her career.
- Hawkins (503) pulled down four defensive rebounds in the game, making her the fourth Cougar to record 500 career defensive rebounds.
- Hawkins' four offensive rebounds gave her 314 in her career and moved her into fourth all-time on the Houston career offensive rebound charts, passing ShaRonda Lasseter (312; 1997-01).
- With a pair of 3-pointers in the game, junior guard Jasmyne Harris now has 161 in her career, moving her into a tie for third all-time at Houston with Jana Crosby (1988-90).
- Junior guard Angela Harris came away with three steals in the contest, giving her 177 in her career and moving her into 12th all-time at Houston. Harris passed Arelene Brown (176; 1987-91), Cynthia Jackson (176; 1989-93) and Jennifer Jones (175; 1994-98) in the effort.
- Houston forced UConn to turn the ball over 18 times in the game. The Cougars have forced at least 15 turnovers in all 14 games this season, while the 18 for UConn was a season high.
UP NEXT FOR HOUSTON
Houston returns to action on Wednesday, Jan. 9, when they meet SMU in Dallas, Texas. Tipoff against the Mustangs is scheduled for 7 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.
Team Stats
F-164
F-288
FG%
.559
.354
3FG%
.263
.308
FT%
.625
.778
RB
41
30
TO
18
18
STL
11
11
Game Leaders
Pts
15
FGM
6
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
9
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's Basketball
F
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