Houston Hits 12 3-Pointers in Win Over SMU

Wednesday, January 9

Dallas, Texas

7 p.m.

University of Houston

SMU

Houston

SMU

1/9/2019 10:12:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Cougars take third straight victory over in-state rivals with 72-61 decision

DALLAS – The Houston Cougar Women's Basketball team picked up its first American Athletic Conference win of the season with a 72-61 victory over SMU on Wednesday inside Moody Coliseum in Dallas.

SMU controlled the early going of the first quarter, holding a 5-4 lead midway through the frame, but the Cougars responded with and 8-0 run to grab the advantage. Junior forward Dorian Branch and Serithia Hawkins opened the run with back-to-back 3-pointers before Myyah West knocked down a layup to give the Cougars a 12-7 lead.

After SMU stopped the run on the following possession, Octavia Barnes knocked down her first 3-pointer of the contest to push the lead to 15-7, but the Mustangs answered with six of the final seven points of quarter the on buckets from Amber Bacon, Ariana Whitfield and Kayla White to cut the lead to 16-13 after one quarter.

Defenses took over in the second quarter, with neither team finding the scoreboard for nearly the first two minutes of the frame. Houston pushed the lead to five on a bucket from West and a pair of free throws from Branch, but SMU answered with a 6-0 run to take their first lead since early in the first quarter at 21-20.

The Cougars reversed the roles over the remainder of the half however, closing the quarter on a 10-4 run. Barnes sparked the spurt with another triple, which freshman Dymond Gladney followed with a 3-pointer of her own after a Mustang bucket. With the score set at 27-25 in the waning seconds, Serithia Hawkins beat the buzzer from deep to give Houston a 30-25 led at the half.

Houston blew the game wide open in the third quarter, using a 12-2 run over the opening minutes of the frame. Barnes opened the half with a triple, and after a Mustang bucket, Branch knocked down another 3-pointer and West added five-straight points to give Houston a 42-27 advantage.

The Cougars pushed the lead to 16 on another 3-ball from Branch two possessions later, but SMU worked the lead back down to 10 with a 12-6 spurt to end the quarter. Johnasia Cash and Alicia Froling added six and four points, respectively, in the run.

SMU had one final push in the fourth quarter, which they opened by holding the Cougars scoreless for the first 3:27 of the frame. In that span, SMU cut the lead to four with a 6-0 run to start the quarter. Cash added six more points in the spurt and finished the contest with 14.

The Cougars pushed the lead back to nine with a pair of free throws from Hawkins and Angela Harris' first bucket of the game from deep. SMU had one final push, scoring the next five points to cut the lead back to four at 56-52, but the Mustangs would not pull any closer, and the Cougars scored on eight of their final 10 possessions to take the contest 72-61.

THE BASICS
Score: Houston 72, SMU 61
Date: Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019
Location: Dallas, Texas | Moody Coliseum

TOP PERFORMERS
Houston: Houston had four players reach double-figures in scoring including Dorian Branch and Octavia Barnes, who each matched their career highs. Branch finished with a game-high 20 points, while Barnes added 15 for the second-consecutive game. Serithia Hawkins and Myyah West finished with 12 points apiece, with West's total matching her season-high. Serithia Hawkins led the Cougars on the glass with eight rebounds.

SMU: The Mustangs had a pair of players reach double-figures including Alicia Froling's team-high 16 points. Johnasia Cash added 14 points and completed the double-double with a game-high 12 rebounds.

NEWS AND NOTES

Houston made a season-high 12 3-pointers in the contest, finishing 12-of-29 from the field. Conversely, the Cougars held SMU to 0-of-10 shooting from beyond the arc.
With eight rebounds in the game, Serithia Hawkins now has 825 in her career, moving her past Sonya Watkins (821; 1982-86) for fifth all-time at Houston.
Houston matched a season-high with 20 assists including five each from Julia Blackshell-Fair and Serithia Hawkins.
Tatyana Hill blocked three shots for the Cougars, giving her a career-high.

UP NEXT FOR HOUSTON
The Cougars return to action on Saturday, Jan. 12, when they take on Temple inside the Fertitta Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m., and the Houston Cougar Men's Basketball team will follow with a contest against Wichita State at 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.