Houston Falls to UCF on Senior Night

Monday, March 4

Houston, Texas

7 p.m.

University of Houston

15-14

UCF

24-5

UCF

Houston

3/4/2019 10:53:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score 2019 American Championship Bracket UCF BOX

Cougars struggle offensively in loss to Knights

HOUSTON –The Houston Cougars Women's basketball team dropped its regular-season finale in a 59-50 loss to rv UCF on Monday night at the Fertitta Center.

Houston came out slow, falling behind early after UCF opened the contest with 10-0 run, taking a 10-2 lead at the midway point of the first quarter. Houston would close out the frame with two field goals, trailing 14-4.

The Cougars picked things up in the second quarter, gaining ground on both ends of the court. Freshman forward Tatyana Hill would emerge as threat for the Cougars, sinking a pair of timely baskets and earning a big block on the defensive end as Houston looked to cut the UCF lead. Houston would head into the break trailing, 27-20 after Dorian Branch and Octavia Barnes hit three-pointers to give the Cougars a boost heading into the half trailing, 20-27.

Houston would continue to make timely plays on the defensive end, but an 11-0 run from UCF at the end of the quarter would give the Knights a 46-33 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Trailing by 13 points, Houston came out energized in the final frame, outscoring UCF 17-13 in the fourth quarter. Julia Blackshell-Fair would come up big for Houston when it counted most, snagging a pair of rebounds for easy putback lay-ins to cut the UCF deficit. Seniors Octavia Barnes and Serithia Hawkins would show leadership as the time winded down as Barnes sank a pair of three-pointers and Hawkins showed her strength inside with a lay-up and made free throw. Houston would come as close as six points, but ultimately fall to the Knights in a 59-50 decision.

THE BASICS
Score: Houston 50, UCF 59
Date: Monday, March 4, 2019
Location: Houston, Texas | Fertitta Center

TOP PERFORMERS
HOUSTON: The Cougars saw three players reach double figures in scoring, Barnes led the team with 15 points, while Branch and Blackshell-Fair each added 10. Branch posted led the team in rebounds with nine and Harris led the team in assists with four. Barnes has now hit at least one three-pointer in the last 20 games.

UCF: UCF finished the game with one players in double figures. Korneila Wright led the team with 21 points. Nyala Shuler and Masseny Kaba led the Knights on the boards with six rebounds each and Lawriell Wilson finished with three assists.

NEWS AND NOTES

Houston drops to 15-14 on the season and 9-7 in conference play. The Cougars have matched their regular-season record from last season at 9-7.
The Cougars shot 36.5 percent from the field, compared to 42.6 percent from UCF. Houston outrebounded UCF 37-33, but struggled from the three-point line, hitting 5-of-33 attempts form behind-the-arc.
The Cougars fourth-place finish in The American is a program-best under Head Coach Ronald Hughey.

UP NEXT FOR HOUSTON
Houston will head to Mohegan Sun Arena on Thursday and sit out the opening round of the 2019 American Athletic Conference Championship due to its first-round bye. Houston will play the winner of #5 USF vs. #12 Tulane on Saturday at 11 a.m. CT on ESPN3.

AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP TICKETS ON SALE NOW
Individual session tickets may be purchased at the Mohegan Sun Arena box office, which is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 12 p.m.- 8 p.m. on Saturday and 12 p.m.-6 p.m. on Sunday.

Tickets may also be purchased online, at www.MoheganSun.com or www.Ticketmaster.com, by telephone at (800) 745-3000, or through the ticket offices of all 12 American Athletic Conference institutions.

Ticket packages, which include admission to all four days of competition – a total of 11 games – remain available for $109 each, more than 30 percent off the face value of individual session tickets. Information on discounts for groups of 10 or more people is available through the Connecticut Sun Group Sales Department at (860) 862-4000.

Fans can watch the entire tournament on ESPN platforms, including ESPN3, ESPNU and ESPN2.

For more information on and continuing coverage of the American Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Championship, please visit Championship Central at www.theamerican.org/wbb.

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.

--UHCougars.com--