Houston Falls in American Championship Quarterfinals

Saturday, March 9

Uncasville, Conn.

11 a.m.

University of Houston

15-15

USF

18-14

USF

Houston

Houston Falls in American Championship Quarterfinals

3/9/2019 2:44:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score PDF Box Score Press Conference

Cougars struggle offensively in the third quarter of loss Bulls

HOUSTON –The Houston Cougars Women's basketball team fell, 72-55 in the 2019 American Athletic Conference Women's Basketball quarterfinals to fifth-seeded USF on Saturday afternoon at the Mohegan Sun Arena.

After earning its first, first-round bye in program-history since joining The American, the fifth-seed Cougars finish the season with a 15-15 mark, that includes a 9-7 record in conference play.

Houston came out of the gate aggressively, forcing six USF turnovers in the first period, and taking a 11-9 lead after the first 10 minutes of play. The frame was highlighted by five points from senior Serithia Hawkins who helped Houston outscore USF 8-0 in the paint.

With a two-point lead, the Cougars Julia Blackshell-Fair got to work, hitting a pair of jumpshots and dishing out a team-high four assists. Blackshell-Fair's favorite target was Alyssa Okoene who gave USF trouble underneath after scoring eight points, including a 4-of-5 from the free throw line. Houston would head into the break leading the Bulls 34-33.

Houston would score four quick baskets in the opening minute of the third quarter, followed by a 7-0 run from USF to give the Bulls a 46-38 advantage. Dorian Branch would hit a jumper, only to be followed up by eight unanswered USF points to force the Cougars to head to the fourth quarter trailing 54-40.

Branch would pace Houston, scoring 10 of her team-high 13 points in the fourth quarter. The Cougars would get as close as 16 points in the final frame, hitting 8-of-8 from the free throw line before eventually falling in a 72-55 decision to the Bulls.

THE BASICS
Score: Houston 55, USF 72
Date: Saturday, March 9, 2019
Location: Uncasville, Conn. | Mohegan Sun Arena

TOP PERFORMERS
HOUSTON: The Cougars saw two players reach double figures in scoring, Branch led the team with 13 points, while Okoene added 10. Serithia Hawkins posted led the team in rebounds with eight and Blackshell-Fair led the team in assists, matching her career-high with five. Barnes has now hit at least one three-pointer in the last 21 games.

USF: USF finished the game with three players in double figures. Ena Pehadzic led the team with 16 points. Tamara Henshaw led the Bulls on the boards with seven rebounds and Elisa Pinzan and Sydni Harvey finished with four assists.

NEWS AND NOTES

Houston drops to 15-15 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 32.1 percent from the field, compared to 49.0 percent from USF. Houston was outrebounded by USF 40-27, hitting 4-of-17 from long-range.
The Cougars force 16 USF turnovers for its 25 game this season with at least 15 forced turnovers.

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--