Dorian Branch Reaches Scoring Milestone in Loss

Saturday, February 8

Greenville, NC

12 p.m.

University of Houston

12-12,5-5AAC

ECU

5-17,2-7AAC

Houston

East Carolina

2/8/2020 3:09:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Branch becomes 27th Cougar with 1,000 career-points

GREENSVILLE, N.C. – The University of Houston Women's Basketball team fell short in a 53-50 loss to ECU on Saturday afternoon at Minges Coliseum.

Dorian Branch's 22-point outing made her the 27^th Cougar to amass 1,000 career points and the fourth Cougar in the past two seasons under Head Coach Ronald Hughey.

GAME BOOK
BOX SCORE

HOW IT HAPPENED
Senior forward Dorian Branch anchored the Cougar offense in the first quarter, scoring the first couple of buckets for the squad. The Houston defense held ECU scoreless for over two minutes as both teams headed into the halfway point of the first quarter deadlocked at 6-6. UH struggled to get any points down the stretch but made multiple plays on the defensive end to maintain control of the game. Both teams headed into the quarter break with the score tied, 10-10.

ECU gained momentum in the second quarter, taking an early seven-point lead due efficient shooting and Houston turnovers. Plagued by turnovers, the Cougars headed into the break trailing, 23-17.

Tatyana Hill notched the first basket of the second half for either team, taking advantage of her size underneath. The Pirates continued to hold the advantage, outscoring Houston 5-0 on second chance opportunities. A three-pointer from Branch would get the Cougars within nine-points at the break as the squad headed into the break trailing, 38-27.

Branch paced the Cougars in the fourth quarter, scoring seven of her 22 points, including two three-pointers. Her efforts helped Houston nearly erase an 11-point deficit, getting within two points as time dwindle down. Houston was facing a seven-point deficit with 1:18 left on the clock before a three-pointer from Branch put Houston within four points, giving the senior 1,001 career-points. Hill notched a lay-up in the paint to make it a two-point game, before an untimely turnover on the inbounds gave the ball back to ECU following a pair of made free throws. Blackshell-Fair knocked down a jumper with three seconds remaining to get the Cougars within three points before a strong defensive effort from ECU to close out the game, resulted in a 53-50 loss for Houston.

ITEMS OF NOTE
LEADING SCORER: Branch; 22
LEADING REBOUNDER: Hill; 13
LEADING ASSISTANT: Blackshell-Fair; 9

Branch matched her previous career-high in made three-point baskets with five.
Blackshell-Fair surpassed her previous career-high in assists with nine and has had six or more assists in the last three games.
Hill notched 13 rebounds, her sixth game this season with 10 or more rebounds.

SINGLE-GAME TICKETS ON SALE NOW

Prices for single-game tickets for the 2019-20 season start as low as $8 for general admission. Floor seating and general admission club seating are also available for purchase.

New for the 2019-20 season are the Women's Basketball Flex Plans. One Flex Plan includes 10 general admission game vouchers. The vouchers can be redeemed all at once or can be used throughout the season for any combination of Houston Women's Basketball home games, excluding the Dec. 19 game against Southern Miss.

Tickets can be purchased by clicking HERE.

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--UHCougars.com--