Cougars Capture Defensive Battle Against Southeastern Louisiana

HOUSTON – Behind a double-double from redshirt senior guard Leilani Augmon, the University of Houston Women's Basketball program outlasted Southeastern Louisiana, 70-65, on Sunday afternoon inside Fertitta Center.

Houston (3-7) opened the game with just seven available players and had its top two leading scorers foul out. For a second-straight game, graduate guard Laila Blair led the team in points with 19, followed by graduate guard Eylia Love's 17 points. Sophomore guard Kierra Merchant posted 14 while Augmon recorded her first double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

The first quarter was a quarter of runs after Southeastern Louisiana (6-3) opened the game with a 6-0 surge. Houston responded with a 12-2 run before the Lions scored another six-straight points to take a 14-12 lead.

Although the Lady Lions opened the second stanza with a 9-0 run, Houston responded with an explosive 19-3 stretch led by Blair, Love and Augmon. The Cougars headed to the locker room with a 34-29 advantage.

Southeastern Louisiana opened the third with a 10-2 run to regain a one-point edge. Merchant knocked down a 3-pointer after the media timeout to give Houston a 40-39 lead. Both teams continued to battle with three ties in the final four minutes of play. Love fouled out of the game as she picked up a foul and was issued a technical. The Lady Lions ended the quarter in front, 47-45.

The fourth quarter was the Blair and Merchant show, as the pair combined for 18 of Houston's 25 points. Southeastern Louisiana started the final stanza with a five-point lead, but Houston posted a 7-0 run with five points from Merchant. The Lady Lions regained the lead off a 3-point play, but another 7-0 run, including five points by Blair, gave Houston the 62-56 lead.

With 29.2 seconds, Blair picked up her fifth foul and a 5-0 run by the Lady Lions put them within two. Six made free throws in the final 23 seconds of play sealed the victory for the Cougars.

UP NEXT
The Cougars close out non-conference action hosting Mississippi Valley State on Tuesday, Dec. 17, at 11 a.m. for Education Day.

Houston opens Big 12 Conference play on the road against Texas Tech on Sunday, Dec. 22 at 2 p.m. The Cougars return to Fertitta Center for two games, hosting Kansas State on Wednesday, Jan. 1 at 2 p.m., and Arizona State on Saturday, Jan. 4 at 6 p.m.

SUPPORT YOUR COOGS
Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Women's Basketball by purchasing single game tickets, supporting LinkingCoogs – UH's very own NIL collective – and by joining the Fast Break Club which provides support directly to Houston Women's Basketball for needs beyond its operating budget.

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