Women’s Basketball Takes Down High Point

Sunday, November 23

Houston, Texas

2 p.m.

University of Houston

4-2,0-0Big 12

High Point

5-1,0-0Big South

High Point

Houston

11/23/2025 4:58:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Game Book (PDF)

Merchant scores 18 points, Jones posts first career double-double on Sunday

By: Pierre Broussard

HOUSTON – Freshman forward Jade Jones' first career double-double and junior guard Kierra Merchant's 18-point performance lifted the University of Houston Women's Basketball team to a 67-57 victory over High Point at the Fertitta Center on Sunday.

Three Cougars reached double-digit scoring on the day as Merchant led the side with 18, followed by Jones' 16 points paired with 12 rebounds. Redshirt senior guard Kyndall Hunter tallied 13 points on a team-leading three 3-pointers made on the day. Houston comes out victorious in the first meeting between both programs while Head Coach Matthew Mitchell improves to 3-0 in his coaching career against the Panthers.

The Cougars (4-2) started hot with graduate forward Amirah Abdur-Rahim hitting her fourth-career 3-pointer to start the game. Both teams traded buckets early in the frame before Houston jumped out to a 14-9 lead following back-to-back triples from Hunter. High Point (5-1) ended the quarter with a quiet 4-0 run as the Cougars led 14-13 after one.

Houston stretched out a 10-0 run to open the quarter as it led 24-13 at the media break. The Panthers responded with an 8-2 spurt to cut the deficit to 26-21. High Point rode its momentum to open another 7-2 run to level the score before graduate guard Kateri Poole hit a jumper with just over a minute left in the period to give Houston a 30-28 lead at the half.

The third quarter went back-and-forth as the Panthers took their first lead since the opening minutes at 42-40. The Cougars responded in kind with a 7-0 run to close out the third, thanks to five-straight points from Merchant to lead 47-42.

Entering the fourth, High Point kept the game tight as it maintained a five-point deficit at 56-51. The Cougars would outscore the Panthers 14-7 in the closing stages of the game to secure the victory.

UP NEXT
The Cougars head to Nassau, The Bahamas, to compete in the Baha Mar Hoops Nassau Championship Goombay Division featuring Houston, Arkansas State, Kent State and Tulsa, beginning Friday. The games will be streamed on FloCollege.

Houston will play the first round game against Arkansas State at 12:30 p.m., CT, Friday, while Kent State and Tulsa will face each other at 10 a.m., CT.

The winners will play in the Championship game scheduled at 12:30 p.m., CT, Sunday, and the losing teams will play in the consolation match at 10 a.m., CT., Sunday.

SUPPORT YOUR COOGS
Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Women's Basketball by providing NIL opportunities and by joining Full Court Press, which provides support directly to Houston Women's Basketball for needs beyond its operating budget.

STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarWBB on X, formerly known as Twitter, and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at UHCougarWBB or on the team's Instagram page at @UHCougarWBB.

– UHCougars.com –