Angela Harris scored career-high 32 points in Houston's 97-81 win over ECU

Posted: February 17, 2018 -- 7:42 pm CST.

HOUSTON, TX (H&PE Arena) -- Angela Harris scored a career-high 32 points in the Houston Cougars 97-81 win over the ECU Pirates Saturday afternoon. The win is Houston's 20th win of the 2017-'18 season and the first time Houston has won 20 games in a season since the 2010-'11 season.

Final stats: Houston Cougars 97, ECU Pirates 81

After the game, Houston Head Coach Ronald Hughey said, "I told the girls it was the first 20-win season in eight years. I think. Only the 12th time in the program that that's happened; and, I said, 'We're not going to celebrate that because it's about to be the norm.

"When I came (hired as UH head coach), and I talked about national championships people didn't believe me. And, I talked about 20-win seasons. People didn't believe me. So, again, what are we going to do to be able to get people to believe us? But, it first starts with believing it ourselves.

"We got our 20 wins. We want to continue to go there. We're not relaxing with it. We want to make it a staple of the program every year."

Houston never trailed in the ball game. The Coogs jumped out to a 9-2 lead and never looked back.

Angela Harris was one of four Cougars to hit double figures as Jasmyne Harris recorded her 15th game this season with least 20 points with 21, while Octavia Barnes added 13 points and Serithia Hawkins chipped in 10. Barnes also tied a career-high with 11 rebounds, giving the junior her second career double-double.

The Coogs made 12 3-pointers in the contest, giving them 213 on the season and extending the program record, which they broke at Wichita State on Feb. 3. This marks the first time in program history a Houston team has made 200 or more 3-pointers in a season.

Houston outrebounded the Pirates 46-33 including a 17-13 advantage on the offensive boards.

Angela Harris made 11 of her 17 field goal attempts including 7 for 13 three-point shots.

After the game, Angela said, "I got in the gym. Started working on my shot. Stripped it down to the basics. Started working on my follow through cause a couple games before this one -- the last two -- I just wasn't shooting the ball well. My teammates fed me the ball; so, they let me shoot it."

Regarding the team winning 20 games this season, Angela added, "I mean it's incredible. I think it's the first 20 win season in seven years? It's incredible to be a part of it; and, you know, to help bring this program back."

Saturday’s win was Houston’s fourth game this season scoring at least 90 points, three of which have come in American Conference play, and avenged a January 20th 80-70 overtime road loss at ECU. Houston is undefeated in all four games this season with scoring at least 90 points.

With the win, Houston moved to 20-7 and 9-4 in The American while ECU fell to 14-12 and 6-7 in The American.

The Coogs next game is a road game against USF in Tampa, Wednesday, February 21. Tipoff against the Bulls is scheduled for 6 p.m.

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