UH Close but not Quite
The Houston Lady Cougars lost a thrilling one point game, 69 to 68, to Middle Tennessee State in front of a loud but small (452) crowd at Hofheinz Pavilion Monday night.
The game started as a snooze fest.
Neither team scored for two minutes. Houston cracked the scoreboard first with two free throws from senior guard Tye Jackson at the 17:45 mark. (Jackson finished the game with 15 points: but, it was clear her left knee bothered her throughout the second half.)
Despite seven turnovers in the game's first five minutes, UH led 5-0 after a three-point play from freshman Courtney Taylor.
MTSU's Anne Marie Lanning ended her team's drought with a three point basket at the 14:28 mark.
The Blue Raiders tied the game at 9 at the 12:53 mark; then, MTSU turned up the defensive pressure and UH panicked and fumbled the ball away nine times over the next eight minutes. Seven turnovers came in a four minute "spell from Hell" as the Lady Cougars were outscored 18 to 4 and trailed 27 to 13 with 8:15 left in the first half.
Freshman guard Brittney Scott came off the bench and scored five points to help UH inch closer to MTSU. UH senior guard Twiggy McIntyre added six points as Houston managed to finish the first half trailing MTSU by just seven (41 to 34).
Taylor started the second half with two lay ups sandwiched around a jumper from MTSU's Amber Holt. Houston limited their turnovers and tied the game at 49 on a lay-up from McIntyre.
Then, Amber Holt took over. Holt scored nine straight points: three straight baskets on turnaround jump shots; and, a three point play after hitting a pull up jump shot and drawing a foul. Next, Holt assisted on a lay up by Anne Marie Lanning. Seconds later, Lanning added two free throws to give MTSU a 62 to 49 lead with 7:08 left in the ball game.
Over the next five minutes, UH could not get much closer and trailed 69 to 58 with 2:01 remaining.
Then, the Lady Cougars began a surprising and stunning come back. McIntyre made a basket; Brittney Scott swished a three point basket 36 seconds later; Tye Jackson picked up a steal and was fouled. Jackson made the first free throw; missed the second attempt; but, Courtney Taylor rebounded the missed shot and drew a foul. Taylor drained both free throws to pull Houston within four (69 to 65) with 1:06 left.
MTSU turned the ball over as Scott picked up a steal; then, Scott came down the court and swished a three point shot to trim Houston's deficit to one point (69 to 68) with just 37 seconds remaining. The Blue Raiders turned the ball over with nine seconds remaining; so, Houston had a chance to cap off a stirring come back.
Jackson received the inbound pass; dribbled up the court; attacked the basket; stopped in the paint and took a tough jump shot which fell short. McIntyre rebounded the miss; and, between two MTSU defenders, flipped up a shot that rolled off the rim.
Game over. MTSU 69, UH 68.
Three freshman played very well for Houston: Courtney Taylor finished the game with 18 points (7 for 7 from the field); four rebounds; and two blocked shots. Brittney Scott added 14 points. Brittany Mason led Houston with eight rebounds.
Houston shot 48.1% (45 for 52 from the field) and 78.9% (15 for 19) from the free throw line.
MTSU's Amber Holt led all scorers with 30 points and 15 rebounds.
The Cougars head back on the road this week for the National City Xavier Invitational at the Cintas Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Cougars take on Xavier at 7 p.m. CST Friday, Liberty at 5 p.m. Saturday and McNeese State at 11 a.m. Sunday.
Fans can listen to a free internet radio broadcast of all UH games this year by clicking on the Stretch Internet Broadcast link at UHCougars.com.
The game started as a snooze fest.
Neither team scored for two minutes. Houston cracked the scoreboard first with two free throws from senior guard Tye Jackson at the 17:45 mark. (Jackson finished the game with 15 points: but, it was clear her left knee bothered her throughout the second half.)
Despite seven turnovers in the game's first five minutes, UH led 5-0 after a three-point play from freshman Courtney Taylor.
MTSU's Anne Marie Lanning ended her team's drought with a three point basket at the 14:28 mark.
The Blue Raiders tied the game at 9 at the 12:53 mark; then, MTSU turned up the defensive pressure and UH panicked and fumbled the ball away nine times over the next eight minutes. Seven turnovers came in a four minute "spell from Hell" as the Lady Cougars were outscored 18 to 4 and trailed 27 to 13 with 8:15 left in the first half.
Freshman guard Brittney Scott came off the bench and scored five points to help UH inch closer to MTSU. UH senior guard Twiggy McIntyre added six points as Houston managed to finish the first half trailing MTSU by just seven (41 to 34).
Taylor started the second half with two lay ups sandwiched around a jumper from MTSU's Amber Holt. Houston limited their turnovers and tied the game at 49 on a lay-up from McIntyre.
Then, Amber Holt took over. Holt scored nine straight points: three straight baskets on turnaround jump shots; and, a three point play after hitting a pull up jump shot and drawing a foul. Next, Holt assisted on a lay up by Anne Marie Lanning. Seconds later, Lanning added two free throws to give MTSU a 62 to 49 lead with 7:08 left in the ball game.
Over the next five minutes, UH could not get much closer and trailed 69 to 58 with 2:01 remaining.
Then, the Lady Cougars began a surprising and stunning come back. McIntyre made a basket; Brittney Scott swished a three point basket 36 seconds later; Tye Jackson picked up a steal and was fouled. Jackson made the first free throw; missed the second attempt; but, Courtney Taylor rebounded the missed shot and drew a foul. Taylor drained both free throws to pull Houston within four (69 to 65) with 1:06 left.
MTSU turned the ball over as Scott picked up a steal; then, Scott came down the court and swished a three point shot to trim Houston's deficit to one point (69 to 68) with just 37 seconds remaining. The Blue Raiders turned the ball over with nine seconds remaining; so, Houston had a chance to cap off a stirring come back.
Jackson received the inbound pass; dribbled up the court; attacked the basket; stopped in the paint and took a tough jump shot which fell short. McIntyre rebounded the miss; and, between two MTSU defenders, flipped up a shot that rolled off the rim.
Game over. MTSU 69, UH 68.
Three freshman played very well for Houston: Courtney Taylor finished the game with 18 points (7 for 7 from the field); four rebounds; and two blocked shots. Brittney Scott added 14 points. Brittany Mason led Houston with eight rebounds.
Houston shot 48.1% (45 for 52 from the field) and 78.9% (15 for 19) from the free throw line.
MTSU's Amber Holt led all scorers with 30 points and 15 rebounds.
The Cougars head back on the road this week for the National City Xavier Invitational at the Cintas Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Cougars take on Xavier at 7 p.m. CST Friday, Liberty at 5 p.m. Saturday and McNeese State at 11 a.m. Sunday.
Fans can listen to a free internet radio broadcast of all UH games this year by clicking on the Stretch Internet Broadcast link at UHCougars.com.
posted by Kris G @ 12:01 AM
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