UH Snaps 5-game Skid
The Houston Lady Cougars came from behind and defeated East Carolina 72 to 69 in front of 459 fans at Hofheinz Pavilion. Houston's win ended a five-game losing streak and also clinched a top four spot in the Conference USA which guarantees a first-round bye for Houston in next week's C-USA Tournament.
"We certainly wanted to win the league," said UH interim head coach Danny Hughes. "But, one of our goals was to get a first-round bye to give us that days rest. We've got the players to run the table and win the tournament. We've just got to play well."
Houston (15-14, 9-6) struggled the first four plus minutes of the game and trailed ECU 15 to 1 before UH senior Whitney James made Houston's first field goal of the game with a jump shot.
UH began to click on offense and clamp down on defense and took a 26 to 25 lead after a made three-point shot by senior guard Twiggy McIntyre. Houston's Tye Jackson followed with another made three to put UH ahead 29 to 25 with 3:49 left in the first half.
East Carolina (13-15, 7-8) scored eight straight points before Houston's Ryan Bradley sank two free throws to cap off the first half scoring.
Houston trailed 33 to 31 at halftime.
"We made some costly, costly turnovers," McIntyre said after the game. "We put ourselves in a situation we shouldn't have been in; but, we were able to pull out the win."
The start of the second half was a seesaw battle for the first seven minutes and eight seconds; then, Houston outscored ECU 9 to 3 and took a 57 to 50 lead with 7:28 remaining in the ball game.
ECU tied the game at 59. Then, ECU took a two point lead on two made free throws by LaCoya Terry.
Tye Jackson converted a four-point play to give UH a 63 to 61 lead with four minutes remaining. McIntyre swished a three to put Houston ahead 66 to 61 with 3:02 on the clock. Houston's offense went cold; and, ECU scored six straight points to go ahead 67 to 66 with 1:25 in the game.
With 59 seconds remaining, Courtney Taylor split two free throws to knot the game at 67.
ECU senior Jasmine Young drove baseline; attempted a lay-up which was deflected by Houston's Cobilyn Hill; the ball bounced off the glass and swished through the net to give ECU a 69 to 67 lead with 48 seconds on the clock.
After a time-out, Tye Jackson banged in a three-point shot to give Houston a 70 to 69 lead with 28 seconds remaining.
"Somehow, we didn't get into the play," said Jackson. "I don't even know what happened. I took the shot; and, I made it."
"Tye is a special player and special players make special plays," said McIntyre.
Terry missed a go-ahead attempt and McIntyre swished two free-throws for the final points of the game.
"The kids responded well," added Hughes. "And, Tye made a big shot for us tonight."
UH will honor its five seniors (Tye Jackson, Whitney James, Twiggy McIntyre, Ryan Meyers, and Alana Obaze) in a pre-game ceremony Saturday afternoon as the Lady Cougars host Marshall at Hofheinz Pavilion. Tip-off is set for 1 pm.
"We certainly wanted to win the league," said UH interim head coach Danny Hughes. "But, one of our goals was to get a first-round bye to give us that days rest. We've got the players to run the table and win the tournament. We've just got to play well."
Houston (15-14, 9-6) struggled the first four plus minutes of the game and trailed ECU 15 to 1 before UH senior Whitney James made Houston's first field goal of the game with a jump shot.
UH began to click on offense and clamp down on defense and took a 26 to 25 lead after a made three-point shot by senior guard Twiggy McIntyre. Houston's Tye Jackson followed with another made three to put UH ahead 29 to 25 with 3:49 left in the first half.
East Carolina (13-15, 7-8) scored eight straight points before Houston's Ryan Bradley sank two free throws to cap off the first half scoring.
Houston trailed 33 to 31 at halftime.
"We made some costly, costly turnovers," McIntyre said after the game. "We put ourselves in a situation we shouldn't have been in; but, we were able to pull out the win."
The start of the second half was a seesaw battle for the first seven minutes and eight seconds; then, Houston outscored ECU 9 to 3 and took a 57 to 50 lead with 7:28 remaining in the ball game.
ECU tied the game at 59. Then, ECU took a two point lead on two made free throws by LaCoya Terry.
Tye Jackson converted a four-point play to give UH a 63 to 61 lead with four minutes remaining. McIntyre swished a three to put Houston ahead 66 to 61 with 3:02 on the clock. Houston's offense went cold; and, ECU scored six straight points to go ahead 67 to 66 with 1:25 in the game.
With 59 seconds remaining, Courtney Taylor split two free throws to knot the game at 67.
ECU senior Jasmine Young drove baseline; attempted a lay-up which was deflected by Houston's Cobilyn Hill; the ball bounced off the glass and swished through the net to give ECU a 69 to 67 lead with 48 seconds on the clock.
After a time-out, Tye Jackson banged in a three-point shot to give Houston a 70 to 69 lead with 28 seconds remaining.
"Somehow, we didn't get into the play," said Jackson. "I don't even know what happened. I took the shot; and, I made it."
"Tye is a special player and special players make special plays," said McIntyre.
Terry missed a go-ahead attempt and McIntyre swished two free-throws for the final points of the game.
"The kids responded well," added Hughes. "And, Tye made a big shot for us tonight."
UH will honor its five seniors (Tye Jackson, Whitney James, Twiggy McIntyre, Ryan Meyers, and Alana Obaze) in a pre-game ceremony Saturday afternoon as the Lady Cougars host Marshall at Hofheinz Pavilion. Tip-off is set for 1 pm.
posted by Kris Gardner @ 10:08 PM
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