Coogs Hold Off Green Wave
HOUSTON, TX -- Thursday night's game versus Tulane tipped off "separation week" for the Houston Cougars women's hoops team. At least that's how UH head coach Joe Curl defined this week. Before the game, Houston owned a one game lead over the Green Wave in the Conference USA standings.
"We talked all week about this being a separation week, said Coach Curl. "Separation from the pack so to speak."
The lead is now two games. Houston (16 - 7), 8 - 3 in C-USA) used a 15 - 0 second half run to help defeat Tulane (14 - 11, 6 - 5 in C-USA) 70 to 63 in front of 423 fans gathered inside Hofheinz Pavilion. One of the fans was University of Houston President Renu Khator. (President Khator sat courside; and, she definitely looked like she was enjoying herself at the game.)
"Our team went over to her and said 'hi' to her after the ball game," said Coach Joe Curl. "She's a great lady; and, she's going to be a President that gets the University of Houston on the map."
Coach Curl added how special it was to see President Khator attend the game.
"Absolutely. Absolutely. We think we have a fun product to watch."
The Cougars struggled in the first half of the ball game. Three of Houston's key players played reduced minutes due to foul trouble. Point guard Porsche Landry picked up 3 fouls in just 11 minutes. Center Cobilyn Hill picked up two fouls in 15 minutes and forward Courtney Taylor picked up two fouls in 12 minutes of play. In addition Taylor (2 for 7), Hill (1 for 7), and shooting guard Brittney Scott (1 for 6) combined to shoot 4 for 20 from the field in the opening half.
"We just were not dialed in with both posts and guards," added Coach Curl. "When guards were playing decent, the posts weren't. When the posts were playing pretty decent, the guards weren't."
Despite the foul trouble and poor shooting, Houston trailed Tulane 29 to 25 at halftime. UH freshman guard Roxana Button's seven points on 3 for 5 shooting helped keeping the Cougars close in the first half.
"She's turned from a freshman into a sophomore," added Coach Curl. "She's got all kinds of skills. She made baskets when we needed them. She brought us back. It's a luxury to have somebody like her because she can burn you inside and out."
Button added, "I came in and tried to be a spark. We were moving kind of slow; so, I just tried to bring some energy and get us back in it (the game)."
Tulane led UH 39 to 34 after a made basket Megan Valicevic (from The Woodlands HS); but, Taylor answered with four straight points to start the 15 - 0 run. Taylor's steal and lay up seemed to amp her teammates and the crowd.
"They (Tulane) had been running that play the whole night," Taylor said. "I knew we were down and I knew we needed something to pick ups; so, I just played the passing lane and scored."
Landry put Houston ahead 40 to 39 with a pull up jump shot at the 12:09 mark. Houston held Tulane scoreless for seven minutes and 45 seconds.
"We picked up our defense in the second half," said Landry. "We started boxing out better."
With 2:36 remaining in the game, Houston led 55 to 43; but once Landry fouled out of the ball game, the Green Wave mounted one final push and trimmed Houston's lead to just six points (57 to 51) with 1:34 left in the game. Houston's defense didn't allow Tulane another point until six seconds were on the game clock.
Taylor closed out UH's scoring with three free throws.
Taylor finished the game with a game-high 21 points. Fifteen of the points were scored in the second half.
"I think I was more aggressive the second half," Taylor summarized. "I tried to attack more as well as get everybody else open."
Houston held Tulane to just 28.1% (18 for 64) from the field and the Cougars outrebounded the Green Wave 46 to 42. UH shot 39.3% (22 for 56) from the field and committed 21 turnovers.
"Even though we had 21 turnovers," Coach Curl said. "I felt like we handled their defense pretty well. It was just goofy things where we handed it right to them. But, to get out here with a win, is just great."
The Cougars continue "Separation Week" with a Saturday showdown versus Texas-El Paso. UTEP trails Houston by one game in Conference USA. Tip is set for high noon; and, the game will be shown on CBS College Sports.
"We talked all week about this being a separation week, said Coach Curl. "Separation from the pack so to speak."
The lead is now two games. Houston (16 - 7), 8 - 3 in C-USA) used a 15 - 0 second half run to help defeat Tulane (14 - 11, 6 - 5 in C-USA) 70 to 63 in front of 423 fans gathered inside Hofheinz Pavilion. One of the fans was University of Houston President Renu Khator. (President Khator sat courside; and, she definitely looked like she was enjoying herself at the game.)
"Our team went over to her and said 'hi' to her after the ball game," said Coach Joe Curl. "She's a great lady; and, she's going to be a President that gets the University of Houston on the map."
Coach Curl added how special it was to see President Khator attend the game.
"Absolutely. Absolutely. We think we have a fun product to watch."
The Cougars struggled in the first half of the ball game. Three of Houston's key players played reduced minutes due to foul trouble. Point guard Porsche Landry picked up 3 fouls in just 11 minutes. Center Cobilyn Hill picked up two fouls in 15 minutes and forward Courtney Taylor picked up two fouls in 12 minutes of play. In addition Taylor (2 for 7), Hill (1 for 7), and shooting guard Brittney Scott (1 for 6) combined to shoot 4 for 20 from the field in the opening half.
"We just were not dialed in with both posts and guards," added Coach Curl. "When guards were playing decent, the posts weren't. When the posts were playing pretty decent, the guards weren't."
Despite the foul trouble and poor shooting, Houston trailed Tulane 29 to 25 at halftime. UH freshman guard Roxana Button's seven points on 3 for 5 shooting helped keeping the Cougars close in the first half.
"She's turned from a freshman into a sophomore," added Coach Curl. "She's got all kinds of skills. She made baskets when we needed them. She brought us back. It's a luxury to have somebody like her because she can burn you inside and out."
Button added, "I came in and tried to be a spark. We were moving kind of slow; so, I just tried to bring some energy and get us back in it (the game)."
Tulane led UH 39 to 34 after a made basket Megan Valicevic (from The Woodlands HS); but, Taylor answered with four straight points to start the 15 - 0 run. Taylor's steal and lay up seemed to amp her teammates and the crowd.
"They (Tulane) had been running that play the whole night," Taylor said. "I knew we were down and I knew we needed something to pick ups; so, I just played the passing lane and scored."
Landry put Houston ahead 40 to 39 with a pull up jump shot at the 12:09 mark. Houston held Tulane scoreless for seven minutes and 45 seconds.
"We picked up our defense in the second half," said Landry. "We started boxing out better."
With 2:36 remaining in the game, Houston led 55 to 43; but once Landry fouled out of the ball game, the Green Wave mounted one final push and trimmed Houston's lead to just six points (57 to 51) with 1:34 left in the game. Houston's defense didn't allow Tulane another point until six seconds were on the game clock.
Taylor closed out UH's scoring with three free throws.
Taylor finished the game with a game-high 21 points. Fifteen of the points were scored in the second half.
"I think I was more aggressive the second half," Taylor summarized. "I tried to attack more as well as get everybody else open."
Houston held Tulane to just 28.1% (18 for 64) from the field and the Cougars outrebounded the Green Wave 46 to 42. UH shot 39.3% (22 for 56) from the field and committed 21 turnovers.
"Even though we had 21 turnovers," Coach Curl said. "I felt like we handled their defense pretty well. It was just goofy things where we handed it right to them. But, to get out here with a win, is just great."
The Cougars continue "Separation Week" with a Saturday showdown versus Texas-El Paso. UTEP trails Houston by one game in Conference USA. Tip is set for high noon; and, the game will be shown on CBS College Sports.
posted by Kris G @ 10:54 PM
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