Coogs' Solid Effort Not Enough versus Horned Frogs - with VIDEO
HOUSTON, TX (Hofheinz Pavilion) -- The Houston Cougars faced a very good Texas Christian University team Thursday afternoon without Courtney Taylor -- UH's best player; however, based on the Coogs' very solid effort, you could hardly tell Taylor wasn't playing in the game. Unfortunately, the solid effort was not enough as the Horned Frogs edged the Cougars 66-61 in front of 505 fans on Fan Appreciation Day.
TCU's Helena Sverrisdottir led all scorers with 26 points. Sverrisdottir scored from deep; she scored in the post; she initiated the offense; and, she pulled down six rebounds; and blocked one shot in 36 minutes of action.
"Overall, I'm really pleased, said Houston head coach Joe Curl after the game. "Starting with our effort. I just felt like we played really hard and played against a really good basketball team."
Houston's Lesslee Mason scored four straight points to give the Cougars a 14-13 lead at the 10:21 mark of the first half. Brittany Mason hit a short jump shot; and, Megan scored a putback layup to put the Cougars ahead 18-13 with 8:48 remaining in the half.
TCU tied the game at 23 on a three-point basket by TK LaFleur; then, Sverrisdottir scored a layup to give the Horned Frogs a lead they would not relinquish. The Horned Frogs closed out the first half with a 11 to 2 to lead Houston 34-25 at halftime.
At one point in the first half, Houston held a 17 to 8 rebounding edge which helped keep them close to TCU.
TCU (9-3) increased the lead to 14 points (42-28) on a three-point bucket from Sverrisdottir; however, the Cougars methodically trimmed down their deficit.
Houston sophomore point guard scored nine points in an 18 to 8 UH run to pull the Cougars within four points (50-46) with 9:42 left in the ball game.
"I was more aggressive today," Landry said. "I was trying to push the ball more and get everybody involved."
Landry finished the game with a team-high 19 points; five rebounds; three assists and three steals.
Houston's run continued as Roxana Button drained a three-point shot to pull UH within one point (52-51) with 8:05 on the game clock.
Sverrisdottir then six straight points for the Horned Frogs ssanced around Button's splitting two free throws to make the score 58-52 TCU with just 4:26 left in the ball game.
Landry hit a jump shot; but, teammate Jasmine Johnson split two more free throws to help TCU keep the Cougars at arms length.
TCU's Emily Carter then got a very lucky roll on a tough jump shot to put the Horned Frogs ahead 60-55 at the 3:43 mark.
The Cougars pulled within one point by making four straight free throws; however, with the shot clock winding down to zero seconds, TCU's TK LaFleur rolled in a tough jump shot off an inbounds lay to stretch the lead to three points (62-59) with 1:11 on the clock.
Jasmine Johnson missed a tough driving layup; then, with 44 seconds remaining, LaFleur split two foul shots. Landry drained a jumper to trim UH's deficit to 63-61 with 29 seconds remaining.
However, Emily Carter made two free throws; then, Houston's Brittney Scott followed with a missed jumper and Carter was fouled and she split two free throws to close out the scoring. Carter scored 17 points (5 for from the field, 5 for 6 on free throws) in the game.
Scott scored 12 points for Houston; however, she struggled from the field making just three of her 18 shot attempts.
"I don't feel like my shots were falling like they usually do," Scott said. "So, I tried to drive. I only went to the line once or twice. I think I played an okay game. I know I've had better. I know I could have had a better game if I would have drove (to the basket) at the beginning of the game and get my shot going at least. I tried to pick it up on the defensive end since my shots didn't fall like they usually do."
Houston (6-7) takes a few days off before starting Conference USA play next weekend on the road versus Tulane (January 8) and UTEP (January 10).
Scott believes the Cougars are ready for C-USA play.
"I think we're ready. I know we're ready physically. I think it will be more being ready mentally and stepping up to the challenge."
Landry added, "Yes, we're ready."
Coach Curl summarized, "I certainly feel better today about where we're at than I did maybe yesterday or the day before before we've coached the kids up to get ready to play and compete for 40 minutes."
TCU's Helena Sverrisdottir led all scorers with 26 points. Sverrisdottir scored from deep; she scored in the post; she initiated the offense; and, she pulled down six rebounds; and blocked one shot in 36 minutes of action.
"Overall, I'm really pleased, said Houston head coach Joe Curl after the game. "Starting with our effort. I just felt like we played really hard and played against a really good basketball team."
Houston's Lesslee Mason scored four straight points to give the Cougars a 14-13 lead at the 10:21 mark of the first half. Brittany Mason hit a short jump shot; and, Megan scored a putback layup to put the Cougars ahead 18-13 with 8:48 remaining in the half.
TCU tied the game at 23 on a three-point basket by TK LaFleur; then, Sverrisdottir scored a layup to give the Horned Frogs a lead they would not relinquish. The Horned Frogs closed out the first half with a 11 to 2 to lead Houston 34-25 at halftime.
At one point in the first half, Houston held a 17 to 8 rebounding edge which helped keep them close to TCU.
TCU (9-3) increased the lead to 14 points (42-28) on a three-point bucket from Sverrisdottir; however, the Cougars methodically trimmed down their deficit.
Houston sophomore point guard scored nine points in an 18 to 8 UH run to pull the Cougars within four points (50-46) with 9:42 left in the ball game.
"I was more aggressive today," Landry said. "I was trying to push the ball more and get everybody involved."
Landry finished the game with a team-high 19 points; five rebounds; three assists and three steals.
Houston's run continued as Roxana Button drained a three-point shot to pull UH within one point (52-51) with 8:05 on the game clock.
Sverrisdottir then six straight points for the Horned Frogs ssanced around Button's splitting two free throws to make the score 58-52 TCU with just 4:26 left in the ball game.
Landry hit a jump shot; but, teammate Jasmine Johnson split two more free throws to help TCU keep the Cougars at arms length.
TCU's Emily Carter then got a very lucky roll on a tough jump shot to put the Horned Frogs ahead 60-55 at the 3:43 mark.
The Cougars pulled within one point by making four straight free throws; however, with the shot clock winding down to zero seconds, TCU's TK LaFleur rolled in a tough jump shot off an inbounds lay to stretch the lead to three points (62-59) with 1:11 on the clock.
Jasmine Johnson missed a tough driving layup; then, with 44 seconds remaining, LaFleur split two foul shots. Landry drained a jumper to trim UH's deficit to 63-61 with 29 seconds remaining.
However, Emily Carter made two free throws; then, Houston's Brittney Scott followed with a missed jumper and Carter was fouled and she split two free throws to close out the scoring. Carter scored 17 points (5 for from the field, 5 for 6 on free throws) in the game.
Scott scored 12 points for Houston; however, she struggled from the field making just three of her 18 shot attempts.
"I don't feel like my shots were falling like they usually do," Scott said. "So, I tried to drive. I only went to the line once or twice. I think I played an okay game. I know I've had better. I know I could have had a better game if I would have drove (to the basket) at the beginning of the game and get my shot going at least. I tried to pick it up on the defensive end since my shots didn't fall like they usually do."
Houston (6-7) takes a few days off before starting Conference USA play next weekend on the road versus Tulane (January 8) and UTEP (January 10).
Scott believes the Cougars are ready for C-USA play.
"I think we're ready. I know we're ready physically. I think it will be more being ready mentally and stepping up to the challenge."
Landry added, "Yes, we're ready."
Coach Curl summarized, "I certainly feel better today about where we're at than I did maybe yesterday or the day before before we've coached the kids up to get ready to play and compete for 40 minutes."
posted by Kris G @ 4:19 PM
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