Coogs Top Memphis -- w/ Video

HOUSTON, TX (Hofheinz Pavilion) -- The Houston Cougars dominated the first-place Memphis Tigers for nearly 36 minutes of basketball; however, the Coogs wouldn't be the Coogs if they didn't add some interest and excitement in the final four minutes of the game. Houston held on to defeat Memphis 68-62 in front of an announced crowd of 373 fans Sunday afternoon.

Houston played the game without starting point guard Porsche Landry who didn't play due to an injury. Megan Morton made her first career start at shooting guard while Brittney Scott shifted from shooting guard to point guard. Scott committed just two turnovers in the first half as the Cougars played led 35-29 at halftime.

"It was different. We had different people at different spots in the game," said UH junior forward Courtney Taylor. "It shows how versatile we are that we have people that can step up in different situations."

Taylor started a 15-2 UH run with a made jump shot and Houston (12-10 overall, 6-3 C-USA) led Memphis (13-9, 6-3) 64-45 with 4:28 left in the ball game.

Then, the wheels started coming off the proverbial UH bus.

Scott committed four of Houston's seven turnovers and Memphis finally was able to put the ball in the basket. The Tigers pulled within four points (64-60) with 57 seconds remaining. Then, Scott missed the first free throw of a one-and-one situation which allowed the Tigers an opportunity to pull closer; but, Memphis' Alex Winchell missed a three-point shot and Houston's Brittany Mason rebounded the missed shot.

Mason swished both free throws to give the Cougars some breathing room and a much needed cushion with 15 seconds left in the game.

"I think we were going too fast," Scott said about the last four minutes of the game. "They were pressing us hard the whole game; so, it wasn't that different. We should have just slowed down a little bit."

Houston head coach Joe Curl added, "I was the one that was being too conservative."

Taylor recorded her school-best 36th double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Taylor broke a tie with forward Sancho Lyttle.

Lesslee Mason added 15 points, nine rebounds, five blocked shots, and four steals.

"I was just really excited because today was a big game," Mason said. "We were playing for first place; so, I was just a little bit more aggressive on the defensive end. I've just been feeling it lately - to be honest."

Scott scored a game-high 19 points on her 21st birthday. She finished the game with nine turnovers.

The Cougars play the next four games on the road beginning with a Friday matchup in Tulsa versus the Golden Hurricane. Tip is set for 7 p.m.

Coop after PV Defeats Texas Southern -- with Video

PRAIRIE VIEW, TX -- The Prairie View A&M Lady Panthers do what good teams do Saturday evening -- win ugly or the proverbial "find a way to win" -- as PV defeated rival Texas Southern 58-49 in front of a very, very lively 4,878 fans inside the "Baby Dome" (aka the William Nicks Building).

Prairie View (12-7 overall, 9-1 in the SWAC) struggled mightily in the first half versus rival Texas Southern Saturday evening. PV made only six field goals (out of 29) in the opening 20 minutes and trailed TSU 24-18 at halftime.

"I told them we were playing terrible," said Cynthia Cooper-Dyke, Prairie View A&M's head coach. "I told them 'we're not rebounding. We're playing with no intensity. We're playing hard; but, we're not playing smart. I told them we're going to come out and play like we know how to play."

TSU (9-12, 6-4) extended its lead to 10 points (30-20) early in the second half; but, Prairie View's Latara Darrett scored 10 points during a 12-4 PV run to help the Panthers pull within two points (34-32). Teammate Robin Jones made two free throws to tie the game at 34; then, Darrett hit a jump shot to put Prairie View ahead 36-34 with 10:34 left in the ball game.

"Latara has carried us the last three games," said Cynthia Cooper-Dyke, Prairie View A&M's head coach after the game. "I know teams are going to stop 'boxing and one' her; face guarding her; triple teamming her. We're going to need some other people stepping up; and, that could be Dominique Smith or Candice Thomas."

PV would score four more points before Texas Southern's Jasmine Cannon ended TSU's 4:38 scoring drought with a made layup. Prairie View led 40-36 with 9:21 remaining in the game.

Candice Thomas converted a layup to give the Lady Panthers a seven point lead (45-38) before the Lady Tigers' Gabrielle Rosigi went to work in the paint and scored four points during a 6-0 to pull within one (45-44) at the 5:31 mark.

However, Dominique Smith drained a three-point basket and made a second straight jump shot during a 10-1 run to stretch Prairie View's lead to 10 points (55-45) with 2:22 on the clock.

PV cruised to the victory in the final minutes.

"I'm glad we won," said Coop. "In these types of games, it's better to play bad and win; then play bad and lose."

Darrett scored a game-high 27 points (10 for 18 from the field) and pulled down 10 rebounds. Candice Thomas scored 12 points (4 for 12). Dominique Smith scored 13 points (5 for 11) off the PV bench.

Prairie View bounced back from the 6 for 29 (20.7%) in the first half and shot 52.0% (13 for 25) in the second 20 minutes.

Jasmine Cannon led TSU with 19 points (7 for 15). Gabrielle Rosigi added nine points and 12 rebounds while Inisha Daughtry chipped in seven points and 12 boards.

TSU shot an icy 39.3% (11 for 28) from the free throw line and 32.7% (18 for 55) from the field.

Recap: NCAA Mock Selection

For me, participating in the NCAA's annual "mock" selection exercise was definitely an eye-opening experience.

One thing I urge readers to remember when viewing "Selection Monday" on ESPN is a team's "body of work". Without divulging specifics, the committee truly considers a team's "body of work" for the entire season:

a team's opponents (conference and, definitely, non-conference)
a team's opponents' opponents
a team's wins (home and away) and losses (home and away) -- margin of victory or defeat is not important)

First, we selected the 33 at-large teams. Second, we seeded the teams; and, lastly we placed the teams in the championship bracket.

Selecting the 33 at-large teams is a lot tougher than I realized.

I was part of three-person committee representing one actual committee member. Ten people are on the selection committee and each member counts as one vote.

A few of our discussions were very lively because each person has his or her own ideas regarding the importance of certain criteria (for example, how important is home court in the women's game or the significance of player injuries).

The information -- the NCAA's "nitty gritty" -- at our fingertips was amazing! I pulled up stats and compared Team X to Team Y to Team Z with a few clicks of the mouse pad.

The committee adheres to its "principles and procedures" without fail.

The bottom line is to make the bracket as "fair and equitable" as possible.

My participation allowed me to dispel a few myths / misconceptions: the committee doesn't bracket teams in order to generate storylines; the committee doesn't place all the male head coaches in one region; and, do not assume which team is the "number one number 2-seed".

I'll also add the importance to continue growing the game of women's basketball across the country in order to allow for more cities (re: west of the Mississipppi) to be interested in bidding and hosting sites in the future.

All in all, the "mock" selection was very enjoyable; very straining on my eyes; and, a true learning experience.

Follow the NCAA Mock Selection Live

INDIANAPOLIS, IN -- I think I'm ready to participate in the NCAA's "mock" selection exercise which takes place Thursday, February 4, and Friday, February 5.

The "mock" selection exercise involves media, head coaches and WBCA representatives. It will take place beginning on Thursday at 2 p.m (EST), continuing until Friday afternoon.

You can follow the exercise at NCAA.com. The NCAA will have a live blog during the event at http://www.ncaa.com/blog/200910d1womensbasketball/.

Aggies Falter Late, Lose to Cowgirls -- with Video

COLLEGE STATION, TX -- The Texas A&M Aggies resorted to bad habits which cost them Sunday afternoon as the Okalahoma State Cowgirls trailed for nearly the entire game before defeating the Aggies 67-63 in front of 4516 fans inside Reed Arena. Today's loss is the second straight for the 8th-ranked Aggies.

Texas A&M (15-4 overall, 3-3 in Big 12) failed to take advantage of the final 7:41 of the first half when Oklahoma State's star player, Andrea Riley, went to the bench with her third foul.

"I thought that was the ball game," said Aggies head coach Gary Blair. "Eight point lead; even when she was in the ball game, even when she had two fouls. When we had an eight to a 10-point lead, we were not stretching it then. We were not having balance on our team. We were doing a poor job in transition of scoring easy. Everything came hard for us.

"We were doing a good job making them miss. We were doing a good job on the defensive boards - for a while - in the first half until the last five minutes of the first half."

The Aggies led by just eight points (28-20) at halftime; but, the team started the second half with a 15 to 10 run to lead 43-29 with 12:56 remaining in the game.

Then, Andrea Riley and Tegan Cunningham started heating up. Riley and Cunningham combined for the next 19 OSU points to narrow the Aggies' lead to just five points (55-50). OSU' Ally Cardy drained a three-point shot to narrow the lead to just two points; but, free throws by Adaroa Elonu and Tyra White increased the lead to six points with 4:43 on the clock.

Riley wasn't phased. She scored one lay-up; followed up a missed three-point shot by Aggies' post Danielle Adams; with a three-point play to cut the lead to 59-58.

The Aggies missed two more jump shots before Sydney Carter made two free throws to make the score 61-58 at the 1:48 mark. Riley calmly dribbled the ball down the court before tying the game with a deep three-point bucket. Riley then stole the ball; missed a lay-up; but, teammate Precious Robinson followed the missed shot and converted the lay-up to give Oklahoma State (18-3, 6-1) a two-point lead with only 63 seconds remaining.

Instead of going inside, the Aggies settled for another perimeter shot and Adams missed a three-point attempt. OSU's Ally Cardy missed the front end of a one-and-one free throw; the Aggies rebounded the missed shot; then, missed another three-point shot by Tyra White.

Precious Robinson was fouled; and, she sank both free throws for a four point Cowgirls' lead (65-61) with 30 seconds remaining.

Sydney Colson joined the Aggies' "missed perimeter shot party' with a three-point clanger. Teammate Tanisha Smith pulled down the offensive rebound an converted the put back.

Riley was fouled; and, she swished two more free throws to close out the scoring and finish the game with 31 points -- 27 points in the second half.

Sydney Colson, fittingly, missed a final three-point shot as the Aggies lost a second straight game.

The Aggies shot 5 for 20 (25.0%) from the three-point line and 24 for 65 (36.9%) from the field.

Oklahoma State out rebounded Texas A&M 52 to 28 -- including 24 on the offensive glass.

After the game, Danielle Adams said, "In the first half, they (Oklahoma State) didn’t come out as aggressive. In the second half, they came out and played with emotion and heart to lead them to victory. We were settling for jump shots instead of taking it inside."

Coach Blair summarized his disappointment saying, "I told our kids, there is a big difference between All-Americans and Big 12 players. I think we saw that in Riley today. Oklahoma State’s role players played their roles and their stars starred. We just played a team who had more heart in the end. We have to become a smarter and better team."

Riley's 31 points helps Cowgirls beat Aggies - w/ Video

COLLEGE STATION, TX -- The Oklahoma State Cowgirls defeated the Texas A&M Aggies 67-63 Sunday afternoon in front of 4516 fans staying warm inside Reed Arena.

OSU's Andrea Riley picked up her third foul with 7:41 left in the first half Sunday afternoon. Riley sat out the rest of the half; but, her teammates managed to stay close to the and trailed by just eight points (28-20) at halftime. In the second half, Riley made the Aggies pay for not putting the Cowgirls away when they had the chance.

Riley scored 27 of her game-high 31 points in the second half -- including the game-tying three-point shot with 89 seconds remaining to stun the Aggies' fans. Then, Riley picked up a steal; missed a lay-up; but, teammate Precious Robinson scored the putback to give OSU a lead for the first time in the ball game. 

Robinson and Riley added four more free throws to preserve the huge victory.

"Well let me just say, ‘what a fantastic college basketball game today.’ You saw two good teams battle and battle," said Oklahoma State head coach Kurt Budke. "If you ever have a chance to win at A&M, it’s going to be a grind. You can’t get your head down too much, if you fall behind. As long as we aren’t down by 20, we know we still have a chance. We felt like we were in the game. Our two leaders (Andrea Riley and Tegan Cunningham) didn’t have a good first half, but they came back and led us to victory in the end."

Riley added, "My team really needed me in the second half. I’m really proud of my team that they stepped up in the first half. I was trying to do whatever I could do to help my team win (in the second half). We played down and dirty because you can’t play soft against Texas A&M."

Oklahoma State (18-3 overall, 6-1 in Big 12) faces undefeated Nebraska in Lincoln, Wednesday, February 3. Texas A&M (15-4, 3-3) will try to end a two-game skid versus Missouri on February 3.

Coogs Lose Big Early Lead and Lose to SMU -- w/ VIDEO

HOUSTON, TX (Hofheinz Pavilion) -- For the second time in about two weeks, the Houston Cougars lost a double-digit lead at home and lost. Sunday, January 17, the Coogs blew a 22-point second half lead and lost to Marshall 66-61. Saturday afternoon, the Cougars led the SMU Mustangs by 13 points in the first half only to lose 74-67 in front of an announced crowd of 458 fans.

Brittney Scott led the Cougars with 20 points; but, after the game, Scott was at a loss for words to explain her team's lack of consistency.

"I, honestly, can't," Scott said succinctly.

Houston (10-10 overall, 4-3 in C-USA) made its first four field goals to start the game then missed five straight shots.

"I think we lost our rhythm," said Houston's Courtney Taylor.

Scott eight points during a 13-4 run to give the Cougars a 26-13 lead with 10:38 remaining in the opening half. Unfortunately, the UH's inconsistency reared its ugly head once again; and, SMU (15-5, 5-2) closed out the half with a 22 to 8 run to take a 35-34 lead into the locker rooms.

Houston's woes on offense continued in the second half; and, the Mustangs extended the lead to 13 points (54-43) at the 8:34 mark of the half.

Trailing by 13 points and considering their Jekyll / Hyde nature, Houston seemed to have the Mustangs ripe for a comeback.

The Cougars methodically narrowed the deficit; then, UH head coach Joe Curl cranked up the pressure defense which helped spark his players.

Sophomore Megan Morton converted a lay-up to pull UH within three points (61-58) with 2:47 on the clock.

SMU's sophomore post player, Christine Elliott, took advantage of no help side defense and a fronting Courtney Taylor to convert a lob pass for a lay-up for a five point lead.

Taylor missed two free throws; but, Taylor picked up a steal only to see teammate Porsche Landry commit a turnover.

SMU's Hayley Day made a lay-up for a seven point Mustangs' lead with just 1:40 remaining in the game.

With 1:03 remaining, Brittney Scott splashed in a three-point bucket to trim Houston's deficit to just four points (66-62). Houston fouled SMU senior guard Jillian Samuels. Samuels made the first foul shot; missed the second; but, Christine Elliott pulled down the offensive rebound and Samuels sealed the game by draining both free throws.

SMU's Brittany Gilliam led all scorers with 22 points. Elliott finished with a double-double (14 points and 16 rebounds) Hayley Day also contributed a double-double with 10 points and 13 boards.

Houston was out rebounded 42-32 by SMU.

"I don't think we got out hustled to the ball," said Coach Curl. "I think that there were three or four four-minute segments that maybe we got "out toughed" for the ball; but, there were three or four segments that we out toughed them.

"We got to learn to play with the lead."

Houston's next game is versus crosstown rival, Rice, Thursday, February 4, at Tudor Fieldhouse. Tip is set for 7 p.m.

Owls Stop SMU

HOUSTON, TX (Tudor Fieldhouse) -- The Rice committed 21 turnovers; shot under 35 percent from the field; but, still managed to defeat the SMU Mustangs 61-58 Thursday night in front of 389 fans gathered inside the friendly confines of Tudor Fieldhouse.

Despite the turnovers and the poor shooting, the Owls never trailed in the ball game.

Rice (9-10 overall, 3-3 in C-USA) jumped on the Mustangs early and led SMU (14-5, 4-2) 24-7 with 8:29 remaining in the first half.

"We did get off to a great start," said Owls head coach Greg Williams. "We let them up a couple of times; and, we fought them off."

SMU couldn't do anything right on offense. The Mustangs shot 3 for 16 from the field during the opening 10 plus minutes; however, once senior guard Jillian Samuels made a three-point shot, the Mustangs offense began percolatings signs of life while the Owls' offense was bogging down.

The Owls led 33-23 at halftime.

The Mustangs crept back into the ball game thanks to senior guard Brittany Gilliam's 18 second half points. Gilliam shot 2 for 14 in the first half; but, she bounced back and made six of eight shot attempts in the second half.

However, each time SMU inched closer, the Owls would pick up a key rebound to continue an offensive possession then nail a three-point bucket to stretch the lead once again.

Gilliam made a three to trim the Owls' lead to 40-36; but, after D'Frantz Smart made two free throws, Gilliam turned over the ball; and, Rice picked up two offensive rebounds which led to a deep three-point basket by Smart to make the score, 45-36, Rice at the 11:45 mark of the second half.

The Mustangs pulled within three points (46-43); but, the Owls answered with a 9-0 run to lead 55-43 with 4:57 left in the ball game.

However, the Owls committed three turnovers down the stretch which allowed the Gilliam and the Mustangs to outscore the Owls 11-1. SMU cranked up the full-court pressure; but, Smart passed the ball to a wide open Goswitz; and Goswitz, made the layup for an easy two points for a 59-54 lead with just 25 seconds remaining in the game.

SMU's Samantha Mahnesmith split two free throws; but, the Mustangs grabbed the offensive rebound and Gilliam swished a three-point bucket to trim the Owls lead to just one point (59-58) with five seconds on the clock.

SMU pressured the Owls once more; but, once again, the Owls beat the pressure and Tara Watts passed the ball to a wide open Goswitz down the court for a lay-up.

SMU had a chance to tie the game at 61; but, Haley Day's three-point shot was off the mark.

"They made some adjustments and trapped the ball late," Coach Williams said. "But, I thought we made two key plays, obviously, to get lay-ups when they were trapping and scrambling all over the floor. That's something we did not do very well last year."

Goswitz led the Owls with 15 points (5 for 10 from the field, including 3 for 5 on threes). Watts and Smart each scored 11 points. Smart added eight assists; six rebounds; and two steals. Shorty also committed seven turnovers.

The Owls out rebounded the Mustangs 49 to 40 including 16 to 12 on the offensive glass.

"I think we just wanted it more tonight," Goswitz said. "It's between you and the person guarding you. It's who wants the ball more and that's what happened tonight."

The Owls host the Tulsa Golden Hurricane Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m.

February Madness

It will be March 11, next week -- the first week of February -- in Indianapolis, IN. Does that make sense?

No?

Let me explain.

Thursday, February 4, and Friday, February 5, the NCAA will hold its annual "mock selection" exercise. The exercise allows attendees (selected members of the media and coaches) to assume responsibilities and participate in the entire selection, seeding and bracketing process. The group will assume the role of the committee for this “mock” exercise and engage in a “mock” selection, seeding and bracketing of the teams.

I, as a representative of KCOH 1430 AM, will be one of the 22 attendees.

For the purposes of our "mock" exercise, the process has already begun for us. We've been notified 13 teams have already qualified for the NCAA Tournament. 

I've been told to consider January 22 as if it were March 11, with some automatic qualifiers already in, with numerous conference tournaments still being played, and those games being considered by the committee as they unfold.

I'm on a committee with three "primary" and three "secondary" conference assignments.

Without a doubt, I'm looking forward to this opportunity to get an idea of how the NCAA's women's basketball committee selects the "Field of 64".  

Texas Southern wins in Overtime

HOUSTON, TX -- The Texas Southern Lady Tigers gutted out an exciting 90-82 overtime victory Monday evening over the Arksansas-Pine Bluff Lady Lions.

The game had many ebbs and flows.

Pine Bluff carved up TSU's defense in the first 8 minutes of the game shooting 64.3% (9 for 14) from the field and leading the Lady Tigers 19-10.

TSU (8-10 overall, 5-2 in the SWAC) answered with a 19-3 run to lead 29-22 at the 6:59 mark of the first half.

Then, Pine Bluff (3-14, 2-5 in conference) closed out the half with a 15-4 to lead 37-33 at halftime.

The Lady Lions' torrid shooting continued in the second half and TSU trailed by 14 points (62-48) with 8:50 left in the second half.

Texas Southern began attacking the basket and the refs called fouls. Plenty of fouls. TSU missed five of their first 12 free throws in the second half; but, they made 5 of 7 down the stretch to help get back in the ball game.

Sierra Highgate scored back-to-back baskets to pull TSU within seven points (68-61) with 4:54 mark left in the half. TSU trailed 73-70 with eight seconds left in the half before Highgate swished a three-point bucket to tie the game at 73 with just 2.4 seconds left. Pine Bluff committed a turnover on the inbounds play; and TSU's Krissica Harper missed a jumper at the buzzer sending the game into overtime.

TSU post Gabrielle Rosigi scored six points in the extra session as she dominated in the overtime and helped TSU picked up the much needed victory.

Rosigi scored 19 points while teammates Jasmine Cannon and Trikeyia East each scored 20 points.

Three Lady Lions fouled out as they were called for 34 fouls compared to just 17 fouls called on the Lady Tigers. TSU shot 29 for 46 (63.0%) from the foul line while Pine Bluff made 14 of 23 (60.9%).