Dorian Branch scores career-high in Houston's win over ECU

Get your Houston Cougars team gear at Fanatics.com

POSTED: February 16, 2019 -- 10:56 p.m. CST

HOUSTON, TX (Fertitta Center) -- The Houston Cougars defeated the ECU Pirates 63-52 Saturday afternoon. Houston junior Dorian Branch scored a career-high 21 points to lead the Coogs.

Branch made three of Houston's five three-point baskets in the win. Overall, she shot 8 for 12 from the floor.

"I'm obviously really happy with where Dorian is right now, both offensively and defensively," said Houston Head Coach Ronald Hughey. "Knowing her scout, she is the epitome of being ‘all-in’. She's coaching the younger ones and trying to help everybody out. I hope she can continues on this way for the rest of the season."

Houston (13-12 overall, 7-4 in the American Athletic Conference) led ECU 14-10 after the first quarter. Branch and teammate Octavia Barnes each scored 5 points in the opening quarter.

Branch scored 8 points in the second quarter; and, Houston led by as much as 13 points (30-17). However, Houston went scoreless late in the quarter. ECU scored the final 8 points to trim Houston's lead to 30-25 at halftime.

ECU (13-12, 4-8) outscored Houston 19-15 in the third quarter. Once again, Houston went scoreless the final minutes of the quarter. Houston led 45-44 after 30 minutes.

Despite 19 turnovers in the game, Houston never trailed. In the 4th quarter, Houston flipped the switch on the Pirates and held ECU scoreless in the closing minutes which allowed Houston to win by eleven.

Senior Serithia Hawkins finished the game with 13 points and eight rebounds to become the second Cougar in program history to reach 1000 points and 900 rebounds.

Houston has won four straight inside the Fertitta Center and maintains a top four spot in the AAC.

"We want to finish top-two," Hughey commented. "That's our fight right now. We watched Tulane get a really good win against UCF. It's still there for the taking. We just have to do our part; and, that's what we talked about today. I told them to not worry about anything from the past, because we can't change it. I told them to live in the present and take care of our business."

NOTES:

"I can't thank her enough," Hughey said of Hawkins' accomplishments. "That kid had SEC and Big 12 offers and came to Houston on a promise that we could make her into the best player she could be if she'd meet us halfway."

Hughey added, "Not many people can say that they've started all, but maybe one or two games, in their four-year career. Not many people can say they have 1,000 points and 900 rebounds in their career. I'm extremely proud of her. The thing I'm most proud of is that not only is she going to graduate on time this May; but, she's never had one off-the-court issue; not one."

NEXT:

Houston's next game is Wednesday, February 20, versus Tulane, inside Fertitta Center. Tip is set for 12 p.m. Kids Day.

CLICK HERE for The HRR's NCAAW write-ups.