Houston loses 70-45 to Middle Tennessee

POSTED: November 29, 2023 -- 11:50 p.m. CT

HOUSTON, TX (Fertitta Center) -- The Houston Cougars 4-0 start came to a crashing halt Wednesday night with a 70-45 loss to Middle Tennessee.

"That was embarrassing," Houston Head Coach Ron Hughey said after the game. "We just didn't come out with our 'A' game like we needed to."

Middle Tennessee (6-2) controlled the tempo and did not allow Houston (4-1) to play fast.

"The one thing that they did do was control the game," Coach Hughey remarked.

The Lady Raiders jumped to a 10-4 lead before Houston responded with an 8-0 run to lead 12-10. The game was tied at 12 and again at 15. Houston forward Maliyah Johnson made a jump shot for a 17-15 Houston lead; but, Middle Tennessee's 5th-year senior point guard Savannah Wheeler hit a three-pointer for an 18-17 lead.

Houston senior point guard N'Yah Boyd closed the first quarter with a bucket to give the Coogs a 19-18 lead after 10 minutes. Houston never led the rest of the ball game.

The 5'6" Wheeler and teammate 6'6" Anastasiia Boldyreva were too much for Houston to handle. Boldyreva did her damage on the inside. She made her first 9 field goals while Wheeler dished out 9 assists and knocked down 3 of 5 three-point attempts.

After the first quarter, Houston struggled to make shots. The Coogs made 7 of 17 attempts (41.4 fg%) in the first quarter; 4 of 16 (25.0 fg% in the second quarter; 3 of 12 (25.0 fg%) in the third; and 3 of 12 in the fourth period.

"It just shows that we still got a lot of work to do," Coach Hughey commented. "A lot of work to do. The work is going to be done; and, we'll take care of business and get back in the left column (Win column) on Sunday."

Middle Tennessee out-rebounded Houston 43-31.

Four of 5 Middle Tennessee's starters played all 40 minutes. Middle Tennessee Head Coach Rick Insell only utilized 6 players the entire game.

"Rick Insell, legendary coach and has some really, really tough kids that can play," Coach Hughey said after the loss. "Hats off to them. You see why we put them on the schedule. It's a great test for us."

After the game, Coach Hughey acknowledged none of his players earned 1 of Houston's 4 WWE-themed belts.

"Nobody gets a belt tonight," Coach Hughey said. "Especially like that. Again, it was embarrassing. Embarrassing. I didn't see anything for anybody to get a belt. Not at all."

NEXT:

Houston's next game is Sunday, December 3, at home, versus Florida A&M. Tip is set for 2 p.m. on ESPN+.

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