Coogs finish non-conference play with 71-63 overtime win over Rice

POSTED: December 20, 2023 -- 11:10 p.m. CT

HOUSTON, TX (Fertitta Center) -- The Houston Cougars women's basketball team pulled out a gritty 71-63 overtime win over the Rice Owls Wednesday afternoon. With the win, Houston ends the non-conference portion of its 2023-24 schedule with a 9-2 record.

"I think this was a good win for us," Laila Blair, Houston senior guard, said after the game. Seeing our record, it's a big turnaround from last year. You gotta celebrate everything. I think it's big confidence builder for sure."

Blair scored a game-high 26 points; however, she fouled out of the game with 1.2 seconds remaining in the 4th quarter. Rice guard Dominique Ennis tied Houston at 63. Houston Head Coach Ronald Hughey opted not to call timeout.

Blair received the inbounds pass and dribbled up the court; she drove right; and attacked the basket. She was called for a player-control foul.

"I should have did a pull up (jumper) instead of going all the way to the basket," Blair remarked after the game. "I was frustrated; but, I trusted my teammates. I wasn't really worried; but, I was frustrated with myself that I made a mistake."

With Blair fouled out and the game going to overtime, Coach Hughey said to his team, "We're going to win this game."

Houston outscored Rice 8-0 in the extra five minutes. In overtime, Rice missed all 9 field goal attempts and also committed 6 turnovers.

After missing 4 shot attempts to start overtime, Houston made its next 3 field goal attempts to pick up the victory.

In the first quarter, Houston shot 53.8 fg% (7 for 13) and Rice shot 37.5 fg% (3 for 8). However, Rice was a perfect 12-for-12 at the foul line to trail Houston by just 2 (21-19) at the end of the opening 10 minutes.

Houston cut down on fouling Rice in the second quarter. Rice only attempted 4 free throws in the quarter (made 3); and, the Rice shot 3 for 12 (25.0 fg%) from the floor.

The Coogs outscored the Owls 15-9 in the second quarter and led 36-28 at halftime.

In the third quarter, Houston's field goal shooting went ice cold (4 for 15, 26.7 fg%) while Rice heated up making 8 of 17 field goal attempts (47.1 fg%). The Coogs made 7 of 12 free throws as Rice won the third quarter 19-16 to cut Houston's lead to 52-47 after 3 quarters.

Houston's cold shooting continued in the fourth quarter. The Coogs made just 3 of 10 field goal attempts while the Owls shot 50.0 fg% (6 for 12) to help force overtime.

Dominique Ennis scored 16 points to lead Rice.

Houston point guard N'Yah Boyd led the Coogs in rebounds (7) and steals (5). Boyd and Blair believe Houston is ready to start Big 12 play.

"After this game, I think so," Boyd commented. "Seeing how resilient we was, I think we're ready."

"I think this was a confidence builder for sure going into the Big 12," Blair added. "We still got a long ways to go."

The Cougars outrebounded the Owls, 47-40. Houston is 6-0 this season when it outrebounds its opponent.

Four different Coogs were awarded WWE-belts for today's game:

N'Yah Boyd: "Queen of Dimes" (assists) and "Queen of the Boards" (rebounds).

Kamryn Johnson: "Queen of Steals".

Laila Blair: "I'm Her" for scoring a game-high 26 points.

NEXT:

Houston's next game is Saturday, December 30, at home, against Texas Tech, in Houston's first Big 12 conference game. Tip is set for 1 p.m. on ESPN+.

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