Coogs lose to Texas Tech, 79-71, in first Big 12 game

POSTED: December 30, 2023 -- 11:10 p.m. CT

HOUSTON, TX (Fertitta Center) -- The Houston Cougars women's basketball team lost its first Big 12 conference basketball, 79-71, to Texas Tech Saturday afternoon. Tech jumped to a 31-12 lead after the first quarter. Houston battled back but could not overcome the first quarter deficit.

With the loss, Houston's record is now 9-3 overall and 0-1 in the Big 12. Texas Tech improves to 12-2 and 1-0.

"I think they came in and punched us in the mouth," Ron Hughey, Houston Head Coach said after the game. "And, we didn't recover until almost the second half."

Tech was on fire in the first quarter. The Lady Raiders shot 76.9 fg% (10 for 13) in the opening 10 minutes including 5 for 7 from three-point range. Tech's Jada Wynn matched her career-high in three-pointers made in a game (3) in the first quarter. Before the game, Wynn's shooting percentage was under 30% from the floor. She was 3 for 4 from three in the first quarter.

Wynn finished the game with a career-high 23 points -- her previous career-high was 11 points -- on 6 for 7 three-pointers made and a perfect 5 for 5 at the foul line.

"For one kid (Wynn) to make six (threes), that's really, really disturbing to me," Coach Hughey remarked after the game. "Something that will get rectified ASAP."

Houston trailed Texas Tech 51-33 at halftime. Tech made 16 of 23 field goals (69.6 fg%) in the first half compared to Houston's 37.5 fg% (12 for 32).

Tech's offense cooled off considerably in the third quarter. The Lady Raiders missed their first 6 field goal attempts and finished third making only 3 of 9 field goal tries in the quarter; however, Tech made 7 of 9 foul shots to maintain a double-digit lead going into the fourth quarter.

Houston clawed within 11 (57-46) with 3:25 left in the third quarter; but, Tech responded with a 6-0 spurt which included another Wynn three-point basket. Houston headed to the 4th quarter trailing by 12 (65-53).

Ashley Chevalier and Bailey Maupin combined to stretch Tech's lead to 15 points three times in the fourth quarter. Houston did not closer than 9 points until the very last points of the game when Laila Blair made 2 free throws with 5 seconds remaining to cap the scoring.

"We had a little resilience," Coach Hughey said about his team's comeback effort. "We came in (at halftime) and listened and did what we needed to do in the second half.

"We just have to be fully locked in on the defensive end and do what we're supposed to do when we're supposed to do it."

Maupin scored 19 points for Texas Tech. Kilah Freelon and Jasmine Shavers each scored 10 points for the Lady Raiders.

Bria Patterson scored a team-high 19 points for Houston. Maliyah Johnson was next with 16 points off the bench. N'Yah Boyd followed with 12 points and Blair chipped in 10 points.

NEXT:

Houston's next game is Wednesday, January 3, on the road, against Kansas State. Tip is set for 6:30 p.m. on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.

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