University of Houston
Jacksonville State (Consolation/Championship Game%)
Lady Cougars Rout Jacksonville State to Claim Third in Tournament
12/16/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 16, 2001
Houston center Valerie Muoneke recorded her first double-double performance of the year in scoring a career-high 22 points-18 of which came in the second half-and pulling down a career-high 17 rebounds as the University of Houston Lady Cougars outscored Jacksonville State, 62-42, in the second half en route to defeating the Gamecocks, 95-69, in the consolation game of the Mississippi State Classic on Sunday (Dec. 16) afternoon.
Muoneke turned in the best performance in her two years as a Lady Cougar. Not only are her 22 points a career high, her 17 boards-10 of which came in the second half-are the most pulled down by a Lady Cougar since Monet Sykes had 14 rebounds against DePaul on February 18 last season.
Three other Lady Cougars joined Muoneke in double figures, including sophomore standout Chandi Jones, who shot 10-of 19 from the field for a season-high 26 points, sophomore Nicole Oliver with 10, and freshman Shondra Bush, who came in off the bench and shot 4-of-10 for 15 points.
In scoring a combined 49 points in both games of the tournament, Jones was named to the All-Tournament Team, her third such honor in as many tournaments for Houston this season.
Houston and Jacksonville State battled back and forth in the first half before the Lady Cougars took a 33-27 lead into half-time after Jones and Oliver nailed two free throws a piece. Houston took command to open the second half and went on to dominate the Gamecocks. Houston had a lead as large at 24 points with 10:41 left to play.
With the win, Houston improves to 7-2 overall on the season and maintains their best start to a season since beginning the 1991-92 season 9-0.
The Lady Cougars next travel to Murfreesboro, Tenn., to take on Middle Tennessee State on Thursday, December 20. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
