University of Houston
9-7, 1-3
Charlotte
11-5, 3-0
Too Little Too Late for Lady Cougars
1/24/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 24, 2003
HOUSTON - Despite 26 points by All-American Chandi Jones, free throws and rebounding made the difference as the University of Houston women's basketball team fell to Charlotte in its first loss at Hofheinz Pavilion since November. The loss was the third in a row for the Lady Cougars (9-7, 1-3 C-USA), who made only 14 of their 29 free throw attempts and allowed the 49ers 59 rebounds in the 76-70 loss.
Jones, who currently leads the nation in scoring (27.2 ppg), scored 26 points and pulled down eight rebounds in the loss. Shondra Bush shot just 7-21 from the floor to add 17, scoring 11 of those points in the second half. Nicole Oliver, the 2002 C-USA Defensive Player of the Year, was the leading defensive force for Houston, posting a game-high five steals and chipping in nine points.
Charlotte (11-5, 3-0 C-USA) was led by Alicia Abernathy, who posted her second consecutive double-double, adding a game-high 19 boards and 12 points. Pam Brown and Peaches Harris led the offense with 15 points each. Harris was 9-10 from the charity stripe, making all nine in the final three minutes of the game. Monica League also scored in double figures, adding 12 points and six rebounds in the 49ers win.
Houston held Charlotte scoreless for the first five minutes of the game until Harris knocked down a three-pointer to put the 49ers on the board, 6-3. Charlotte took the lead three minutes later and pushed to a nine-point lead at the 6:01 mark. The Lady Cougars could not recover, allowing Charlotte to score six points in the final minute of the half. and the home team retired to its locker room down 34-22 at the half.
When his second-half starters did not fight back, Houston head coach Joe Curl pulled all five and the Lady Cougar bench began to chip away at the 49ers lead. Sara Hinkley posted three consecutive buckets as the Houston reserves saw valuable playing time.
Houston began a late really as Jones and Bush returned to the game and combined for 15 points in the final three minutes. The Lady Cougars battled back from a 17-point deficit to within two, 70-68 with just 31 seconds remaining on the clock. Houston regained possession on a jump ball but could not find the basket and was forced to foul. Jones made two free throws with 15 seconds left to bring Houston back within two, but it was too little too late for the Lady Cougars. Charlotte handed Houston its third consecutive loss, as it prevailed 76-70.
The Lady Cougars shot a season-low 48.3 percent from the charity stripe and were 4-17 from behind the arc. Houston, who had not lost at home since Nov. 27, 2002, is now 6-2 at home and 1-3 in Conference USA this season.
The Lady Cougars will continue league action as they host East Carolina Sunday at 1 p.m. CST. The contest will be aired via C-USA TV (outside of the Houston viewing area) on KU Band Galaxy 11, Transponder 14.
