University of Houston
12-12, 3-8CUSA
Tulane
17-7, 8-3CUSA
Lady Cougars Drop Close One to Green Wave 65-62
2/21/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 21, 2003
NEW ORLEANS, La. - All-American Chandi Jones posted 32 points as the University of Houston women's basketball team dropped a 65-62 thriller to Tulane Friday night at Fogelman Arena. The Lady Cougars, who dropped to 12-12 overall and 3-8 in Conference USA, are 0-6 in league road games this season.
Jones, who currently leads the nation in scoring (27.6 ppg), posted her 12th 30-plus point game of the season and added seven rebounds and four assists in the loss. Shondra Bush was the other Lady Cougar to score in double figures, adding 12 points - all scored in the second half. Tonight's performance marks the third time this season Jones has scored more than half of Houston's points.
Teana McKiver led Tulane with her fourth double-double of the season, posting 19 points and 10 rebounds in the win. Gwen Slaughter added 10 points and a game-high 13 rebounds as two other Tulane players scored in double figures.
Boosted by McKiver's six straight points, Tulane opened the game with an 11-2 run that lasted four and a half minutes. Houston responded by holding the Green Wave scoreless for more than eight minutes as Jones posted 12 straight points to tie the game at 16-16 with 5:33 remaining in the first half.
Tulane was able to score 10 points in the final five minutes and KiKi Harris and Emily Fryters knocked down jumpers in the final two for the Lady Cougars, who trailed 26-20 at halftime. The Green Wave shot an impressive 50 percent from the floor but totaled 17 turnovers in the first half.
The Green Wave took a nine-point lead on two straight Tiffany Wilson jumpers to open the second half. Jones nailed Houston's first three-pointer and scored her 17th point of the game to bring the Lady Cougars within six, 33-27, at the 15:44 mark. The teams traded baskets until Jones and Bush hit back-to-back treys to bring Houston within three, 42-39 with 11:43 remaining.
Jones hit another trey to bring the Lady Cougars back within four, 54-50, with only 4:33 minutes to play. With three seconds left on the Tulane shot clock, McKiver (6-3, C) hit the first three-pointer of her career to boost the Green Wave's lead to six with 3:23 remaining. After nailing another three, Bush intercepted a long Tulane pass and scored on a layup to bring Houston within one, 58-57 with 1:05 remaining.
Tulane managed to score seven points in the remaining minute as Houston's 10 fouls gave the Green Wave five free throw opportunities. Jones nailed another three with just six seconds on the clock, but could not connect on her next attempt to send the game into overtime as Tulane prevailed 65-62.
Tulane (17-7, 8-3 C-USA) committed a season-high 31 turnovers but outrebounded Houston 50-32. The Lady Cougars, who average 14.2 steals per contest, had 18 steals and 20 fouls on the night.
Houston will play its final C-USA road game Sunday against Southern Miss with tip-off in Hattiesburg set for 2:30 p.m.
