University of Houston Athletics
University of Houston
1-4
vs. St. Joseph's (Commerce Bank Wildcat Classic)
5-0
Women's Basketball Falls In Opener of K-State Tournament
12/2/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 2, 2005
MANHATTAN, Kan. - The University of Houston women's basketball team, doomed by a season-low shooting percentage, lost a 69-45 decision to Saint Joseph's in the opening game of the Commerce Bank Wildcat Classic in Bramlage Coliseum.
Houston (1-4) dropped its third-straight game after mustering just a 27.8 percent (18 for 66) shooting night from the floor. SJU (5-0) took the lead in the first minute and never trailed, moving out to the school's best start since the 1994-95 season. SJU had an identical 5-0 start that season. A large part of the Hawks' advantage came on second-chance points where they held an 18-4 advantage inside. They also tallied 11 fast-break points.
On the positive side, UH finished with a season-low seven turnovers and won the points in the paint battle 22-16. Jasmin Moore (Houston, Texas/Langham Creek HS) had a career-high 16 points. Moore accounted for a third of UH's scoring (6 of 18 field goals) and knocked down three treys along the way.
Sha'Ratta Hawkins (Houston, Texas/Jesse Jones HS) was held out of double figures for the first time in her UH career. The freshman finished with nine points and seven rebounds as she was just 4 for 18 from the floor. She also added a team-high three steals.
Ryan Meyers (Arlington, Texas/Arlington HS/Grayson County CC) led all players with a career-best nine rebounds. Emily Fryters (Adelaide, Australia/Concordia College) ended the night with a career-best two blocks and also added seven rebounds.
The two halves of play were vastly different as the Hawks shooting prowess of the first half all but disappeared in the second. SJU was 7 for 25 (.280) in the last 20 minutes and just 2 for 7 (.286) from behind the arc. UH held the Hawks for 7:26 seconds without a field goal, but were unable to capitalize, tallying just two field goals during that span.
After a jumper by Ayahna Cornish at the 11:36 mark, SJU went on an 8-0 run, moving the lead to 23 at 54-31 with 9:08 left. UH would knock down just three more field goals in the last nine minutes and were held to just one point in the last three.
UH started the contest off playing a zone for the first time all year and the Hawks took advantage of that in the first four minutes as they hit four of their first five shots, including three-straight from behind the arc, to lead 11-5 at the 15:56 mark. SJU pressed the advantage as UH hit a three-minute field-goal drought and the visitors led by 14, 23-9, with 11:55 left in the half.
The Cougars pulled off a 13-5 run, book ended by a free throw and layup from Gibson who finished with five points and two boards in the half. UH trailed by eight, 30-22, with 6:11 left in the stanza. UH could not keep the momentum as the Hawks went on a 12-5 run to end the half, leading 42-27 at the break.
SJU was paced by three players in double figures with 14 from Cornish leading the way. Timisha Gomez tallied 10 while Hillary Klimowicz finished with 10. Klimowicz and Faith Schutte each pulled down a team-high seven rebounds.
UH will face either the host Wildcats or Texas Pan-American on Saturday at 3 p.m. CST, depending on the outcome of tonight's matchup.
