University of Houston Athletics
University of Houston
-168; 84 CUSA
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UTEP
-1510; 84 CUSA
UTEP Snaps Home Women's Basketball's Winning Streak
2/14/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 14, 2009
HOUSTON - For this first time this season, the University of Houston women's basketball team could not come up with a victory on its home court, falling to UTEP 75-72 Saturday afternoon at Hofheinz Pavilion to snap the Cougars' four-game winning streak and 11-game home winning streak.
The loss drops the Cougars' overall record this season to 16-8 with an 8-4 mark in Conference USA games, while UTEP improves to 15-10 and 8-4 in league action. For the game, UTEP shot an impressive 55.8 percent (29-of-52) from the field and 50 percent (8-of-16) from three-point range.
Sophomore Courtney Taylor collected her 23rd career double-double, finishing with a team-leading 24 points and 11 rebounds. Center Cobilyn Hill narrowly missed a double-double game of her own, ending play with 17 points and nine rebounds, while guard Brittney Scott rounded out the Cougar scorers in double-figures with 15 points.
In the early portion of the game with UH trailing 8-6 and 15:31 to play in the opening period, the Cougars made their move as a rebound followed by a put-back by Brittany Mason sparked a 13-2 run by UH and left the home squad leading 19-10.
UTEP struck back with an 8-0 run of its own after the Cougars' spurt to pull within one at 19-18 and 9:26.
The Miners overcame the early deficit and built a 38-26 advantage at halftime as UTEP was hot from the floor during the game's opening 20 minutes, shooting a blazing 61.5 percent (16-of-26). The Miners were also lethal from long distance as they made 5-of-8 three point field goals in the half.
The Cougars were able to stay in the game by holding a 21-to-13 advantage in rebounding with 13 boards coming on the offensive glass leading to 15 second chance points. For the game, UH outrebounded UTEP 41-to-31.
Five straight points from Scott regained the lead for the Cougars at 43-42 with16:05 on the clock. Unlike the first half, UTEP struggled shooting the ball in the early minutes of the second half, misfiring on their first five shots before back-to-back scores by Deitra Caldwell gave them a 47-45 lead with 14:45 to play. The baskets reignited the UTEP offense and were part of a 12-3 run by the Miners that forced a timeout from UH head coach Joe Curl with his team trailing 54-48 and 12:46 to play.
UTEP's lead swelled to as many as eight at 67-59 on a long jumper by Sviatlana Trukshanina with 5:37 remaining, but the Cougars we chip away as the game came down to the final minute.
A three pointer by Scott with 11 ticks left on the clock pulled the Cougars to within one at 73-72, but Trukshanina made a pair free throws and a final second three-pointer by Jasmine Johnson could not find the mark to give the game its final score.
The Cougars are back in action at Hofheinz Pavilion with a pair of games next week as they host SMU on Thursday before returning to action on Saturday in their home finale against Tulsa. Prior to the Tulsa contest, UH will honor its lone senior, Zane Jakobsone, for her contributions to the program during her UH career.
