Cougars Fall in Overtime to Cincinnati, 69-66

Saturday, January 31

Cincinnati, Ohio

1:00 PM

University of Houston

6-15, 1-9

Cincinnati

6-15, 3-7

OT 1

Houston

Cincinnati

1/31/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Jan. 31, 2015

Final Stats

CINCINNATI, Ohio - For the second time this season, Houston and Cincinnati required overtime to decide a winner on Saturday afternoon at Fifth Third Arena. Unfortunately, much like the first meeting between the teams, Cincinnati came away with the victory, a 69-66 result in American Athletic Conference play.

Marche' Amerson led Houston with 19 points, while Mariah Mitchell scored a career-high 17. Playing her first game since Jan. 21, Jessieka Palmer came off the bench to add 11 points.

The Bearcats led by as many as 11 points in the second half before the Cougars came back to take a 51-49 lead on two Mitchell free throws with 7:02 to play. But the game went to an extra five minutes, where the home team outscored Houston, 9-6.

Cincinnati also won the first meeting between the teams, a 76-73 victory on Jan. 7 at Hofheinz Pavilion in a game that went to double overtime.

THE BASICS

Score: Cincinnati 69, Houston 66 - OT
Records: Houston 6-15 (1-9 American), Cincinnati 6-15 (3-7 American)
Date: Saturday, Jan. 31, 2015
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio (Fifth Third Arena)

TURNING POINT

The game wasn't truly decided until the final possession. After two Cincinnati free throws, Houston had the ball with three seconds on the clock, down 69-66. With the length of the court in front of them, the Cougars were unable to get a shot off, and Cincinnati escaped with the win.

TOP PERFORMERS

Houston: Amerson finished 9-for-17 from the floor, with a season high in American play, while Mitchell hit a career-high four 3-pointers. Tyler Gilbert added six blocks, matching a career high she set in the last meeting with Cincinnati.
Cincinnati: Ana Owens scored 25 points, including four 3-pointers.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

- Cincinnati shot 34.5 percent (20-for-58), while Houston finished with a 39.4 percent (26-for-66) clip.
- The Cougars were strongest in the second half, when they shot 48.3 percent (14-for-29) and outscored the Bearcats, 38-28.
- Houston's best stretch came midway through the second period. Starting with a Mitchell 3-pointer, the Cougars scored 10 straight points to take their first lead since the opening three minutes of the game.
- Demetria Foreman led Houston with six assists, and Gilbert pulled in a team-high six rebounds.
- As a team, the Cougars finished one short of a season high with 15 assists.
- The Cougars snagged 12 offensive rebounds, their fourth straight game in double-figures. Foreman and Mitchell each had three.
- The Bearcats led at halftime, 32-22, although Amerson scored 12 points on 6-for-7 shooting in the first period.

NEWS & NOTES

- Palmer was Houston's leading scorer in overtime, with four points.
- Amerson finished just one point shy of a season high, set against Idaho State in the San Juan Shootout.
- The Bearcats are now 12-5 all-time against Houston.

UP NEXT FOR THE COUGARS

The Cougars finish their road trip on Tuesday night, when they face East Carolina. Game time in Greenville, N.C., is scheduled for 6 pm CT.

Houston's next home game is Saturday, Feb. 7 against Tulsa. The Cougars will host Dads & Daughters Date Day, with a ticket package for two available online for just $15. Giveaways include hats for the dads, pink flowers for daughters and a picture overlooking the Hofheinz court. | TICKETS

STAY CONNECTED

Fans can receive daily information and in-game updates by following @UHCougarWBB on Twitter. Fans can also catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at facebook.com/UHCougarWBB .

DADS & DAUGHTERS DATE DAY

Houston will host Dads & Daughters Date Day on Feb. 7 at the Tulsa game. Dads can purchase a ticket bundle for two online for just $15. | TICKETS

The ticket bundle includes two tickets, a special hat for dads and a pink flower for daughters. Also, a photo station will be set up for dads and their daughter to take a special picture overlooking the Hofheinz court.

NATIONAL GIRLS AND WOMEN IN SPORTS DAY

The Cougars will celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day when they host Memphis on Wednesday, Feb. 11. Houston will also hold their Coogs for the Cure event on that night, raising money for cancer awareness.

The Feb. 11 women's basketball game will be a "Pay as You Wish" event, where Cougar fans can enter the game by making a donation in the amount of their choosing. Fans are encouraged to give generously, as a portion of the proceeds will benefit the Coogs for the Cure program, which is dedicated to the fight against cancer.

All Houston women's student-athletes will be in attendance, and the Cougars will honor their achievements on and off the court throughout the night. In addition, the first 250 fans will receive a Coogs for the Cure t-shirt, and the first 1,000 fans will receive a commemorative pink pom-pom.

Fans are encouraged to join the festivities and bring their group to be a part of the fun. For more information and to register your group, please contact Daniel Foster at dfoster3@Central.uh.edu or (713) 743-9453.