University of Houston
6-22, 2-15AAC
SMU
12-16, 7-10AAC
Cougars Seal Road Trip with 63-54 Win at SMU
2/27/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
HOUSTON â€" The Houston Cougars women's basketball team wrapped up the road portion of its 2015-16 regular season with a 63-54 win over the SMU Mustangs on Saturday, inside Moody Coliseum, in Dallas, Texas.
"We didn't have empty possessions offensively or defensively," Head Coach Ronald Hughey said. "That's the thing that we've been working on because sometimes we have two or three possessions in a row where we break down on offense or defense. We stayed poised. This team is good from 1-11 on players will play if everybody goes in and does their job. We stress that all the time."
Freshman guard Cenecia Newman led the Cougars with four points in the first quarter on 2-of-2 shooting despite just logging two minutes of action. Houston's defense locked down on the Mustangs early as the Cougars held SMU without a field goal for the first 9:14 of the game. However the Mustangs would go to the free throw line 10 times in the first 10 minutes making nine to keep them in the ball game.
In the second quarter, the defense continued to clamp down on the Mustangs, holding SMU to just 2-of-10 shooting in the second frame. Mariah Mitchell and Jessieka Palmer led the Cougars with five points apiece heading to the break, as nine different Houston players found the scoreboard in the first 20 minutes.
THE BASICS
Score: Houston 63, SMU 54
Records: Houston 6-22 (2-15), SMU 12-16 (7-10)
Date: Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016
Location: Dallas, Texas (Moody Coliseum)
TURNING POINT
Both teams were able to find their offense in the third in what proved to be the highest scoring quarter of the game. Houston shot 40.0 percent from the field (6-of-15), while the Mustangs topped the mark with 41.2 percent shooting (7-of-17) to cut the lead to three at 43-40 heading to the final quarter of play.
The two teams traded a pair of points to open the fourth quarter, but with the pace quickening Hughey called for a timeout less than a minute into the final frame. Coming out of the timeout, the Cougars responded with an 11-4 run over the next five minutes, including eight points from senior Marche' Amerson to extend the lead to 10 with just 4:31 to play. SMU cut the lead to six at 60-54 with just 26 seconds to play, but Alecia Smith and Serithia Hawkins were able to make three clutch free throws down the stretch to seal the win.
"I'm just so proud of them because of all the resiliency and all the fight," Hughey said. "With all the people saying they can't do it, it doesn't matter. We talk about the power of "I am" every day, and that carries over to the team. I'm happy for the fans that finally we're in a close one and we pull it out. I still think we have a shot to win every game, and people will call me crazy but that's what I like about this team. I'm really happy for the team and our staff because everybody has been working their butts off."
TOP PERFORMERS
Houston: A trio of Cougars scored in double-digits for Houston including a team-high 15 from senior Jessieka Palmer on 6-of-11 shooting. Senior Marche' Amerson added 10 points for the Cougars, with eight of those coming in the fourth quarter, while freshman Serithia Hawkins picked up her fourth double-digit scoring game in her last five, while also pulling down a team-high eight rebounds.
SMU: McKenzie Adams led the way in scoring for the Mustangs with 6-of-17 shooting from the field to end the contest with a game-high 18 points. Alicia Froling added 14 points of her own, and also pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds to complete the double-double.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Houston held the Mustangs without a field goal for the first 9:14 of the game. The Cougars allowed SMU to make just four field goals over the first 20 minutes of action.
- Freshman Serithia Hawkins followed up a double-double performance against UCF with her fourth double-digit contest in the last five games.
- The win marks the second for Hughey against the Mustangs in his second season as head coach of the Cougars.
HEAD COACH Ronald Hughey ON RETIRING SMU COACH RHONDA ROMPOLA
"She's one of the most outstanding women in the business. The thing that I tell her when we meet up is that I thank her being a great example of what women's basketball needs and wants. She's a great example for young coaches like myself to be able to see that. She's doing it the right way and she did it the right way for many years. She's going out on top because she gets to pick when she wants to go out. She's impacted so many lives and touched so many people. You can't put those things into words. I'm excited to have been up here to have the opportunity to embrace her on her special day like this."
UP NEXT FOR THE COUGARS
Houston gets back to action on Saturday, Feb. 27, with a 2 p.m. tipoff against SMU. The matchup will be Houston's final road game of the regular season.
$50 SHASTA PASS NOW AVAILABLE
The Houston Fan Experience Headquarters is proud to offer the Shasta Pass for the 2015-16 athletic season. For only $50, Cougar fans can purchase one Shasta Pass, which allows season-long general admission entrance to all Houston Women's Basketball and Softball home games.
The Shasta Pass offers Houston fans a substantial savings as single-game tickets start at $8 for all four sports. Fans can save $126 alone during the Houston fall sports seasons. To purchase a Shasta Pass, CLICK HERE.
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.
