University of Houston
5-16 (1-9)
UCF
5-17 (2-9)
Clutch Shooting Propels Cougars to 64-55 Win over UCF
2/4/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
HOUSTON â€" Senior forward Marche' Amerson scored a career-high 20 points including 4-of-7 from behind the 3-point line to help lead the Houston Cougar women's basketball team to a 64-55 victory inside Hofheinz Pavilion on Wednesday.
"The first thing that I want to say is, that through this rough stretch we have a team that is really resilient and came to work every day," Head Coach Ronald Hughey said. "They brought energy and effort, they brought the faith and the determination, and that is all because of all of our fans and everybody here at the University of Houston that supports us. We feel that energy and that is the thing that pulled us through. It will continue to push us through. Again, we wanted to come out and have an opportunity just to fight for 40 minutes, take care of the basketball, score, and play relaxed and aggressive. I'm just so happy to get an opportunity to get a win."
The two teams traded buckets for a majority of the first two quarters with neither team holding a lead of more than three points for the first 13 minutes of the game. However, with the Knights leading 17-16 with 7:34 remaining in the first half, UCF would go on an 8-1 run to extend their lead to eight. But, the Cougars would answer with a mini 4-0 run of their own to end the half and enter the locker room down 25-21.
Houston continued to battle late in the game, but could not find a way to reclaim the lead in the third quarter. The Cougars cut the lead to a one-possession game five times during the third frame, but were unable to capitalize until Amerson drilled a three with just 1:32 remaining in the period to put Houston back on top 40-39.
THE BASICS
Score: Houston 64, UCF 55
Records: Houston 5-16 (1-9), UCF 5-17 (2-9)
Date: Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2016
Location: Houston, Texas (Hofheinz Pavilion)
TURNING POINT
Despite trailing 41-40 to open the fourth quarter, the Cougars exploded on a 12-2 run to begin the final period and give the Cougars a 52-43 lead with just 7:02 remaining in the game. Following a UCF timeout however, the Knights went on a 9-0 run of their own to knot the score at 52 apiece. The Cougars were unfazed though, and senior Alecia Smith and Amerson drilled back-to-back threes to open the lead back up to six, and give Houston the advantage for good.
TOP PERFORMERS
Houston: Senior forward Marche' Amerson added one more accolade to her storied career with her first 20-point game in her four seasons at Houston. Amerson, who recently became the 23rd member of the 1,000 point club at Houston, finished the contest with six rebounds and four assists to accompany her career-high 20 points. Senior guard Alecia Smith also collected double-figure points in the contest scoring 10 points with six rebounds and a career-best four steals. Senior forward Tyler Gilbert added nine points and five rebounds, while junior guard Kierra Graves scored eight points and tallied a career-high four assists.
UCF: Kayla Thigpen led the Knights in scoring with 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the field. The freshman from West Palm Beach, Fla. Also added four rebounds and a block to her resume. Sophomore Aliyah Gregory added 11 points and three boards of her own, while sophomore Fifi Ndour and junior Joslyn Massey each added eight points.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Houston forced the Knights to commit a season-high 24 turnovers which lead to 24 points for the Cougars.
- Houston got another big night from its bench with 25 of their 64 points coming from non-starting players.
- Despite being outrebounded 33-32 by the Knights, the Cougars collected eight offensive rebounds to UCF's six leading to seven second chance points for the Coogs.
NEWS & NOTES
- The win for the Cougars snapped a 10-game losing streak, in which Houston dropped four games by single digit points.
- Houston held UCF's leading scorer Zykira Lewis to just three points in the contest. Lewis entered Wednesday's game averaging 16.2 points per game which is fourth in the American Athletic Conference.
- Houston shot 16-of-20 (80 percent) from the free throw line including 14-of-15 in the second half. The Cougars also limited the Knights to just six trips to the charity stripe.
UP NEXT FOR THE COUGARS
The Cougars continue their short, 2-game home stand when they host the Tulane on Saturday, Feb. 6. Tipoff for the rematch against the Green Wave is scheduled for 2 p.m.
$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.
