University of Houston
1-1
Milwaukee
0-2
Houston Uses Big Fourth to Rout Milwaukee
11/17/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
NEW ORLEANS â€" The Houston Cougar Women's Basketball team used a big fourth quarter to come from behind and defeat Milwaukee 74-59 in the consolation round of the Preseason WNIT on Friday in New Orleans.
Both teams struggled to find a rhythm in the first quarter, letting 3:22 tick off the clock in the opening frame before either team found the scoreboard. Houston pulled ahead at 5-2 behind three points from junior Serithia Hawkins before Milwaukee rattled off a 7-0 run to take the lead. The Panthers used 12 points off turnovers in the first quarter to take a 17-10 lead into the first intermission.
Milwaukee extended the lead to double-digits for the first time with a 3-point bucket from Brandi Bisping just 21 seconds into the second quarter. The Cougars would work to cut the lead back to six at 20-14 on a pair of free throws from junior Myyah West and a bucket by sophomore Jasmyne Harris, but the Panthers followed with a 10-2 run to push the lead to the largest of the contest at 30-16. Harris stopped the run with back-to-back buckets to cut the lead back to single digits at 30-21, and the teams traded baskets for the remainder of the half, where the Panthers entered the locker room up 34-24.
The Panthers pushed the lead back to 13 on three separate occasions during the third quarter, including 30 seconds into the period when Lindner connected on another 3-point basket. Two minutes later, senior Steph Kostowicz put in a layup to make the lead 43-30, but from there Houston's defense would take over.
Houston picked up back-to-back buckets from freshman Julia Blackshell-Fair and Harris to bring the score to 43-34. Those baskets sparked an 11-2 run to cut the lead to four at 45-41. The Cougar defense forced 11 turnovers in the span, including one on five consecutive possessions as they entered the final 10 minutes of play down 49-43.
The offense broke out in a big way in the fourth quarter, a frame that would see Houston shoot 52.6 percent (10-of-19) from the field and 3-of-7 (42.9 percent) from beyond the 3-point line. Houston opened the quarter on a 10-4 run thanks to back-to-back 3-point buckets from sophomore Dorian Branch to tie the score at 53 apiece. A steal by sophomore Angela Harris and a layup the other way from junior Octavia Barnes gave Houston the lead for the first time since the score was 5-2 midway through the first quarter.
Milwaukee pulled even at 57-all with 4:21 remaining in the game on a Kostowicz layup, but Houston followed with a 10-0 run to take control of the game for good. Jasmyne Harris gave the Cougars a 59-57 lead after a steal and a finish, and the Cougars would go on to force turnovers on seven of the next eight possessions. A layup from Hawkins, a pair of free throws from Blackshell-Fair and a 3-pointer from Angela Harris extended the lead to 10.
The Cougars forced 25 turnovers in the second half and outscored the Panthers 31-10 in the fourth quarter and 50-25 in the second half to come back from down 14 and win the game 74-69.
THE BASICS
Score: Houston 74 (1-1), Milwaukee 59 (0-2)
Date: Friday, Nov. 17, 2017
Location: Lakefront Arena (New Orleans, La.) | Preseason WNIT Consolation Round
TURNING POINT
Houston was able to hold the Panthers to just 18 shots in the second half due to their lockdown defense. The Cougars forced 39 turnovers in the game and tallied 25 steals which ranks tied for ninth on the single game steals list in program history.
TOP PERFORMERS
Houston: Sophomore Jasmyne Harris led the Cougars with 22 points in the contest on 8-of-19 shooting from the field. Sophomore Dorian Branch turned in a career night for the second consecutive game, putting in a career-best 18 points including a 4-of-7 mark from beyond the 3-point line. Junior Serithia Hawkins added 12 points, while freshman Julia Blackshell-Fair and Harris pulled down team-highs with six rebounds each.
Milwaukee: The Cougars were able to keep Milwaukee's leading scorer, Steph Kostowicz, fairly quiet in the contest, though she finished with a team-high 11 points and matched Jenny Lindner with game-highs of eight rebounds. Lindner was the only other Panther to reach double-figure scoring with 10 points.
NEWS AND NOTES
- Houston forced 39 turnovers in the game, the most under Head Coach Ronald Hughey. The team's 24 steals are tied for the ninth most in program history.
- The Cougars dominated the specialty categories in the contest, outscoring Milwaukee 34-18 in the paint, 35-20 in points off turnovers and 31-9 on fast-break points.
- Sophomore Angela Harris and Junior Serithia Hawkins each matched career highs in steals. Harris forced seven turnovers, while Hawkins registered six.
UP NEXT FOR HOUSTON
Houston moves on to face the winner of New Orleans and CSUN who were in action following the Cougars' game. If the Privateers win, Houston will play at 4:30 p.m., on Saturday, while if the Matadors are victorious, Houston will play at 2:00 p.m.
STAY CONNECTED
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