Women’s Basketball Opens Season With Win in Mitchell’s Debut

Tuesday, November 4

Houston, Texas

6:30 p.m.

University of Houston

1-0,0-0Big 12

UT Arlington

0-1,0-0WAC

UT Arlington

Houston

Women’s Basketball Opens Season With Win in Mitchell’s Debut

11/4/2025 10:44:00 PM | Women's Basketball

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Houston defeats UT Arlington, 76-59; Five Cougars score in double figures

HOUSTON – Head Coach Matthew Mitchell earned his first victory at the helm of the University of Houston Women's basketball program with a 76-59 opening night victory over UT Arlington inside the Fertitta Center on Tuesday.

Five players scored in double figures, led by graduate forward Amirah Abdur-Rahim with 16 points on 6-for-8 shooting from the field. Graduate guard Briana Peguero followed up with 14 points paired with a career-high six steals while freshman forward Jade Jones posted a near double-double off the bench with 13 points and a team-leading nine rebounds.

Senior guard TK Pitts and freshman guard Kayla King rounded out double-figure scoring with 12 and 11 points, respectively.

The Cougars (1-0) improve to 11-4 all-time against the Lady Mavericks (0-1), snapping a four-game losing skid. Houston is now 21-6 in home openers with Coach Mitchell earning his 12th-consecutive season-opening victory, dating back to his coaching stint at Kentucky, now 14-2 in his career on opening nights.

A leveled start to play saw a contested 6-6 score before the Lady Mavericks produced a quick 5-0 run to lead 11-6 just under the five-minute mark in the first quarter. Houston broke loose for an 11-2 run, holding UT Arlington scoreless in the final 3:06 to lead 17-13 at the end of the period.

Houston sparked momentum on the press, forcing four consecutive turnovers and pushing the pace to close the half on a 13-3 run. The Cougars tallied the last eight points of the period with six coming on the break to lead 37-26 at the half.

The second half was a game of trends with the Lady Mavericks swinging momentum in the opening minutes, building on a 7-0 run to close the gap to 44-41. The Cougars responded late in the period, propelling an 8-0 run to extend their advantage to 54-42 entering the fourth quarter.

Houston returned to the press in the final frame and added to its dominant stretch, sparking a 9-0 run for 17-straight points to lead 63-42 at the media break.

Despite an attended surge from the Mavericks, the Cougars sealed the game to secure the first win of the Mitchell era.

UP NEXT
Houston will remain at home when it hosts UTSA at 7 p.m., Saturday, for its Houston High Tops Night. Fans with tickets to the 2 p.m., men's basketball game against Towson can present their ticket to enter the women's game for free. Fans are encouraged to wear their favorite pair of Jordans and can enter a raffle to win a Jordan gear basketball.

The Cougars will close their homestand on Tuesday, Nov. 11, at 6:30 p.m. against Rice.

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– UHCougars.com –