Jan. 2, 2008

Box Score

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HOUSTON - The University of Houston women's basketball team rallied from a 26-point second-half deficit to knock off Lamar 82-75 in overtime Wednesday in non-conference action on Guy V. Lewis Court at Hofheinz Pavilion.

The Cougars (5-8) trailed 46-22 at the half and did not lead until the 2:29 mark of the second half. The 26-point comeback for the win is the second-largest deficit overcome in NCAA Division I Women's Basketball history, ranking behind Texas State's 32-point comeback win over UTSA on Feb. 18, 2006.

Lamar (7-6) saw a three-game winning streak against UH snapped as the teams met for the first time since 1997.

UH took a 75-73 lead with 3:07 left in the extra period and didn't look back, holding the Lady Cardinals to two points the rest of the way and earning its first overtime win of the season. The Cougars were 7-for-10 from the free-throw line in overtime and made only two field goals in the final five minutes.

Down 48-22 with 19:28 left in the game, UH outscored the Lady Cardinals 48-26 the rest of the half and got some clutch free-throw shooting from Twiggy McIntyre (Sapulpa, Okla./Sapulpa HS/Kansas State) in the final seconds of regulation.

After Houston took its first lead of the game, 64-63, with 2:29 left, Lamar's Aida Bakhos tipped in a layup off her own miss to put Lamar up 65-64 with 2:23 left. UH failed to convert on its next possession and Bakhos was fouled the next time down the floor and converted both free throws to make the margin 3, 67-64, with 1:48 left.

Ryan Meyers (Arlington, Texas/Arlington HS/Grayson County CC) pulled the Cougars within one at 67-66 with 1:32 to go. Lamar's Brittany Williams split a pair of free throws with 44 seconds left and the Cougars trailed by two, 68-66.

On the ensuing possession, Courtney Taylor (Crockett, Texas/Crockett HS) tipped in a rebound of a McIntyre missed three with 23 ticks left on the clock to knot things at 68-68.

Lamar's Nikki Williams missed a jumper the next time down the floor and fouled McIntyre who came up with the rebound, giving the senior guard two free throw shots with four seconds left. After a Lady Cardinals timeout, McIntyre stepped up and drained both free throws, giving Houston a 70-68 lead with four seconds left.

Nikki Williams was fouled attempting a game-winning three, giving her three shots from the charity stripe with half a second left on the clock. After Williams missed the first and drained the second two, UH's Tye Jackson (Houston, Texas/Westfield HS/Purdue) had a half court shot bounce around the rim and out of bounds, sending the game to the extra period.

Jackson finished the game with 21 points and seven assists while Meyers had a season-high 18 points and eight rebounds. McIntyre added all of her 19 points and six of her seven assists in the second half while Taylor finished with nine points, 11 rebounds and four assists.

Houston scored 28 of its 48 second-half points in the paint, scored 17 points off of 15 Lamar turnovers and also tallied 14 points off the fast break in the half.

The Cougars' 20 assists was a season-high and the 13 turnovers was the lowest number of giveaways in the past seven games.

The first half was as forgettable as the second half was memorable after UH shot just 26.7 percent (8-for-30) from the field and 0-for-5 from behind the arc.

Coupled with Lamar shooting 65.4 percent (17-for-26) from the field, the Cougars were dominated up and down the floor. UH made only three field goals in the final 11 minutes of the half and was dominated 16-8 in the paint.

Lamar's Nikki Williams scored 16 of her game-high 26 points in the opening 20 minutes. Brittney Williams finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds while Tamara Abalde added 18 points and 10 rebounds.

Houston opens up Conference USA play this weekend at Hofheinz Pavilion against UTEP and Tulane. UH and Miners square off at 7 p.m. CST Friday while the Green Wave comes to town for a 3 p.m. tipoff on Sunday.

Sunday's game will be televised nationally by ESPN2. Former Tennessee standout Kara Lawson will call the action along with analyst Jimmy Dykes.

Fans can listen to a free internet radio broadcast of all UH games this year by clicking on the Stretch Internet Broadcast link at UHCougars.com. Streaming video for all home games will also be made available through the All-Access package at UHCougars.com.