Nov. 21, 2008

Final Stats

Miami-Houston Box Score in PDF Format

HOUSTON - Sophomore forward Courtney Taylor racked up her third double-double of the season and her Cougar teammates connected on a season-high eight three-point baskets, including seven after halftime, as Friday the University of Houston women's basketball team improved to 3-0 at Hofheinz Pavilion by defeating Miami, 70-64.

"I think that was a big win for us, overall we played very well," said Taylor. "Defensively, we started switching off screens and I think that helped out a lot, overall. I think it's very important, last year we started off super slow and this year we have a head start. Miami is a very good team and that win is another win under our belt. We knew that they we're after us because we've beaten them three years straight, I think that is a very good win."

The Cougars were led by a balanced scoring attack that featured four players in double-figure scoring, led by Taylor, who finished play with 16 points on a 5-of-13 shooting night. For Taylor, her efforts on the boards resulted in a personal best 17 rebounds topping a 15-board effort a season ago.

Sophomore Jasmine Johnson posted a season-best 13 points on the night, while freshman guard Porsche Landry contributed 13 and sophomore guard Brittney Scott added 12.

Unlike their first two games at home, the Cougars did not get off to a running start, trailing for the first time at Hofheinz Pavilion this season during the game's opening minute as UM's LaToya Cunningham drained a three-pointer. The lead for the visitor's climbed to as high as six at 10-4 with 16:45 to play.

Houston (3-1) rallied after the slow start as a jumper by Jasmine Johnson sparked a 9-0 run for the Cougars to leave them with a 13-10 advantage with 12:05 to play.

Johnson, who was UH's best player in the first half, stretched the lead to five with 3:57 before intermission as she converted her fourth field goal of the half, while being fouled. Johnson made the ensuing free throw to give her a team-leading 10 points in the opening period. At the intermission the Cougars held a 34-30 lead.

Following the break, the `Canes jumped out on a 7-2 run give them their first lead since early in the ballgame, 37-36, with 18:16 on the clock. UH sophomore Brittney Scott stopped the bleeding with a three-pointer to regain the lead for the home team at 39-37.

Scott connected on another long distance shot at the 15:50 mark to again give the lead back to the Cougars at 44-42.

The barrage from long distance continued as senior Zane Jakobsone hit a long jumper just inside the three-point range and on the next trip down the trip Scott nailed her fourth shot from long distance to put the Cougars up five at 58-53 with 8:53 to play.

Jakobsone, the only senior on the UH roster, contributed eight points by going 3-of-4 from the field, including a 2-of-3 mark from three-point range. During the second half, UH was lethal from distance by draining seven three-point baskets after going 1-of-8 from distance in the game's opening 20 minutes.

UH made seven of eight free throws, including five by Landry, during the final 43 second to seal its third victory of the year.

The Cougars are back on the road next week as they travel to Fort Worth, Texas, to face No. 24 TCU at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum.