Nov. 20, 2008

HOUSTON - Following its first setback of the season, the University of Houston women's basketball team returns to the place where it opened the season 2-0, as Friday the team hosts Miami in a 7 p.m. contest at Hofheinz Pavilion.

The Cougars began the 2008-09 campaign 2-0 for the first time in four years by holding serve on their home court last week, dispatching Southeastern Louisiana and Gardner-Webb at Hofheinz Pavilion before dropping their first road contest to Oregon State Wednesday. The squad has been benefited by excellent contributions from several of its younger members, including sophomore Courtney Taylor and freshman Roxana Button, who were each honored by Conference USA.

Taylor nabbed C-USA Player of the Week honors after notching her 10th and 11th career double doubles last week. The Crockett, Texas, native was also solid in the loss to Oregon State, leading UH with 16 rebounds and eight rebounds. Through three games this season, Taylor ranks seventh in C-USA with an average of 16 points per game and fourth in the league in rebounding at 10.7 per contest

Button was selected as C-USA Rookie of the Week after posted double-figure scoring nights in each of the first two games of the season.

In addition to the two honorees, sophomore Cobilyn Hill contributed her first double-double of the season with 18 points and 13 boards. Sophomore Brittney Scott is developing into a dependable offensive threat, averaging 8.7 points per contest this season, while freshman Porsche Landry had dished out a team-high 12 assists this season and chipped in an average of 8.3 points per contest.

Miami enters the weekend with a 1-1 record after splitting early season contests with Norfolk State and Wisconsin-Green Bay.