Houston Out-Shoots Miami, 70-64
Nov. 21, 2008
HOUSTON – The University of Miami women’s basketball team (1-2) fell to the clutch-shooting Houston Cougars (3-1), 70-64 at Hofheinz Pavilion, Friday evening.
Timely Houston three-pointers were the difference in the game, as the Cougars hit 7 of 11 in the second-half, each coming at the most inopportune times for the Hurricanes. On four different occasions Houston hit a three-pointer that gave them the lead after the score was tied or with Miami leading.
Houston’s Brittney Scott was the main threat from the outside has she hit four three-pointers for the game, all in the second period.
Despite Freshman Shenise Johnson’s best efforts, Houston pulled away late for the 70-64 final. The Henrietta, N.Y. native continues to improve with every game she plays, scoring 21 points, 13 in the second half. More impressively she had a team-high six assists and seven steals to go with her seven rebounds.
Miami again struggled from the free-throw line as they shot 58 percent for the game. However, Johnson hit 7 of 8 from the stripe, all in the second half. As a team, Houston was 16-21 from the foul line.
The Cougars were led by sophomore Courtney Taylor, who scored 16 points and grabbed a game-high 17 rebounds. Her huge rebounds aside, Miami won the battle on the boards 45-43. The `Canes have outrebounded their opponents in each game this season.
In the first half, LaToya Cunningham came out of the gates hot, as she scored eight of Miami’s first 10 points. The senior hit three shots from behind the arc, leading all scorers with 11 points going into the break.
With Cunningham’s help the Hurricanes jumped to an early six-point lead, before Houston went on an 18-5 run in the middle of the half. The Cougars surged by Miami behind 10 first half points from Jasmine Johnson, as UH turned a six-point deficit into a seven-point lead with 8:02 remaining in the half.
The `Canes countered with a little run of their own, fueled by Latoya Drake, who grabbed offensive rebounds on back-to-back possessions to score an easy four points, cutting the Cougar lead to two. Right before the half, a Courtney Taylor three-point play gave Houston a 34-30 halftime lead.
Cunningham scored a season-high 15 points, while Charmaine Clark scored 10 of her own. Drake narrowly missed her first double-double since transferring to Miami a season ago as she scored nine points and pulled down a team-high nine rebounds.
Freshman Riquna Williams made her collegiate debut with four points, but showed the athleticism that the Miami coaching staff has raved about. As soon as she came into the game, the 5-8 guard ripped down an offensive rebound over Houston’s 6-3 Cobilyn Hill and put it back for her first two points. Later, the Pohokee, Fla. native recovered after being beaten off the dribble to swat the opponents shot attempt into the stands.
The Hurricanes will showcase their talent as they face cross-town rival FIU on Tuesday, Nov. 25 before they return to the BankUnited Center on Friday, Nov. 28, in the first day of the UM Thanksgiving Tournament. For ticket information, please call 1-800-Go-Canes or visit hurricanesports.com
