SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – Visiting University of Houston was able to hold off the University of the Incarnate Word women's basketball team with excellent rebounding and key three-pointers on Monday night, 67-51 at the McDermott Center.

Every time the Cardinals (3-4) started to make a run, the Cougars (3-5) seemed to have the answer.  In the first quarter, a Brianna Williams (Wylie/Mesquite HS) layup cut the UH lead to two points with 51 seconds left, but Serithia Hawkins knocked down a three-pointer to make it a 12-7 Cougars lead.  In the second quarter, the Cougars led by as many as 13 points when the Cardinals pulled back to within seven points with 58 seconds left in the half, but a three-pointer by Alecia Smith, a steal and a layup by Kierra Graves gave Houston a 35-23 lead at halftime.

The trend continued in the third quarter.  The Cougars pushed their lead to 19 points midway through the quarter when the Cardinals started their comeback.  They got back to within 11 points with 20 seconds left in the quarter, but Mariah Mitchell drained a three-pointer with six seconds remaining to give Houston a 50-36 lead after three.

In the fourth quarter, the Cardinals scored the first seven points of the period to make it 50-43 after a layup by Aricka Adams (Round Rock/Round Rock HS).  Three turnovers and three missed free throws over the next 4:30 meant that the Cougars still held a 10-point lead with under three minutes to play.  UH was able to make their next nine free throws to clinch the game.

The Cardinals shot 36.7 percent from the field, made 3-of-12 from three-point range and were 12-for-20 from the foul line.  Williams led the team with a career high 21 points on 7-of-14 shooting from the field.  Quincy Baker (Houston/Klein HS) had a solid all-around performance with eight points, four rebounds and three blocks while Celia Garcia Paunero (Valladolid, Spain/Otero JC) led the team with seven rebounds.  They committed 17 turnovers and had 31 rebounds.

The Cougars shot 33.9 percent from the field, made 7-of-21 from three-point range and were 18-of-24 from the charity stripe.  Hawkins led the team with 16 points, seven rebounds and three steals while Jacqueline Blake posted a double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds.  Kierra Graves added 12 points and five rebounds.  They had 23 offensive rebounds that led to 20 second chance points.  They had 50 rebounds and committed 15 turnovers.

The Cardinals are back in action on Thursday at Purdue at 7 p.m.
####
pr15605smm