Bobcat1 Posted March 9, 2008 Report Posted March 9, 2008 ORLANDO, Fla. - Courtney Taylor (Crockett, Texas/Crockett HS) had her ninth double-double of the season, including a career-high 21 points, but it was not enough as the University of Houston women's basketball team lost 71-67 to Southern Miss in the Conference USA Championship quarterfinals Friday at UCF Arena. Taylor was 9-for-12 from the field, blocked two shots and grabbed 11 rebounds. Her nine double-doubles led the team this season. Houston (15-16), the No. 4 seed, blew a 17-point halftime lead and was dominated in the paint 40-26. Southern Miss' (19-12) three starting frontcourt players, Kendra Reed, Pauline Love and Stephanie Helgeson combined for 52 of the team's 71 points. Love injured her ankle with a minute left in the first half and was carried off the court, but returned to score 12 points in the second half. "It was a tale of two halves for us like it has been all year," interim head coach Danny Hughes said. "We played a great first half. Things kind of fell apart for us in the second half. Our kids faced a lot of adversity this season. I'm awfully proud of our young kids." Down 39-22 at the break, Southern Miss used a 33-12 run over the first 13 minutes of the second half to lead 55-51 with 7:09 left. During that span, UH was 5-for-14 from the field with seven turnovers. Tye Jackson (Houston, Texas/Westfield HS/Purdue) picked up three-straight fouls in a span of four minutes during the run and was forced to sit with four fouls. Down as many as five, 58-53, with 5:37 to go, Houston knotted things up after Taylor knocked down her first-career three-point shot and Cobilyn Hill (Houston, Texas/Eisenhower HS) drained a pair of free throws. UH moved out to a three-point lead 65-62, with 1:52 remaining but a 6-0 run by Southern Miss gave the Golden Eagles a 68-65 lead with 27 seconds left. Hill sank a layup the next time down the floor to pull UH within one, 68-67, with 18 seconds left. The Cougars were forced to foul and Reed hit a pair from the charity stripe with 15 seconds left, moving the lead back to three at 70-67. UH was not able to convert a three-point attempt on its next possession and Amber Eugene split a pair of free throws to make the final margin four, 71-67. Hill finished with 11 for UH while Jackson had four points, five rebounds, four assists and a steal. Brittney Scott (Orange, Texas/West Orange Stark HS) came off the bench to score nine in a career-high 24 minutes. Twiggy McIntyre (Sapulpa, Okla./Sapulpa HS/Kansas State) was held scoreless, but added two assists and a rebound. Houston led 39-22 at the half on the strength of 41 percent shooting and knocking down six three pointers. Zane Jakobsone (Riga, Latvia/ Trinity Valley CC) knocked
Bobcat1 Posted March 9, 2008 Author Report Posted March 9, 2008 If all the Orangefield fans remember Courtney Taylor we played against her I think 2 years in a row in the playoffs, she is starting for UH, and is doing very well.
stang4life Posted March 9, 2008 Report Posted March 9, 2008 Way to go Brittney...show 'em what you're made of!!!
Bobcat1 Posted March 9, 2008 Author Report Posted March 9, 2008 Pretty impressive for a FRESHMAN!! Congrats Brit, you're making your school and community proud! Keep it up.
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