B. Scott

[Bobcat1]

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

[KFDM COOP]

Congrats!

[Bobcat1]

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]

Way to go Brittney...show 'em what you're made of!!!

[Bobcat1]

Pretty impressive for a FRESHMAN!! Congrats Brit, you're making your school and community proud! Keep it up.