Feb. 19, 2006

Box Score

Houston, Texas - The SMU women's basketball team hit 10-of-18 three-point field goals and held on for a 63-61 at Houston Sunday afternoon at Hofheinz Pavilion. With the win, SMU improves to 14-12 on the season and remains tied for second (9-5 C-USA) in Conference USA standings with Rice and Southern Miss. Houston extends its losing streak to five games and falls to 9-16 (6-8 C-USA).

SMU senior Sarah Davis scored her 1,000th career point at the 12:30 mark in the second half off a three-point field goal in the left wing area. Davis becomes the 14th SMU women's player to eclipse the 1,000-career point mark.

In the first half, SMU jumped out to a 4-0 lead, then surrendered a 9-0 Houston run. The Mustangs went on their own 10-0 run and built up a seven-point cushion. But the Cougars slowly chipped away at the lead off Mustang miscues and cut the lead to five points at intermission. Katie Gross scored 14 points in the first half, going 4-of-6 from three-point range. SMU shot 40% from the field, including 60% from three-point range while Houston shot a mere 29% from the field but went to the free throw line eight more times than SMU. The Mustangs totaled 14 turnovers in the first half.

In the second half, SMU turned the ball over a number of times and was frustrated by Houston's full-court pressure. Houston knotted the game at 51-51 with 5:30 remaining in the game and retook the lead just under five minutes remaining. The Mustangs struggled offensively while Houston scrapped for every loose ball and hit on high-percentage shots. Gross nailed her fifth three-pointer of the game to tie it at 57-57 with 2:35 left in the contest. Janielle Dodds connected on an old-fashioned three-point play to give SMU a 62-57 lead with 45 seconds left. Houston scored a bucket with 39 seconds (62-59). Katie Gross made one of two free throws (63-59). SMU fouled Houston, giving the Cougars two successful free throws (63-61) with 27 seconds remaining. Kendall Shead was fouled in the Houston backcourt, but missed the front of a one-and-one. Houston had possession of the ball with the opportunity to either tie the game or take the lead. Houston missed its shot with three seconds in the game and SMU grabbed the rebound and held on for the 63-61 win.

SMU shot 10-of-18 from three-point range (55.5%) and 42% overall. Houston shot 36% from the field and only 33% from three-point range.

"We could of helped ourselves by hitting free throws at the end," said SMU head coach Rhonda Rompola. "You'll take any victory on the road and we'll take this and run with it. We knew that this road trip would be tough - both Rice and Houston play very well at home. It was good that Katie took the open looks that she got."

SMU's top scorer was junior Katie Gross with 20 points, including 15 from three-point range (5-of-9). Davis finished the game with 15 points (6-of-8 from the field). She added five rebounds and one block. Janielle Dodds posted her 10th double-double of the season with 11 points and 12 rebounds. For Houston, Sha'Ratta Hawkins poured in 20 points while Tye Jackson added 17 points.

The Mustangs close out the regular season next weekend at Moody Coliseum with a Friday night game vs. UTEP. On Feb. 26, SMU hosts Tulane at 2:00 p.m with a Senior Salute scheduled prior to tip-off.