The Cougars improved their record to 10-9 with a victory at home against Southern Miss on Sunday, and on the road against Central Florida on Thursday, marking the first time since their season-opening win that the Cougars hold an above .500 winning percentage.
Senior guard Twiggy McIntyre’s performances in these games helped earn her this week’s Conference USA Player of the Week. It is the second time in three weeks she has been awarded this honor.
On Sunday, the Cougars welcomed the Golden Eagles (10-8. 1-4 C-USA)into Hofheinz Pavilion. The Cougars made this their fourth consecutive win, gaining a 4-1 record in Conference USA.
The game featured a brilliant performance by McIntyre, who scored a game-high 24 points, grabbed four rebounds, and logged three assists. This was her fourth straight 20-plus point game, and her fifth such game of the season.
Houston turned in one of its best performances of the season in terms of taking care of the ball, as they only had 10 turnovers while causing 18.
Eight of the Southern Miss turnovers came in the second half, with Houston converting them into 12 points.
Freshman guard Courtney Taylor logged her second consecutive double-double, her fifth overall on the season, with 14 points and 12 rebounds. She also added two blocks and two steals.
Golden Eagles forward Pauline Love, who scored 19 points and grabbed 16 rebounds, led Southern Miss.
The Cougars shot 17.1 percent from the field in the first half, and lost the game’s rebounding battle 53-46. They countered this by shooting the lights out in the second half, going 15-29 (51.7 percent).
On Thursday, the Cougars defeated the Golden Knights (8-10, 1-4) in Orlando 74-61. McIntyre led all scorers with 22 points, while grabbing four rebounds, dishing out three assists and three steals.
UCF forward Emma Cannon finished with a team-high 20 points, tied for a team-high 15 rebounds with freshman center Tia Lewis, but fouled out with 1:57 left in the game.
The Cougars were slightly edged in rebounds, losing the battle 51-50, but made up for it by causing 19 turnovers, while only committing 16. Houston capitalized on this advantage, notching 21 points off of turnovers.
Outstanding performances by both Taylor and freshman center Cobilyn Hill helped the Cougars to a victory.
Taylor finished with a double-double, scoring 12 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, while Hill shined with 16 points, seven rebounds and three blocked shots.
Senior guard Tye Jackson scored only three points, which came on late-game free throws, but her presence was definitely felt, as she grabbed 11 boards and logged six assists.
The win did not come easy, however, and the Cougars struggled in the second half with a scoring drought that lasted more than five minutes. This drought helped UCF tie the game at 44 on an 18-2 scoring run that ended with less than 11 minutes left in the game. Houston then proceeded to outscore UCF 30-17 to finish the game at 74-61.
The Cougars will try to extend their four-game winning streak against crosstown rivals Rice at 2 p.m. Saturday at Hofheinz Pavilion. A victory for the Cougars would give them a season sweep over the Owls.
