Fans can hear the contest against Columbia live via the home for Women’s Basketball Radio, UHCougars.com/wbbradio. A live stream of Wednesday’s game will also be available courtesy of ESPN+ and can be found by clicking HERE. A subscription is required for ESPN+ content. Live statistics are also available through SideArm Stats, and the official Twitter account of Houston Women’s Basketball, @UHCougarWBB, will offer updates throughout the game.
SCOUTING THE LIONS Columbia enters Wednesday’s contest with a 2-2 record after falling at Milwaukee (78-65) and at Illinois (76-69) in a pair of road contests last week.
_ _ Columbia has a pair of players averaging double-figures in scoring, including a team-leading 15.5 from Sienna Durr. Janiya Clemmons ranks second on the team in scoring with 10.5 points per night.
_ _ As a team, the Lions are shooting 42.0 percent from the field and 29.2 percent from beyond the 3-point line, which leads to an average of 67.3 points per game. Conversely, Columbia is allowing teams to score 66.5 points per game on 35.6 percent from the field and 26.7 percent from deep.
_ _ Clemmons paces the Lions on the glass, pulling down 6.8 boards per night, while Mikayla Markham averages 5.8 rebounds and Durr contributes 5.0 per game.
TOP PERFORMERS Houston: Houston had five players score double-figures in the contest, including a team-high 14 from Alyssa Okoene, who’s career-high 14 rebounds completed her second-career double-double. Jasmyne Harris, Serithia Hawkins and Tatyana Hill finished the game with 13 points, a career-high for Hill, while Dorian Branch scored 10.
_ _ Columbia: Columbia had two players reach double-figures in scoring, led by a game-high 17 from Madison Hardy. Riley Casey finished second on the team with 11 points. Freshman Sienna Durr paced the Lions on the glass with five rebounds before fouling out in the fourth quarter.
_ _ NEWS AND NOTES
* For the sixth-straight game, Houston forced 20 or more turnovers in the contest, forcing 27 against the Lions. Columbia entered the contest 16th in the NCAA in turnovers per game at 12.0. * Houston scored 29 points off its forced turnovers, while limiting the Lions to just 19. * The Cougars outrebounded Columbia 41-37 and, despite being outrebounded on the offensive glass 15-14, they held an 11-5 advantage on second-chance points. * Houston outscored Columbia 44-20 on points in the paint and 13-4 on the fast break. * Houston held the lead for 34:17. * Tatyana Hill scored a career-high 13 points in the game, while Dymond Gladney added a career-high six points.
I’ve been trying to figure out what the difference so far for the Coogs as they’ve struggled a bit early and it basically boils down to 3 point shooting. Last year, this team shot 34% from beyond the arc and this year, they’re shooting 27.3%. Opponent’s shot 28.3% last year from the beyond the arc; this year, they’re shooting 32.9%.
Angela Harris is the only one shooting around her percentage last year; Jazz Harris, Dorian Branch, and Serithia Hawkins are all shooting well below. You have to figure those three will start to hit more as the season goes along and the Cougars will start seeing the benefits of it.
