Feb. 28, 2008

Box Score

Houston 72, East Carolina 69 (PDF)

HOUSTON, Texas. - Tye Jackson's three-pointer with 25.6 seconds remaining in the game lifted Houston to the 72-69 win over East Carolina Thursday evening at Hofheinz Pavilion. ECU falls to 13-15 overall, 7-8 in Conference USA action, while the Cougars improve to 15-14, 9-6 in league play, and secured a bye in the upcoming C-USA Tournament.

With five minutes to play, Gabriela Husarova nailed a three-pointer to pull ECU within two, 59-57. Four straight free throws gave the Lady Pirates the 61-59 lead with 4:14 remaining. With 4:01 on the clock, Jackson sank a three-pointer and was fouled, hitting her free throw and giving the Cougars the two point, 63-61 lead. A Twiggy McIntyre's trey stretched the Houston lead out to five with 3:02 to play. East Carolina used a 6-0 run over the next minute and a half to take the 67-66 lead with 1:22 remaining. Courtney Taylor's free throw with 58.8 seconds on the clock tied the game, but Young's layup with 47 seconds left gave ECU the two point lead. Jackson nailed the three-pointer with 25.6 seconds remaining to put the Cougars up for good. The Lady Pirates had a shot as Terry put up a shot, but it would not fall, forcing ECU to foul McIntyre, putting them up three, with 8.0 remaining. Husarova shot a three with time expiring to tie the game, but it hit the front of the rim as the buzzer sounded.

The Lady Pirates jumped out to the early 15-1 lead, but Houston battled back, cutting the lead down to five, 19-14, with 10:23 to play in the half. A 6-0 spurt by the Cougars, sealed by a McIntyre three, gave Houston their first lead of the game, 26-23, with 4:45 on the clock. Allison Spivey hit a three with 3:49 to go, while Terry's jumper gave ECU the 31-29 lead. Tiahana Bowen's putback with 2:10 to play gave ECU the 33-31 lead at the break.

Terry led the Lady Pirates with 19 points, tying for a game high with Jackson. Husarova chipped in 13 while Jasmine Young added 11 points and five assists. Nicole Days tallied her second straight double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds for her fifth career achievement. Spivey grabbed 12 caroms on the night. McIntyre added 18 points, going 4-for-6 from behind the arc, while Taylor had 10 points and was a rebound shy of a double-double. ECU outrebounded the Cougars 42-37.

The Lady Pirates will close out the regular season Saturday as they travel to Rice for a 3:00 p.m. contest. The team will then head to Greenville for a few days before taking off for Orlando, Fla. for the Conference USA Championships March 6-9.