GREENVILLE, N.C. -- The East Carolina women's basketball team dropped its sixth straight conference game of the season to nationally ranked Houston 73-65 Sunday afternoon in Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum.

The Lady Pirates (14-10, 5-6), who led at halftime 27-26, could not overcome an 11-of-12 free throw performance by Houston (21-3, 10-1) in the final 3:26 of the game. ECU got its largest lead of the second half, four (61-57), when Jennifer Jackson hit a six foot jumper with 3:58 remaining.

But Chandi Jones and the Lady Cougars fought back over the next two minutes to take a three point lead 66-63 behind a pair of Jones free throws at the 2:02 mark. ECU cut the Cougars lead to two (67-65) on a Courtney Willis layup with 30 seconds left, but Kiki Harris connected on four straight from the charity stripe to secure the win for Houston.

Despite being physically drained from Friday nights quadruple overtime loss to TCU, the Lady Pirates came out the gates fired up on senior day. Jackson scored the first 12 points of the game for ECU and ended up with 15 of its 27 points at half. Jackson led all scorers with 25 points on her way to recording her fourth double-double of the year. Will added 23 points hitting 10-of-18 from the floor while grabbing seven rebounds.

Jones, who became C-USA all-time leading scorer, recorded 21 points to lead three Lady Cougars in double figures. Sancho Lyttle added 18 points and 15 rebounds, while Nicole Oliver netted 10.

ECU will hit the road this weekend as they travel to Cincinnati (Feb. 20) for a Friday night tilt against the Bearcats, before heading to Louisville on Sunday, Feb. 22. The Lady Pirates will wrap up its season Feb. 27 at Charlotte, before heading to Dallas-Fort Worth for the Conference USA Tournament in March.

East Carolina vs. Houston
Feb. 15, 2004
Postgame Notes