Jasmyne Harris' 28 points leads Coogs over ETSU

Posted: December 10, 2017 -- 8:12 pm CST.

HOUSTON, TX (H&PE Arena) -- The Houston Cougars improved to 8-2 with a thorough 88-69 thumping of East Tennessee State Sunday afternoon. The Coogs never trailed in the ball game. The only tie in the game was 0-0. Twenty seconds into the game, Houston sophomore Angela Harris sank a three-point basket to give the Coogs a lead they would never relinquish.

Box score of 88-69 Houston win over ETSU

Houston shot 50 percent (7 for 14) in the opening quarter to outscore the Buccaneers (Bucs) 23-14 in the first quarter. Houston's biggest problem in the first quarter was seven turnovers.

Jasmyne Harris led the Coogs with 9 points in the first period.

Jasmyne Harris continued her attack-mode in the second quarter with 10 more points. Harris was a perfect 3 for 3 from the floor in the quarter; and, she added 4 of 5 free throw shooting. Six other Coogs scored in the second quarter as Houston led by as much as 20 points (42-22) before ETSU got hot in the final two minutes from three-point range and made three threes to trim Houston's lead to 46-31 at halftime.

Houston did a much better job holding to the ball in the second quarter and just turned over the ball 3 times in the second period.

The Coogs shot 55.2% (16 for 29) from the floor in the first half while limiting ETSU to 12 for 34 field goal shooting (34.3%).

Jasmyne Harris swished a three-point basket to start the third quarter to begin a 10-3 run by the Coogs. She added a layup and Angela Harris knocked down a three-point shot and a layup as well during the run.

Houston led by as much as 25 points in the third quarter and led 75-51 after three periods.

"We didn't get their (ETSU) best game today; but, I am proud the way our young ladies came out and accepted the challenge," said Houston head coach Ronald Hughey after the game. "Especially when they have (Tianna) Tarter on the court who's on the Naismith Watch List -- one of the most outstanding players in the country. She can really fill it up.

"Today, I thought we took advantage of them early by pressure and had opportunity to take them out of rhythm. We made some shots early that kind of sealed their fate."

Angela Harris added, "This year, I feel like we're more engaged on defense. We have, basically, the same team as last year. We lost Jackie Blake and that's pretty much it.

"I feel like this year we're more focused on defense. It's more important for us to play defense and force teams into making mistakes than it was last year; and, I feel like that's what's fueling our offensive game."

Houston's Dorian Branch split two free throws to begin the scoring in the fourth quarter; and, after Houston's Serithia Hawkins knocked down a jumper, the Coogs enjoyed a 27 point lead (78-51) with 8:52 remaining in the ball game.

ETSU's Tianna Tarter sank two free throws and a jumper before Jasmyne Harris responded with two made free throws and a jumper to return the margin to 27 points (82-55) with 6:55 on the clock.

Houston got sloppy the rest of the game with three turnovers and missing 10 of their final 11 field goal attempts; however, the Coogs cruised to their sixth-consecutive victory.

Jasmyne Harris finished the game with 28 points and 10 rebounds for her third double-double this season (fifth double-double of her career). Angela Harris and Serithia Hawkins each scored 12 points.

Houston won its sixth consecutive game for the first time since winning 17 straight from Jan. 6-March 10, 2011.

The Cougars’ 88 points is the most they have scored in a contest since a 90-84 victory in overtime against Tulane on March 5, 2011. The 88 was the most Houston has scored in regulation since Dec. 30, 2010, when they defeated McNeese 93-63.

The 19-point victory was the largest margin of victory under Head Coach Ronald Hughey. Houston had previously won by 18 under Hughey three times, with the most recent contest coming in a 63-45 victory over SMU January 3, 2015.

The Coogs will have nearly a week before playing at Rutgers, Saturday, December 16. Tip-off against the Scarlet Knights is scheduled for 5 p.m., in Piscataway, N.J.

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