Cougars pull away and defeat Redhawks, 61-44

Freshman Alecia Smith scored 14 points in first career start

Posted: November 23, 2012 -- 11:23 p.m. CT.

HOUSTON, TX -- The Houston Cougars picked up a much-needed victory Friday night. Freshman guard Alecia Smith started her first college game and scored 14 points to help the Cougars defeat Southeast Missouri 61-44 in front of an announced crowd of 570 fans gathered to watch game 2 of the second annual David Jones Classic.

Smith said, "The coaching staff told me in practice that I would be starting. I just wanted to come out and play as hard as I could. I wasn't worried about how many points I would score, I just wanted to get the win for my team."

Houston senior guard Porsche Landry scored 12 points in the first 8 minutes of the ball game to help give the Cougars a 17-10 lead at the second media timeout.

However, Houston's offense bogged down and the Cougars (1-4) failed to score for nearly five minutes before freshman forward Marche' Amerson nailed a three-point basket for a 20-14 lead. After Marissa Ashton split two free throws, Houston's offense went through another drought and did not score a single point for nearly five minutes.

The Redhawks (2-3) pulled within 21-19 before Te'onna Campbell scored a layup and Smith followed with a three-point basket. The Coogs finished the half on a 10-0 run in the final 2:49 of the half and led 31-19 at halftime.

Smith drained a three-point shot to start the scoring in the second half; but, the Redhawks answered with a 7-0 run to trim Houston's lead to 34-26 with 16:32 left in the half.

The Cougars lead grew to 12 points (41-29) only to shrink to five points (47-42) with 7:49 remaining. However, unlike the previous four games this season, the Cougars did not wilt as the pressure mounted.

"We've been ahead before, but we've lost the lead and never had the lead back," said Houston head coach Todd Buchanan. "Tonight, we did that on at least three occasions, and at the end of the day we found a way. We always say ‘you have to find a way’. We finally finished one tonight. Southeast Missouri is a hell of a basketball team, and they’re going to have a run in the Ohio Valley Conference. My hat goes off to them."

Smith and Campbell each split two free throws; but, offensive rebounding proved to be a huge factor in the second half. Yasmeen Thompson corralled Campbell's missed free throw and scored to give the Coogs a 51-42 lead with 4:08 on the game clock.

Campbell scored six points and pulled down nine rebounds. Thompson added nine points and 10 rebounds.

"I just have fun on the defensive end," Campbell said. "I like getting stops. I like when my team gets stops; and, I was just feeding off that defensive energy tonight."

The Coogs forced a turnover; and, after three consecutive missed field goals (and three offensive rebounds), Ashton scored a layup for a 53-42 lead. Smith swished an open three-point shot; and, Landry converted a three-point play for a 59-42 lead with only 86 seconds remaining in the game.

Landry scored a game-high 19 points for the Cougars; and, after the game, Landry said the team set and accomplished goals which led to the win.

"We set team goals that we have everyday that we want to meet and, tonight, we did that: play team ball is the first one. The second one is being consistent. The third one is help the helper, helper (rotate on defense). The fourth one is defensive rebounds; and, the fifth one is communicate."

Earning win number one of the season is a load off of Campbell's mind.

"It feels great," Campbell admitted. "It's, honestly, a weight lifted off our shoulders knowing we got win number one. We have another one tomorrow, so we’ll be ready."

The Cougars will face Northwestern State Saturday at noon in the final day of the David Jones Classic.

"He (David Jones) was a long, long time near and friend," Coach Buchanan said. "Not just a coach. Not just a colleague. But, someone extremely special. He had an incredible career; and, all the lives that he touched: from being Chandi's father and helping her, along with Janice, become the woman she's become. And, all the former players in Bay City and at the University of Houston that he contributed to their lives and helped them to grow and groom into young men and women. The success stories are all across the United States; and, that's a huge tribute to him and his life. It's a huge reason why this (event) is near and dear to my heart. 

"I'm really proud we're able to do this for their family. It's an honor."